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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Acts 21:24 - 21:24
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
These take (toutous paralabōn). Second aorist active participle of paralambanō. Taking these alone.
Purify thyself with them (hagnisthēti sun autois). First aorist passive imperative of hagnizō, old verb to purify, to make pure (hagnos). See the active voice in Jam 4:8; 1Pe 1:22; 1 Jo 1Pe 3:3. It is possible to see the full passive force here, “Be purified.” But a number of aorist passives in the Koiné[28928]š supplant the aorist middle forms and preserve the force of the middle (Robertson, Grammar, p. 819). That is possible here. Hence, “Purify thyself” is allowable. The word occurs in Num 6:1 for taking the Nazarite vow. The point is that Paul takes the vow with them. Note hagnismou in Act 21:26.
Be at charges for them (dapanēson ep' autois). First aorist active imperative of old verb dapanaō, to incur expense, expend. Spend (money) upon (ep') them. Ramsay (St. Paul the Traveller, etc., p. 310) argues that Paul had use of considerable money at this period, perhaps from his father’s estate. The charges for five men would be considerable. “A poor man would not have been treated with the respect paid him at Caesarea, on the voyage, and at Rome” (Furneaux).
That they may shave their heads (hina xurēsontai tēn kephalēn). Note tēn kephalēn, the head (singular). Future middle indicative of xuraō, late form for the old xureō, to shave, middle to shave oneself or (causative) to get oneself shaved. This use of hina with the future indicative is like the classic hopōs with the future indicative and is common in the N.T. as in the Koiné[28928]š (Robertson, Grammar, p. 984).
And all shall know (kai gnōsontai). This future middle indicative of ginōskō (cf. akousontai in Act 21:22) may be independent of hina or dependent on it like xurēsontai, though some MSS. (H L P) have gnōsin (second aorist subjunctive, clearly dependent on hina).
Of which (hōn). Genitive plural of the relative ha (accusative) object of the perfect passive verb katēchēntai (cf. Act 21:21katēchēthēsan) attracted into the case of the omitted antecedent toutōn. The instruction still in effect.
But that thou thyself walkest orderly (alla stoicheis kai autos). Stoicheis is an old verb to go in a row (from stoichos, row, rank, series), to walk in a line or by rule. In the N.T. only here and Gal 5:25; Rom 4:12; Phi 3:16. The rule is the law and Paul was not a sidestepper. The idea of the verb is made plain by the participle phulassōn ton nomon (keeping or observing the law).