Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Acts 17:3 - 17:3
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Opening and alleging (dianoigōn kai paratithemenos). Opening the Scriptures, Luke means, as made plain by the mission and message of Jesus, the same word (dianoigō) used by him of the interpretation of the Scriptures by Jesus (Luk 24:32) and of the opening of the mind of the disciples also by Jesus (Luk 24:45) and of the opening of Lydia’s heart by the Lord (Act 16:14). One cannot refrain from saying that such exposition of the Scriptures as Jesus and Paul gave would lead to more opening of mind and heart. Paul was not only “expounding” the Scriptures, he was also “propounding” (the old meaning of “allege”) his doctrine or setting forth alongside the Scriptures (parȧtithemenos), quoting the Scripture to prove his contention which was made in much conflict (1Th 2:2), probably in the midst of heated discussion by the opposing rabbis who were anything but convinced by Paul’s powerful arguments, for the Cross was a stumbling-block to the Jews (1Co 1:23).
That it behoved the Christ to suffer (hoti ton Christon edei pathein). The second aorist active infinitive is the subject of edei with ton Christon, the accusative of general reference. This is Paul’s major premise in his argument from the Scriptures about the Messiah, the necessity of his sufferings according to the Scriptures, the very argument made by the Risen Jesus to the two on the way to Emmaus (Luk 24:25-27). The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah was a passage in point that the rabbis had overlooked. Peter made the same point in Act 3:18 and Paul again in Act 26:23. The minor premise is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
To rise again from the dead (anastēnai ek nekrōn). This second aorist active infinitive anastēnai is also the subject of edei. The actual resurrection of Jesus was also a necessity as Paul says he preached to them (1Th 4:14) and argued always from Scripture (1Co 15:3-4) and from his own experience (Act 9:22; Act 22:7; Act 26:8, Act 26:14; 1Co 15:8).
This Jesus is the Christ (houtos estin ho Christos, ho Iēsous). More precisely, “This is the Messiah, viz., Jesus whom I am proclaiming unto you.” This is the conclusion of Paul’s line of argument and it is logical and overwhelming. It is his method everywhere as in Damascus, in Antioch in Pisidia, here, in Corinth. He spoke as an eye-witness.