Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 22]
him forward." {With the thongs} (\tois himasin\). If the
instrumental case of \himas\, old word for strap or thong (for
sandals as Mr 1:7, or for binding criminals as here), then Paul
was bent forward and tied by the thongs to a post in front to
expose his back the better to the scourges. But \tois himasin\
may be dative case and then it would mean "for the lashes." In
either case it is a dreadful scene of terrorizing by the
chiliarch. {Unto the centurion that stood by} (\pros ton hest•ta
hekatontarchon\). He was simply carrying out the orders of the
chiliarch (cf. Mt 27:54). Why had not Paul made protest before
this? {Is it lawful?} (\ei exestin?\). This use of \ei\ in
indirect questions we have had before (1:6). {A Roman and
uncondemned} (\Romaion kai akatakriton\). Just as in 16:37
which see. Blass says of Paul's question: _Interrogatio
subironica est confidentiae plena_.
22:26 {What art thou about to do?} (\Ti melleis poiein?\). On the
point of doing, sharp warning.
22:27 {Art thou a Roman?} (\Su Romaios ei?\). {Thou} (emphatic
position) a Roman? It was unbelievable.
22:28 {With a great sum} (\pollou kephalaiou\). The use of
\kephalaiou\ (from \kephal•\, head) for sums of money (principal
as distinct from interest) is old and frequent in the papyri. Our
word capital is from \caput\ (head). The genitive is used here
according to rule for price. "The sale of the Roman citizenship
was resorted to by the emperors as a means of filling the
exchequer, much as James I. made baronets" (Page). Dio Cassius
(LX., 17) tells about Messalina the wife of Claudius selling
Roman citizenship. Lysias was probably a Greek and so had to buy
his citizenship. {But I am a Roman born} (\Eg• de kai
gegenn•mai\). Perfect passive indicative of \genna•\. The word
"Roman" not in the Greek. Literally, "But I have been even born
one," (i.e. born a Roman citizen). There is calm and simple
dignity in this reply and pardonable pride. Being a citizen of
Tarsus (21:39) did not make Paul a Roman citizen. Tarsus was an
_urbs libera_, not a _colonia_ like Philippi. Some one of his
ancestors (father, grandfather) obtained it perhaps as a reward
for distinguished service. Paul's family was of good social
position. "He was educated by the greatest of the Rabbis; he was
at an early age entrusted by the Jewish authorities with an
important commission; his nephew could gain ready access to the
Roman tribune; he was treated as a person of consequence by
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