Vincent's Word Studies Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. Arrived (παρεβάλομεν)
Only here and Mark 4:30, where it is used more nearly according to its original sense, to throw beside; to bring one thing beside another in comparison. Here, of bringing the vessel alongside the island. The narrative implies that they only touched (Rev.) there, but not necessarily the word. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. To spend time (χρονοτριβῆσαι)
Only here in New Testament. The word carries the suggestion of a waste of time, being compounded with τρίβω, to rub; to wear out by rubbing. The sense is nearly equivalent to our expression, fritter away time. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. Kept back (ὑπεστειλάμην)
A picturesque word. Originally, to draw in or contract. Used of furling sails, and of closing the fingers; of drawing back for shelter; of keeping back one's real thoughts; by physicians, of withholding food from patients. It is rather straining a point to say, as Canon Farrar, that Paul is using a nautical metaphor suggested by his constantly hearing the word for furling sail used during his voyage. Paul's metaphors lie mainly on the lines of military life, architecture, agriculture, and the Grecian games. The statement of Canon Farrar, that he "constantly draws his metaphors from the sights and circumstances immediately around him," is rather at variance with his remark that, with one exception, he "cannot find a single word which shows that Paul had even the smallest susceptibility for the works of nature" ("Paul," i., 19). Nautical metaphors are, to say the least, not common in Paul's writings. I believe there are but three instances: Ephesians 4:14; 1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 6:9. Paul means here that he suppressed nothing of the truth through fear of giving offence. Compare Galatians 2:12; Hebrews 10:38. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. Repentance toward God
Repentance has the article: the repentance which is due to God. So, also, faith: the faith which is due toward Christ, as the advocate and mediator. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Bound in the spirit
In his own spirit. Constrained by an invincible sense of duty. Not by the Holy Spirit, which is mentioned in the next verse and distinguished by the epithet the Holy. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; Testifieth (διαμαρτύρεται)
The compound verb signifies full, clear testimony. Not by internal intimations of the Spirit, but by prophetic declarations "in every city." Two of these are mentioned subsequently, at Tyre and Caesarea (Acts 21:4, Acts 21:11). And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. But none of these things move me, neither count I, etc
The best texts omit neither count I, and render, I esteem my life of no account, as if it were precious to myself. Dear (τιμίαν) Of value; precious. Course (δρόμον) A favorite metaphor of Paul, from the race-course. See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:7. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. Iknow
The I is emphatic: I know through these special revelations to myself (Acts 20:23). And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. This day (τῇ σήμερον ἡμέρᾳ)
Very forcible. Lit., on to-day's day; this, our parting day. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. Shunned
The same word as in Acts 20:20 : kept back. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: To yourselves and to all the flock
To yourselves first, that you may duly care for the flock. Compare 1 Timothy 4:16. Overseers (ἐπισκόπους) Denoting the official function of the elders, but not in the later ecclesiastical sense of bishops, as implying an order distinct from presbyters or elders. The two terms are synonymous. The elders, by virtue of their office, were overseers. To feed (ποιμαίνειν) See on Matthew 2:6. The word embraces more than feeding; signifying all that is included in the office of a shepherd: tending, or shepherding. Purchased (περιεποιήσατο) Only here and 1 Timothy 3:13. See on peculiar people, 1 Peter 2:9. The verb means, originally, to make (ποιέω) to remain over and above (περί): hence to keep or save for one's self; to compass or acquire. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. Grievous (βαρεῖς)
Lit., heavy: violent, rapacious. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, Watch (γρηγορεῖτε)
See on Mark 13:35. To warn (νουθετῶν) From νοῦς, the mind, and τίθημι, to put. Lit., to put in mind; admonish (so Rev., better than warn). "Its fundamental idea is the well-intentioned seriousness with which one would influence the mind and disposition of another by advice, admonition, warning, putting right, according to circumstances" (Cremer). And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, Icommend
