Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 26]
priest, and the care of the sacred vestments. But the accusative
\onta se\ gives trouble here coming so soon after \sou\ (genitive
with \epi\). Some MSS. insert \epistamenos\ or \eid•s\ (knowing)
but neither is genuine. Page takes it as "governed by the sense
of thinking or considering." Knowling considers it an
anacoluthon. Buttmann held it to be an accusative absolute after
the old Greek idiom. \Tuchon\ is such an instance though used as
an adverb (1Co 16:6). It is possible that one exists in Eph
1:18. See other examples discussed in Robertson's _Grammar_, pp.
490f. {Customs and questions} (\eth•n te kai z•t•mat•n\). Both
_consuetudinum in practicis_ and _quaestionum in theoreticis_
(Bengel). Agrippa was qualified to give Paul an understanding and
a sympathetic hearing. Paul understands perfectly the grand-stand
play of the whole performance, but he refused to be silent and
chose to use this opportunity, slim as it seemed, to get a fresh
hearing for his own case and to present the claims of Christ to
this influential man. His address is a masterpiece of noble
apologetic. {Patiently} (\makrothum•s\). Adverb from
\makrothumos\. Only here in the N.T., though \makrothumia\ occurs
several times. Vulgate has _longanimiter_. Long spirit,
endurance, opposite of impatience. So Paul takes his time.
26:4 {My manner of life} (\t•n men oun bi•sin mou\). With \men
oun\ Paul passes from the _captatio benevolentiae_ (verses 1,2)
"to the _narratio_ or statement of his case" (Page). \Bi•sis\ is
from \bio•\ (1Pe 4:2) and that from \bios\ (course of life).
This is the only instance of \bi•sis\ yet found except the
Prologue (10) of Ecclesiasticus and an inscription given in
Ramsay's _Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia_, Vol II, p. 650.
{Know} (\is•si\). Literary form instead of the vernacular _Koin•_
\oidasin\. Paul's early life in Tarsus and Jerusalem was an open
book to all Jews.
26:5 {Having knowledge of me from the first} (\progin•skontes me
an•then\). Literally, "knowing me beforehand" (both \pro\ and
\an•then\), from the beginning of Paul's public education in
Jerusalem (Knowling). Cf. 2Pe 3:17. {If they be willing to
testify} (\ean thel•sin marturein\). Condition of third class
(\ean\ and subjunctive). A neat turning of the tables on the
distinguished audience about Paul's Jerusalem reputation before
his conversion. {After the straitest sect} (\t•n akribestat•n
hairesin\). This is a true superlative (not elative) and one of
the three (also \hagi•tatos\, Jude 1:20, \timi•tatos\ Re
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