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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 21:16 - 21:16
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16. συνῆλθον δὲ καὶ τῶν μαθητῶν, and there went with us also some of the disciples. The genitive without government in this fashion is rare, and the more usual thing is to find ἐκ, or some other preposition to govern it, as in Joh 16:17, εἶπον οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, Some then of His disciples said. Somewhat like the construction in this verse is Isaeus, Act 7:5, ὁ Θράσνλος τῶν ἐν Σικελίᾳ κατελέγν τριηράρχων, and Xen. Mem. I. 2. 31, Κριτίας τῶν τριάκοντα ἦν. But these are not with an active verb like συνῆλθον.
ἀπὸ Καισαρείας, from Cæsarea. The Evangelist had formed a Church where he had settled, and the congregation were, like their teacher, concerned at St Paul’s danger, and so some went with him to Jerusalem. Perhaps the nucleus of the Church may be dated from the baptism of Cornelius, and Philip settling in Caesarea carried on what had been begun by St Peter.
ἄγοντες παρ' ᾦ ξενισθῶμεν Μνάσονί τινι Κυπρίῳ, ἀρχαίῳ μαθητῇ, bringing with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. The construction is not easy to settle. The rendering just given takes παρ' ῷ ξευισθῶμεν as an inserted clause interfering with the regular government, which would be ἄγοντες Μνάσονά τινα. &c. The antecedent however is made to correspond in case with the intruded relative. This appears simplest, but others suppose. the sense to be ἄγοντες (ἡμᾶς) παρὰ Μνάσονά τινα … παρ' ᾦ ξενισθῶμεν, ‘leading us to the house of Mnason’ &c. It seems more natural to suppose that for some reason or other Mnason was at this time at Cæsarea, and that the arrangement by which the Apostle’s party became his guests was made with him there, than to consider that the disciples in Cæsarea, knowing Mnason’s hospitality and that he could receive such guests, agreed to carry them thither.
On Mnason’s reception of St Paul Chrysostom reflects thus: Παῦλον ἐξένιζεν ἐκεῖνος. τάχα τις ὑμῶν ἐρεῖ· εἴ τις κἀμοὶ Παῦλον ἔδωκε ξενίσαι, ἑτοίμως ἄν καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς προθυμίας τοῦτο ἐποίησα· ἰδοὺ τὸν Παύλου δεσπότην ἔξεστί σοι ξενίσαι, καὶ οὐ βούλει. ὁ γὰρ δεχόμενος, φησίν, ἕνα τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμὲ δέχεται.
Mnason belonged to Cyprus, but had now his home in Jerusalem. Just as Barnabas and Mary, the mother of John Mark, were also Cypriotes, but had fixed their home in the holy City. Mnason is called ἀρχαῖος μαθητής as having become a Christian in the beginning of the Gospel preaching, soon after the day of Pentecost. At the time of any of the great feasts it was no unnecessary precaution to settle on a lodging beforehand, for Jerusalem was certain to be full of people, and by this arrangement made in Cæsarea, the whole party was saved the trouble of searching for quarters when they arrived. To find a house in which the Apostle and those with him might all be received would probably have been attended with much difficulty. To be the owner of such a house Mnason must have been one of the wealthier members of the congregation. His name is Greek, and he was most likely one of the Hellenists, or, if he were a Jew, Mnason was perhaps substituted for some Jewish name, e.g. Manasseh.