See on 1 Peter 4:19. Build you up A metaphor in constant use by Paul, and preserved in the words edify, edification (Latin, aedes, "a house," and facere, "to make") by which οἰκοδομέω and its kindred words are frequently rendered. In old English the word edify was used in its original sense of build. Thus Wycliffe renders Genesis 2:22, "The Lord God edified the rib which he took of Adam, into a woman." So, too, Spenser: "a little wide There was a holy temple edified." Faerie Queene, i., 1, 114. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. Raiment
Mentioned along with gold and silver because it formed a large part of the wealth of orientals. They traded in costly garments, or kept them stored up for future use. See on purple, Luke 16:19; and compare Ezra 2:69; Nehemiah 7:70; Job 27:16. This fact accounts for the allusions to the destructive power of the moth (Matthew 6:19; James 5:2). And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: I have shewed you all things (πάντα ὑπέδειξα ὑμῖν)
The verb means to shew by example. Thus, Luke 6:47, "I will shew you to whom he is like," is followed by the illustration of the man who built upon the rock. So Acts 9:16. God will shew Paul by practical experience how great things he must suffer. The kindred noun ὑπόδειγμα is always rendered example or pattern. See John 13:15; James 5:10, etc.; and note on 2 Peter 2:6. Rev., correctly, In all things I gave you an example. So As I have done. To help (ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι) See on Luke 1:54. He said (αὐτὸς εἶπε) Rev., more strictly, "he himself said." This saying of Jesus is not recorded by the Evangelists, and was received by Paul from oral tradition. The speech of Paul to the Ephesian elders "bears impressed on it the mark of Paul's mind: its ideas, its idioms, and even its very words are Pauline; so much so as to lead Alford to observe that we have probably the literal report of the words spoken by Paul. 'It is,' he remarks, 'a treasure-house of words, idioms, and sentences peculiar to the apostle himself'" (Gloag). Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Kissed (κατεφίλουν)
See on Matthew 26:49. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. See (θεωρεῖν)
See on Luke 10:18. The word for steadfast, earnest contemplation suggests the interest and affection with which they looked upon his countenance for the last time. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. Gotten from (ἀποσπασθέντας)
Withdrawn. Some see in the word an expression of the grief and reluctance with which they parted, and render having torn ourselves away. See on Luke 22:41. With a straight course See on Luke 16:11. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, Discovered (ἀναφάναντες)
Better, sighted. A nautical phrase. The verb literally means to bring to light: and its use here is analogous to the English marine phrase, to raise the land. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Finding disciples (ἀνευρόντες τοὺς μαθητὰς)
The verb means to discover after search; and the article, the disciples, refers to the disciples who lived and were recognized members of the church there. The A. V. overlooks both the preposition and the article. The verb might be rendered strictly by our common phrase, "having looked up the disciples." See on Luke 2:16. A small number of disciples is implied in Acts 21:5. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Accomplished (ἐξαρτίσαι)
Only here and 2 Timothy 3:17, where it is used in the sense of equip or furnish. Children The first time that children are mentioned in the notice of a Christian church. Shore (αἰγιαλὸν) Rev., beach. See on Matthew 13:2. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. Taken leave
See on Acts 20:1. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Finished (διανύσαντες)
Only here in New Testament. Saluted The word rendered take leave in Acts 21:6. See on Acts 20:1. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. We that were of Paul's company
The best texts omit. Philip See ch. 8. The seven The first deacons. See Acts 6:5. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. Bound his own feet and hands
Imitating the symbolical acts of the Old Testament prophets. See 1 Kings 22:11; Isaiah 20:1-3; Jeremiah 13:1-7; Ezekiel 4:1-6. Compare John 21:18. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. Besought him not to go up
This suggests the case of Luther when on his journey to the Diet of Worms, and the story of Regulus the Roman, who, being permitted to return to Rome with an embassy from the Carthaginians, urged his countrymen to reject the terms of peace, and to continue the war, and then, against the remonstrances of his friends, insisted on fulfilling his promise to the Carthaginians to return in the event of the failure of negotiations, and went back to certain torture and death. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. l am ready (ἑτοίμως ἔχω)
Lit., I hold myself in readiness. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]. Text Courtesy of Internet Sacred Texts Archive. Bible Apps.com |
