A.T. Robertson Commentary Acts 26:20

A.T. Robertson Commentary

Acts 26:20

1863–1934
Southern Baptist
A.T. Robertson
A.T. Robertson

A.T. Robertson Commentary

Acts 26:20

1863–1934
Southern Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"but declared both to them of Damascus first and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance." — Acts 26:20 (ASV)

But declared (αλλα απηγγελλον). Imperfect active of απαγγελλω, repeatedly.

Throughout all the country of Judea (πασαν τε την χωραν της Ιουδαιας). The accusative here in the midst of the datives (τοις εν Δαμασκωι, Ιεροσολυμοισ, τοις εθνεσιν) seems strange and Page feels certain that εις should be here even though absent in Aleph A B. But the accusative of extent of space will explain it (Robertson, Grammar, p. 469).

Doing works worthy of repentance (αξια της μετανοιας εργα πρασσοντας). Accusative case of present active participle πρασσοντας because of the implied αυτους with the present infinitive μετανοειν (repent) and επιστρεφειν (turn), though the dative πρασσουσιν could have been used to agree with εθνεσιν (Gentiles). Cf. Matthew 3:8 for similar language used of the Baptist. Paul, the greatest of theologians, was an interesting practical preacher.