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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 3:2 - 3:2
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
2. ἐκ. Just as when this preposition is used with words directly indicative of time, the idea here contained in it is of a starting-point since which a certain state has been continuous. Cf. Act 24:10, ἐκ πολλῶν ἐτῶν ὄντα κριτήν. Render, a certain man who was lame, otherwise ὑπάρχων is not represented.
ἐβαστάζετο … ἐτίθουν. The imperfect tenses imply that this was done regularly every day, and the position in which he had been daily set for the greater part of his forty years’ life (see Act 4:22) made it certain that he would be widely and well known. In the same fashion Bartimaeus sat by the wayside to beg (Mar 10:46).
πρὸς τὴν θύραν … ὡραίαν. The gateways of the Temple gave admission to the inner court from the court of the Gentiles and the court of the women. There were three on the north and the same number on the south, but the Beautiful Gate meant in this verse was probably the gate on the east which led from the court of the women. The other gates, Josephus says (B. J. Act 3:5; Act 3:3), were overlaid with gold and silver, but this one was ‘made of Corinthian bronze, and much surpassed in worth those enriched with silver and gold.’
τοῦ αἰτεῖν, to ask. This form of construction of the infinitive with τοῦ to indicate purpose is abundantly common in N.T. and LXX. Cf. Gen 4:15, καὶ ἔθετο κύριος ὁ θεὸς σημεῖον τῷ Κάϊν τοῦ μὴ ἀνελεῖν αὐτὸν πάντα τὸν εὑρίσκοντα αὐτόν.
ἐλεημοσύνην. Not a classical word, but very common in the LXX., first, for the feeling of mercy which dictates the giving of alms, and then, for the gift itself, as here. For the latter sense see Tob 12:8, ἀγαθὸν προσευχὴ μετὰ νηστείας καὶ ἐλεημοσύνης … καλὸν ποιῆσαι ἐλεημοσύνην ἢ θησαυρίσαι χρυσίον. Also Sir 3:14; Sir 3:30; Sir 35:2.
From this word comes the English alms, formerly spelt almesse, or awmous, and in German it has become almosen.