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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 23:23 - 23:23
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
23. τινὰς δύο, two. The effect of τινάς is to intimate that the number is not precisely given; ‘two or so,’ ‘about two.’ But this cannot be put into acceptable English.
ὅπως πορευθῶσιν ἕως Καισαρείας, to go unto Cæsarea. ἕως literally ‘as far as.’ Cæsarea was the residence of the Roman governor and the seat of the chief jurisdiction. The distance from Jerusalem to Cæsarea is about 70 miles.
δεξιολάβους, spearmen. The Greek word is a very unusual one, and signifies ‘graspers by the right hand.’ Hence it has been explained, as in the A.V., of soldiers who carried a spear in their right hand; others have thought a military guard was meant, who kept on the right hand of the prisoners of whom they had charge. Others, soldiers who were fastened to the right hand of the prisoners. This is improbable, because for such a purpose two hundred could not have been needed. The Vulgate gives lancearii, lancers.
ἀπὸ τρίτης ὥρας τῆς νυκτός, at the third hour of the night. This, according to Jewish reckoning, would be 9 P.M.
This was to be the point in time from which the journey was to commence. Hence ἀπό is used to define it.