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2. ὁ δὲ ἀρχιερεὺχ Ἀνανίας, and the high priest Ananias. This was Ananias the son of Nebedæus (Joseph. Ant. xx. 5. 2). In the time of the Emperor Claudius he had been suspended from his office for some offence and sent to Rome (Ant. xx. 6. 2) but afterwards seems to have been held in great reputation in Jerusalem (Ant. xx. 9. 2).
τύπτειν αὐτοῦ τὸ στόμα, to smite him on the mouth. No doubt St Paul’s address, before the high priest gave this order, had extended much beyond the single sentence which St Luke records. He only preserves for us that which appears to have moved the anger of the authorities, his claim to have led a life of which in God’s sight he was not ashamed. The action was intended to put a stop to what would be counted the presumptuous language of St Paul.
For ρύπτειν τὸ στόμα τινος, which is not a common form, cf. Luk 22:64.