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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 28:21 - 28:21
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
21. οὔτε γράμματα περὶ σοῦ ἐδεξάμεθα ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, neither letters from Judæa concerning thee. This may easily be understood. For no ship starting later than that in which St Paul sailed was likely to have arrived in Rome before he reached that city, and the Jews who conducted the accusation would take a little time for drawing up all the details which they desired to lay before the court of appeal, so that their despatch would be sent later than the time of Paul’s sailing. And before it was determined that he should be sent to Rome they would see no necessity for informing the Jews there concerning his case.
οὔτε παραγενόμενός τις τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἀπήγγειλεν ἢ ἐλάλησέν τι περὶ σοῦ πονηρόν, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee. It is very conceivable that during the time between Paul’s first arrest and his arrival in Rome (a period of more than two years) many opportunities might have arisen for news about the prisoner to have been sent to Rome. But apparently the speakers here wish merely to say that no news has come to them in connexion with this trial and appeal. They seem not to have been at all anxious to move in the matter. At whatever time the edict of Claudius was withdrawn it could only be within the last few years (ten at the most) that the Jewish population had been again permitted to come to Rome. They were probably loath therefore to call public attention again to their nation by appearing before the court of appeal in a cause connected with their religion.
On the use of ἀδελφοί by the Jews in speaking of their fellow-countrymen, cf. on Act 22:5.