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Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

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<strong>Word</strong> <strong>Pictures</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> NT [Acts: Chapter 21]<br />

formal reception to Paul. It is noticeable that <strong>the</strong> apostles are<br />

not mentioned, though both elders and apostles are named at <strong>the</strong><br />

Conference <strong>in</strong> chapter 15. It would seem that <strong>the</strong> apostles are<br />

away on preach<strong>in</strong>g tours. The whole church was not called toge<strong>the</strong>r<br />

probably because of <strong>the</strong> known prejudice aga<strong>in</strong>st Paul created by<br />

<strong>the</strong> Judaizers.<br />

21:19 {He rehearsed} (\ex•geito\). Imperfect middle of<br />

\ex•geomai\, old verb to lead out, to draw out <strong>in</strong> narrative, to<br />

recount. So Paul is pictured as tak<strong>in</strong>g his time for he had a<br />

great story to tell of what had happened s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong>y saw him last.<br />

{One by one} (\kath' hena hekaston\). Accord<strong>in</strong>g to each one<br />

(item) and <strong>the</strong> adverbial phrase used as an accusative after <strong>the</strong><br />

verb \ex•geito\ as Demos<strong>the</strong>nes does (1265), though it could be<br />

like \kath' hena hekastos\ <strong>in</strong> Eph 5:33. {Which} (\h•n\).<br />

Genitive attracted from \ha\ (accusative) <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> case of <strong>the</strong><br />

unexpressed antecedent \tout•n\. {God had wrought} (\epoi•sen ho<br />

<strong>the</strong>os\). Summary constative aorist active <strong>in</strong>dicative that ga<strong>the</strong>rs<br />

up all that God did and he takes pa<strong>in</strong>s to give God <strong>the</strong> glory. It<br />

is possible that at this formal meet<strong>in</strong>g Paul observed an absence<br />

of warmth and enthusiasm <strong>in</strong> contrast with <strong>the</strong> welcome accorded by<br />

his friends <strong>the</strong> day before (verse 17). Furneaux th<strong>in</strong>ks that<br />

Paul was coldly received on this day <strong>in</strong> spite of <strong>the</strong> generous<br />

offer<strong>in</strong>g brought from <strong>the</strong> Gentile Christians. "It looks as though<br />

his misgiv<strong>in</strong>g as to its reception (Ro 15:31) was confirmed. Nor<br />

do we hear that <strong>the</strong> Christians of Jerusalem later put <strong>in</strong> so much<br />

as a word on his behalf with ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> Jewish or <strong>the</strong> Roman<br />

authorities, or expressed any sympathy with him dur<strong>in</strong>g his long<br />

imprisonment at Caesarea" (Furneaux). The most that can be said<br />

is that <strong>the</strong> Judaizers referred to by James do not appear actively<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st him. The collection and <strong>the</strong> plan proposed by James<br />

accomplished that much at any rate. It stopped <strong>the</strong> mouths of<br />

those lions.<br />

21:20 {Glorified} (\edoxazon\). Inchoative imperfect, began to<br />

glorify God, though without special praise of Paul. {How many<br />

thousands} (\posai muriades\). Old word for ten thousand (Ac<br />

19:19) and <strong>the</strong>n an <strong>in</strong>def<strong>in</strong>ite number like our "myriads" (this<br />

very word) as Lu 12:1; Ac 21:20; Jude 1:14; Re 5:11; 9:16. But<br />

it is a surpris<strong>in</strong>g statement even with allowable hyperbole, but<br />

one may recall Ac 4:4 (number of <strong>the</strong> men--not women--about five<br />

thousand); 5:14 (multitudes both of men and women); 6:7.<br />

There were undoubtedly a great many thousands of believers <strong>in</strong><br />

http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC21.RWP.html (9 of 22) [28/08/2004 09:07:25 a.m.]

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