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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Acts 21:40 - 21:40
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When he had given him leave (epitrepsantos autou). Genitive absolute of aorist active participle of the same verb epitrepō.
Standing on the stairs (hestōs epi tōn anabathmōn). Second perfect active participle of histēmi, to place, but intransitive to stand. Dramatic scene. Paul had faced many audiences and crowds, but never one quite like this. Most men would have feared to speak, but not so Paul. He will speak about himself only as it gives him a chance to put Christ before this angry Jewish mob who look on Paul as a renegade Jew, a turncoat, a deserter, who went back on Gamaliel and all the traditions of his people, who not only turned from Judaism to Christianity, but who went after Gentiles and treated Gentiles as if they were on a par with Jews. Paul knows only too well what this mob thinks of him.
Beckoned with the hand (kateseise tēi cheiri). He shook down to the multitude with the hand (instrumental case cheiri), while Alexander, Luke says (Act 19:33), “shook down the hand” (accusative with the same verb, which see). In Act 26:1 Paul reached out the hand (ekteinas tēn cheira).
When there was made a great silence (pollēs sigēs genomenēs). Genitive absolute again with second aorist middle participle of ginomai, “much silence having come.” Paul waited till silence had come.
In the Hebrew language (tēi Ebraidi dialektōi). The Aramaean which the people in Jerusalem knew better than the Greek. Paul could use either tongue at will. His enemies had said in Corinth that “his bodily presence was weak and his speech contemptible” (2Co 10:10). But surely even they would have to admit that Paul’s stature and words reach heroic proportions on this occasion. Self-possessed with majestic poise Paul faces the outraged mob beneath the stairs.