Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 24]
_Providentia_ (foreseeing, _provideo_). Roman coins often have
_Providentia Caesaris_. Post-Augustan Latin uses it of God
(Deus). {Evils are corrected for this nation} (\diorth•mat•n
ginomen•n t•i ethnei tout•i\). Genitive absolute again,
\ginomen•n\, present middle participle describing the process of
reform going on for this nation (dative case of personal
interest). \Diorth•ma\ (from \diortho•\, to set right) occurs
from Aristotle on of setting right broken limbs (Hippocrates) or
reforms in law and life (Polybius, Plutarch). "Reform continually
taking place for this nation." Felix the Reform Governor of
Judea! It is like a campaign speech, but it doubtless pleased
Felix.
24:3 {In all ways and in all places} (\pant•i te kai pantachou\).
\Pant•i\, old adverb of manner only here in N.T. \Pantachou\ also
old adverb of place, several times in N.T. But these adverbs most
likely go with the preceding clause about "reforms" rather than
as here translated with "we accept" (\apodechometha\). But "with
all gratitude" (\meta pas•s eucharistias\) does naturally go with
\apodechometha\.
24:4 {That I be not further tedious unto thee} (\hina m• epi
pleion se enkopt•\). _Koin•_ verb (Hippocrates, Polybius) to cut
in on (or into), to cut off, to impede, to hinder. Our modern
telephone and radio illustrate it well. In the N.T. (Ac 24:4;
1Th 2:18; Ga 5:7; Ro 15:22; 1Pe 3:7). "That I may not cut in on
or interrupt thee further (\epi pleion\) in thy reforms."
Flattery still. {Of thy clemency} (\t•i s•i epieikei•i\).
Instrumental case of old word from \epieik•s\ and this from \epi\
and \eikos\ (reasonable, likely, fair). "Sweet Reasonableness"
(Matthew Arnold), gentleness, fairness. An \epieik•s\ man is "one
who makes reasonable concessions" (Aristotle, _Eth_. V. 10),
while \dikaios\ is "one who insists on his full rights" (Plato,
_Leg_. 757 D) as translated by Page. {A few words} (\suntom•s\).
Old adverb from \suntemn•\, to cut together (short), abbreviate.
Like \dia brache•n\ in Heb 13:22. In N.T. only here and Mr 16
(shorter conclusion).
24:5 {For we have found} (\heurontes gar\). Second aorist active
participle of \heurisk•\, but without a principal verb in the
sentence. Probably we have here only a "summary of the charges
against Paul" (Page). {A pestilent fellow} (\loimon\). An old
word for pest, plague, pestilence, Paul the pest. In N.T. only
here and Lu 21:11 (\loimoi kai limoi\, pestilences and famines)
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