The Acts of the Apostles

22 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
thirty-one times). The numerous constructions in
which the word stands are in many cases Hebraic, or
rather imitated from the Greek of the Septuagint.
By this means, and moreover by other similar
expedients which must have been quite customary
with him, St. Luke has probably purposely given
his style a Biblical character. We shall at once
make acquaintance with a portion of these passages
as we now turn to consider his indefinite chrono-
logical notices.^
IV. Indefinite Dates,
i. 5. Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost ov
juLCTCL TToXXa? ^jULcpa^—t.^. in a few weeks' time.
i. 15. iv rats ^jui-epai^ ravrai^—in the days between
the Ascension and Pentecost, St. Peter stood up and
proposed the completion of the number of the
Apostles.
V. 36. TTpo TOVTcov Twv ^jiiepoov (quite indefinite in
regard to the length of the time—meaning " before
this our time " )—Theudas rose up.
vi. 1. €v rati rj^epai^ Tavrai^ ( = at that time; it
is more closely defined by TrXrjOvvovrcov twv /maOyjrwv)
arose a dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists
in the Primitive Community.^
1 Compare, moreover, the word "rj/jiipa " in a concordance.
2 Cf, in St. Stephen's speech, vii. 41 : if rals ijfiipais iKcipais ifioa-xo-
voiTjaay. Note also that St. Peter in his speech (xv. 7) describes
the conversion of Cornelius as having taken place &