Bible Commentaries
Acts 24

Verse 1

Ananias . See note on Acts 23:2 .

descended = came down.

the = certain. Greek. tis . App-123 .

elders . See App-189 .

certain . Greek. tis , as above.

orator = advocate. Greek. rhet o r . Only here. The adverb, in 1 Timothy 4:1 (expressly).

who . Plural, referring to the Jews (Acts 24:9 ) as well as their spokesman.

informed . Greek. emphanizo. App-106 .

governor . See note on Acts 23:24 .

Verse 2

accuse . Greek. kategoreo. See note on Acts 22:30 .

Seeing . . . enjoy = Obtaining (as we do). Greek. tun chano, to obtain, (intr.) to happen. See note on Acts 19:11 .

by = through. Greek. dia App-104 .Acts 24:1 .

great quietness . Literally much peace (Greek. eirene) .

very worthy deeds . Greek. katorthoma, but the texts read diorthoma. Only here. The words are from orthos (See Acts 14:10 ), and the former means "a right action", the latter, "an amelioration" or "reform".

unto = to.

nation . Greek. ethnos.

providence = provident care, or foresight. Greek. pronoia. Only here and Romans 13:14 .

Verse 3

accept = receive. Greek. apodechomai. See note on Acts 2:41 .

always = in every case. Greek. pante . Only here.

in all places = everywhere. Greek. pantachou.

most noble. Same as "most excellent", in Acts 23:26 .

thankfulness . Greek. eucharistia. In the other fourteen occurances rendered "thanksgiving", "thanks", or "giving of thanks".

Verse 4

Notwithstanding = But.

that = in order that. Greek. hina .

be . . . tedious unto = hinder. Greek. enkopto. Occ here, Romans 15:22 .Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:7 . 1 Thessalonians 2:18 . 1 Peter 3:7 .

further . Literally for (Greek. epi . App-104 ) more (time).

pray . Greek. parakaleo. App-134 .

that thou wouldest = to.

of = in. Dative case.

clemency . Greek. epieikia. Only here and 2 Corinthians 10:1 .

a few words = concisely. Greek. suntomos. Only here. A medical word.

Verse 5

pestilent. Greek. loimos, a plague. Occurs elsewhere. Matthew 24:7 . Luke 21:11 .

a mover of = stirring up.

sedition . Greek. stasis . See note on Acts 15:2 . The texts read "seditions".

among . Dative case.

throughout . Greek. kata . App-104 .

world . Greek. oikoumene. App-129 .

ringleader . Greek. Greek. protostates. Only here.

sect . Greek. hairesis . See note on Acts 5:17 .

Nazarenes . Compare Acts 6:14 . Only here is the term applied to believers. The Jews would not call them Christians (Acts 11:26 ), as that was derived from the word for Messiah; so Tertullus was instructed to call them Nazarenes. Compare Acts 22:8 .

Verse 6

also . This should follow "temple".

hath gone about = attempted. Same as "assayed" (Acts 16:7 ).

profane = pollute. Greek. bebeloo. See note on Matthew 12:5 , the only other occurances.

temple . Greek. hieron. See note on Matthew 23:16 .

took = seized also.

and would have, &c . These words and Acts 24:7 and Acts 24:8 , as far as "unto thee", are omitted by the texts, but not by the Syriac. Dean Alford puts the words in brackets and declares himself at a loss to decide respecting them, it being inexplicable that Tertullus should have ended so abruptly.

would have judged = purposed (Greek. ethelo . App-102 .) to judge.

judged . Greek. krino . App-122 .

Verse 7

chief captain . See note on Acts 21:31 .

violence . Greek. bia. See note on Acts 5:26 .

out of . Greek. ek . App-104 .

Verse 8

Commanding = Having commanded. Lysias had done this after he had sent Paul to Caesarea to escape the plot. Hence the bitterness of the Jews against him. It is one of the strongest grounds for the retention of these verses.

accusers . Greek. kategoros. See note on Acts 23:30 .

examimng = having examined. Greek. anakrino. App-122 .

mayest = wilt be able to.

take knowledge = know fully. Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .

of = concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .

Verse 9

assented = agreed. Greek. suntithemi. See note on Acts 23:20 .

saying = affirming. Greek. phasko. Only here; Acts 25:13 .Romans 1:22 .Revelation 2:2 .

Verse 10

Then = And.

after that, &c . Literally the governor having nodded. See note on John 13:24 .

answered . Greek. apokrinomai. App-122 .

Forasmuch as, &c . = Knowing (as I do).

know . Greek. epistamai. App-132 .

many years . About seven; i.e. since A.D. 52.

judge . See note on Acts 18:15 .

the more cheerfully . Greek. euthumoteron. Only here. The texts read the adverb euthumos. Compare Acts 27:22 , Acts 27:36 .

answer . Greek. apologeomai. See note on Acts 19:33 .

for, &c. = in regard to the things concerning (Greek. peri . App-104 .) myself.

Verse 11

mayest = canst.

understand . Greek. ginosko. App-132 , but the texts read epiginosko.

yet but = not (Greek. ou. App-105 .) more than.

twelve days: i.e. since Acts 21:17 .

since = from (Greek. apo. App-104 .) which.

to . Greek. en , but the texts read eis , unto.

for . Omit.

worship . Greek. pr oskuneo. App-137 .

Verse 12

neither . Greek. oute.

in, in. Greek. en . App-104 .

disputing . Greek. dialegomai. See note o Acts 17:2 .

any man = any one. Greek. tis . App-123 .

neither = or.

raising up the people = making up a seditious gathering (Greek. episustasis. Only here and 2 Corinthians 11:28 ) of the multitude (Greek. ochlos) .

neither . . . nor . Greek. oute . . . oute.

synagogues App-120 .

in = throughout. Greek. kata . App-104 .

Verse 13

prove . Same as "shew" (Acts 1:3 ). Here = demon-strate.

whereof = concerning (Greek. peri . App-104 .) which.

Verse 14

after = according to. Greek. kata. App-104 . the way. See note on Acts 9:2 .

heresy . Same word as "sect", Acts 24:5 .

worship . Greek. latreuo. App-137 .

God . App-98 .

of my fathers . Greek. patroos. See note on Acts 22:6 .

believing . Greek. pisteuo. App-150 .

are = have been.

in = according to. Greek. kata , as above.

prophets . App-189 .

Verse 15

And have = Having.

toward . Greek. eis . App-104 .

allow = look for. Greek. prosdechomai. See note on Acts 23:21 .

resurrection . Greek. anastasis. App-178 .

of the dead. App-139 ., but the texts omit, not the Syriac.

the just = righteous. Greek. dikaios. App-191 .

unjust = unrighteous. Greek. adikos. Four times translated "unrighteous"; eight times "unjust". Compare App-128 .

Verse 16

herein = in (Greek. en. App-104 .) this.

exercise . Greek. eskeo, to practise as an art, used of the healing art in medical writings. Only here.

conscience . Compare Acts 23:1 .

void of offence . Greek. aproskopos. The verb proskopto means to stumble, and this adjective here means "without stumbling", while in the other two ooc, 1 Corinthians 10:32 .Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:10 , it means "not causing to stumble".

toward . Greek. pros. App-104 .

men . Greek. anthropos. App-123 .

Verse 17

many . Literally more. It was about five years since his previous visit. See App-180 .

alms . See note on Acts 3:2 .

offerings . Greek. prosphora. See note on Acts 21:26 .

Verse 18

Whereupon = In (Greek. en) which, i.e. while engaged in the offerings.

purified . Greek. hagnizo. See note on Acts 21:24 , Acts 21:26 .

neither = not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

multitude = crowd. Greek. ochlos , as in Acts 24:12 .

nor . Greek. oude.

tumult . Same as "uproar", Acts 20:1 . A Latin MS. of the thirteenth century adds "And they laid hands on me, crying, Away with our enemy".

Verse 19

before . Greek. epi . App-104 .

object = accuse, as in Acts 24:2 .

