Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 22]
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22:1 {Brethren and fathers} (\Andres adelphoi kai pateres\) Men,
brethren, and fathers. The very language used by Stephen (7:2)
when arraigned before the Sanhedrin with Paul then present. Now
Paul faces a Jewish mob on the same charges brought against
Stephen. These words are those of courtesy and dignity (_amoris
et honoris nomina_, Page). These men were Paul's brother Jews and
were (many of them) official representatives of the people
(Sanhedrists, priests, rabbis). Paul's purpose is conciliatory,
he employs "his ready tact" (Rackham). {The defence which I now
make unto you} (\mou t•s pros humas nuni apologias\). Literally,
My defence to you at this time. \Nuni\ is a sharpened form (by
\-i\) of \nun\ (now), just now. The term \apologia\ (apology) is
not our use of the word for apologizing for an offence, but the
original sense of defence for his conduct, his life. It is an old
word from \apologeomai\, to talk oneself off a charge, to make
defence. It occurs also in Ac 25:16 and then also in 1Co 9:3;
2Co 7:11; Php 1:7,16; 2Ti 4:16; 1Pe 3:15. Paul uses it again in
Ac 25:16 as here about his defence against the charges made by
the Jews from Asia. He is suspected of being a renegade from the
Mosaic law and charged with specific acts connected with the
alleged profanation of the temple. So Paul speaks in Aramaic and
recites the actual facts connected with his change from Judaism
to Christianity. The facts make the strongest argument. He first
recounts the well-known story of his zeal for Judaism in the
persecution of the Christians and shows why the change came. Then
he gives a summary of his work among the Gentiles and why he came
to Jerusalem this time. He answers the charge of enmity to the
people and the law and of desecration of the temple. It is a
speech of great skill and force, delivered under remarkable
conditions. The one in chapter Ac 26 covers some of the same
ground, but for a slightly different purpose as we shall see. For
a discussion of the three reports in Acts of Paul's conversion
see chapter Ac 9. Luke has not been careful to make every
detail correspond, though there is essential agreement in all
three.
22:2 {He spake} (\proseph•nei\). Imperfect active, was speaking.
See aorist active \proseph•n•sen\ in 21:40. {They were the more
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Acts: Chapter 22)