of command or appoint. See Matt. xi. 1; Luke iii. 13. In 1 Cor. xi. 34, it is translated set in order. The reference is most probably to the Jewish tradition that the law was given through the agency of angels. See Deut. xxxiii. 2. Compare Ps. lxviii. 17. Paul expressly says that the law was administered by the medium of angels (Gal. iii. 19). Compare the word spoken by angels (Heb. ii. 2). Render, therefore, as Rev., as it was ordained by angels.

54. They were cut. See on ch. v. 33. In both instances, of anger. A different word is used to express remorse, ch. ii. 37.

Gnashed (eẞpuxov). Originally to eat greedily, with a noise, as wild beasts: hence to gnash or grind the teeth.

55. Being (vπápxwv). See on Jas. ii. 15.

Looked up steadfastly. Compare ch. i. 10; iii. 4, 12; vi. 15; and see on Luke iv. 20.

Standing. Rising from the throne to protect and receive his servant. Usually Jesus is represented in the New Testament as seated at the Father's right hand. See Eph. i. 20; Col. iii. 1; Heb. i. 3.

56. I see (Jewpw). See on Luke x. 18.

The Son of man. A title never applied to Christ by any of the apostles or evangelists, except here by Stephen. See on Luke vi. 22.

57. Stopped (ovvéoxov). Lit., held together.

58. Stoned. According to the Rabbis, the scaffold to which the criminal was to be led, with his hands bound, was to be twice the size of a man. One of the witnesses was to smite him with a stone upon the breast, so as to throw him down. If he were not killed, the second witness was to throw another stone at

him. Then, if he were yet alive, all the people were to stone him until he was dead. The body was then to be suspended till sunset.

A young man (veavíov). Which, however, gives no indication of his age, since it is applied up to the age of forty-five. Thirty years after Stephen's martyrdom, Paul speaks of himself as the aged (Philem. 9).

Saul. The first mention of the apostle to the Gentiles.

59. Calling upon God. God is not in the Greek. From the vision just described, and from the prayer which follows, it is evident that Jesus is meant. So Rev., the Lord.

Jesus. An unquestionable prayer to Christ.

60. Lay not this sin to their charge (un ornons AvTOîs TǹV ȧμаρтíaν Taúτην). Lit., fix not this sin upon them.

(ἐκοιμήθη).

He fell asleep (exoμýn). Marking his calm and peaceful death. Though the pagan authors sometimes used sleep to signify death, it was only as à poetic figure. When Christ, on the other hand, said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth (Keкoiμηтai),” he used the word, not as a figure, but as the expression of a fact. In that mystery of death, in which the pagan saw only nothingness, Jesus saw continued life, rest, waking-the elements which enter into sleep. And thus, in Christian speech and thought, as the doctrine of the resurrection struck its roots deeper, the word dead, with its hopeless finality, gave place to the more gracious and hopeful word sleep. The pagan buryingplace carried in its name no suggestion of hope or comfort. It was a burying-place, a hiding-place, a monumentum, a mere memorial of something gone; a columbarium, or dove-cot, with its little pigeon-holes for cinerary urns; but the Christian thought of death as sleep, brought with it into Christian speech the kindred thought of a chamber of rest, and embodied it in the word cemetery (Koiμnτýρiov)—the place to lie down to sleep.

CHAPTER VIII.

1. Death (avaipéσoe). Lit., taking off. See on Luke xxiii. 32.

2. Devout. See on Luke ii. 25.

Carried to his burial (ovveкóμioav). Only here in New Testament. Lit., to carry together; hence, either to assist in burying or, better, to bring the dead to the company (ovv) of the other dead. The word is used of bringing in harvest.

Stephen (répavov). Meaning crown. He was the first who received the martyr's crown.

Lamentation (KOTTETÒV). Lit., beating (of the breast). Only here in New Testament.

3. Made havoc (exvμaíveтo). Only here in New Testament. In Septuagint, Ps. lxxix. 13, it is used of the laying waste of a vineyard by the wild boar. Compare Acts ix. 21, where the A. V. has destroyed, but where the Greek is ToρInσas, devastated. Canon Farrar observes: "The part which he played at this time in the horrid work of persecution has, I fear, been always underrated. It is only when we collect the separate passages they are no less than eight in number-in which allusion is made to this sad period,* it is only when we weigh the terrible significance of the expressions used that we feel the load of remorse which must have lain upon him, and the taunts to which he was liable from malignant enemies" ("Life and Work of St. Paul"). Note the imperfect, of continued action.

5. Philip. The deacon (Acts vi. 5). Not the apostle. On the name, see on Mark iii. 18.

* See Acts viii. 3; ix. 2; xxii. 3, 4; xxvi. 9, 10.

Christ (Tov Xploтóv). Note the article, "the Christ," and see on Matt. i. 1.

(ἐποίει).

He did (eπole). Imperfect. Kept doing from time to time, as is described in the next verse.

7. Taken with palsies (πapaλeλvμévoi). Rev., more neatly, palsied. See on Luke v. 18.

Were healed. See on Luke v. 15.

9. Used sorcery (uayevwv). Only here in New Testament. One of the wizards so numerous throughout the East at that time, and multiplied by the general expectation of a great deliverer and the spread of the Messianic notions of the Jews, who practised upon the credulity of the people by conjuring and juggling and soothsaying.

Bewitched (LOTŵv). Better as Rev., amazed. See on ch. ii. 7.

10. The great power of God. The best texts add ǹ κaλovpévn, which is called, and render that power of God which is called great. They believed that Simon was an impersonated power of God, which, as the highest of powers, they designated as the great.

11. Bewitched. Amazed, as ver. 9.

13. Continued with. See on ch. i. 14.

Miracles and signs (σnμeîa kaì dvváμeis). Lit., signs and powers. See on Matt. xi. 20; Acts ii. 22.

Which were done (yivoμévas). The present participle. Lit., are coming to pass.

He was amazed.

After having amazed the people by his tricks. See ver. 9. The same word is employed.

14. Samaria. The country, not the city. See vv. 5, 9.

16. They were (vπnрxov). See on Jas. ii. 15. Rev., more literally, had been.

In the name (eis тò Ŏvoμa). Lit., "into the name.” Matt. xxviii. 19.

See on

20. Perish with thee (où σoì ein eis áπwλeiav). Lit., be along with thee unto destruction. Destruction overtake thy money and thyself.

21. Part nor lot. Lot expresses the same idea as part, but figuratively.

Matter (Móy). The matter of which we are talking: the subject of discourse, as Luke i. 4; Acts xv. 6.

Right (eveîa). Lit., straight.

22. If perhaps. The doubt suggested by the heinousness of the offence.

Thought (éπívola). Only here in New Testament. Lit., a thinking on or contriving; and hence implying a plan or design.

23. In the gall (eis xoλnv). Lit., into. Thou hast fallen into and continuest in. Gall, only here and Matt. xxvii. 34. Gall of bitterness is bitter enmity against the Gospel.

Bond of iniquity (σúvdeoμov àdicías). Thou hast fallen into iniquity as into fetters. The word oúvdeopov denotes a close, firm bond (ovv, together). It is used of the bond of Christian peace (Eph. iv. 3); of the close compacting of the church represented as a body (Col. ii. 19); and of love as the bond of perfectness (Col. iii. 14). See Isa. lviii. 6.

26. The south (μeonμßplav). A contracted form of μeonpepía, midday, noon, which is the rendering at Acts xxii. 6,