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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 />

21:22 {What is it <strong>the</strong>refore?} (\Ti oun est<strong>in</strong>?\). See this form of<br />

question by Paul (1Co 14:15,26). What is to be done about it?<br />

Clearly James and <strong>the</strong> elders do not believe <strong>the</strong>se<br />

misrepresentations of Paul's teach<strong>in</strong>g, but many do. {They will<br />

certa<strong>in</strong>ly hear} (\pant•s akousontai\). \Pant•s\ is old adverb, by<br />

all means, altoge<strong>the</strong>r, wholly, certa<strong>in</strong>ly as here and 28:4; Lu<br />

4:23; 1Co 9:10. This future middle of \akou•\ is <strong>the</strong> usual form<br />

<strong>in</strong>stead of \akous•\. There was no way to conceal Paul's arrival<br />

nor was it wise to do so. B C and several cursives omit \dei<br />

pl•thos sunel<strong>the</strong><strong>in</strong>\ (The multitude must needs come toge<strong>the</strong>r).<br />

21:23 {Do <strong>the</strong>refore this} (\touto oun poi•son\). The elders had<br />

thought out a plan of procedure by which Paul could set <strong>the</strong> whole<br />

matter straight. {We have} (\eis<strong>in</strong> h•m<strong>in</strong>\). "There are to us"<br />

(dative of possession as <strong>in</strong> 18:10). Apparently members of <strong>the</strong><br />

Jerusalem church. {Which have a vow on <strong>the</strong>m} (\euch•n echontes<br />

aph'\-- or \eph' heaut•n\). Apparently a temporary Nazarite vow<br />

like that <strong>in</strong> Nu 6:1-21 and its completion was marked by several<br />

offer<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple, <strong>the</strong> shav<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> head (Nu 6:13-15).<br />

Ei<strong>the</strong>r Paul or Aquila had such a vow on leav<strong>in</strong>g Cenchreae (Ac<br />

18:18). "It was considered a work of piety to relieve needy Jews<br />

from <strong>the</strong> expenses connected with this vow, as Paul does here"<br />

(Page). The read<strong>in</strong>g \aph' heaut•n\ would mean that <strong>the</strong>y had taken<br />

<strong>the</strong> vow voluntarily or of <strong>the</strong>mselves (Lu 12:57; 2Co 3:5), while<br />

\eph' heaut•n\ means that <strong>the</strong> vow lies on <strong>the</strong>m still.<br />

21:24 {These take} (\toutous paralab•n\). Second aorist active<br />

participle of \paralamban•\. Tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>se alone. {Purify thyself<br />

with <strong>the</strong>m} (\hagnisth•ti sun autois\). First aorist passive<br />

imperative of \hagniz•\, old verb to purify, to make pure<br />

(\hagnos\). See <strong>the</strong> active voice <strong>in</strong> Jas 4:8; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:3.<br />

It is possible to see <strong>the</strong> full passive force here, "Be purified."<br />

But a number of aorist passives <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> _Ko<strong>in</strong>•_ supplant <strong>the</strong><br />

aorist middle forms and preserve <strong>the</strong> force of <strong>the</strong> middle<br />

(Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 819). That is possible here. Hence,<br />

"Purify thyself" is allowable. The word occurs <strong>in</strong> Nu 6:1 for<br />

tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Nazarite vow. The po<strong>in</strong>t is that Paul takes <strong>the</strong> vow<br />

with <strong>the</strong>m. Note \hagnismou\ <strong>in</strong> verse 26. {Be at charges for<br />

<strong>the</strong>m} (\dapan•son ep' autois\). First aorist active imperative of<br />

old verb \dapana•\, to <strong>in</strong>cur expense, expend. Spend (money) upon<br />

(\ep'\) <strong>the</strong>m. Ramsay (_St. Paul <strong>the</strong> Traveller_, etc., p. 310)<br />

argues that Paul had use of considerable money at this period,<br />

perhaps from his fa<strong>the</strong>r's estate. The charges for five men would<br />

http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC21.RWP.html (12 of 22) [28/08/2004 09:07:25 a.m.]

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