Verse 20

if . The texts omit.

any = what.

evil doing . Greek. adikema. App-128 .

council . Greek. sunedrion. See note on 2 John 1:11; 2 John 1:11 :47 .

Verse 21

voice = utterance. Greek. phone.

among . Greek. en . App-104 .

Touching = Concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .

called in question = judged. Greek. krino. App-122 .

Verse 22

And = Now.

when, &c . = Felix, having heard.

having, &c . = knowing (Greek. oida. App-132 . ) more perfectly, or accurately. Greek. akribesteron. See note on Acts 18:26 ; Acts 23:15 .

deferred . Greek. anaballo . Only here. Compare Acts 25:17 . Much used in medical works.

comedown. Same as "descended", Acts 24:1 .

know the uttermost, &c . Literally investigate thoroughly (Greek. diaginosko, as in Acts 23:15 ) the things referring to (Greek. kata . App-104 .) you.

Verse 23

commanded. Greek. diatasso. See Acts 7:44 .

a = the. Probably the one who had come with him.

centurion . Greek. hekatontarches. See Acts 10:1 .

keep . Greek. tereo . See Acts 16:23 and John 17:6 .

Paul . The texts read "him".

liberty = relaxation. Greek. anesis. Occurs here; 2 Corinthians 2:13 ; 2Co 7:5 ; 2 Corinthians 8:13 . 2 Thessalonians 1:7 . Compare the verb aniemi, Acts 16:26 .

none = no one. Greek. medeis.

his acquaintance = his own (people).

minister . App-190 . See Acts 13:36 .

Verse 24

Drusilla . App-109 . She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, and had left her first husband, Azizus, king of Emesa, and married Felix. It was no doubt through her that Felix had his knowledge of "the Way" (Acts 24:22 ).

sent for. Greek. metapempo. App-174 . See note on Acts 10:5 .

concerning . Greek. peri . App-104 .

faith . Greek. pistis . App-150 .

in = towards, or with regard to. Greek. eis . App-104 .

Christ . The texts add "Jesus". App-98 .

Verse 25

reasoned . Greek. dialegomai. See Acts 17:2 .

righteousness . Greek. dikaiosune. See App-191 .

temperance = self-control. Greek. enkrateia. Only here; Galatians 1:5 , Gal 1:23 . 2 Peter 1:6 . The adjective enkrates only in Titus 1:8 and the kindred verb only in 1 Corinthians 7:9 ; 1 Corinthians 9:25 .

judgment . Greek. krima. App-177 .

trembled and = having become terrified. Greek. emphobos. See Acts 10:4 .

for this time = for the present.

have . Greek. metalambano, to partake of, or obtain a share of. Occurances, Acts 2:46 (eat); Acts 27:33 . 2 Timothy 2:6 . Hebrews 6:7 ; Hebrews 12:10 .

convenient season = season, or opportunity. Greek. kairos. Compare Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:10 Hebrews 11:15 .

call for . Greek. metakaleo. See Acts 7:14 . The season never came for hearing what Paul had to teach, though he found opportunity to see if he could get a bribe.

Verse 26

should = would.

him . Omit.

of = by. Greek. hupo , as in Acts 24:21 . t

hat . . . him . The texts omit.

wherefore . Add "also".

the oftener. Greek. puknoteron. Comp of puknos, the neut. being used adverbially. See Luke 5:33 . Add "also".

communed = was communing, or used to talk. Greek. homileo. See Acts 20:11 .

Verse 27

after two years. Literally a space of two years (Greek. dietia, only here and Acts 28:30 ) having been fulfilled (Greek. pleroo. App-125 .)

Porcius, &c. Literally Felix received Porcius Festus as successor (Greek. diadochos. Only here. Compare the verb in Acts 7:45 ).

willing = wishing. Greek. thelo . App-102 .

shew = lay up with the Jews. Greek. katatithemi, to deposit. Here; Acts 25:9 . Mark 15:46 .

pleasure . Greek. charis. App-184 .