KJV: And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
YLT: and they said unto her, 'Thou art mad;' and she was confidently affirming it to be so, and they said, 'It is his messenger;'
Darby: And they said to her, Thou art mad. But she maintained that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.
ASV: And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. And they said, It is his angel.
Οἱ | - |
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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αὐτὴν | her |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
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εἶπαν | they said |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: λέγω Sense: to speak, say. |
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Μαίνῃ | You are out of your mind |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Singular Root: μαίνομαι Sense: to be mad, to rave. |
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ἡ | - |
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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διϊσχυρίζετο | she kept insisting |
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: διϊσχυρίζομαι Sense: to lean upon. |
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οὕτως | [it] so |
Parse: Adverb Root: οὕτως Sense: in this manner, thus, so. |
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ἔχειν | to be |
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: ἔχω Sense: to have, i.e. to hold. |
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ἔλεγον | they kept saying |
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: λέγω Sense: to speak, say. |
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ἄγγελός | angel |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἄγγελος Sense: a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God. |
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ἐστιν | it is |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
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αὐτοῦ | of him |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
Greek Commentary for Acts 12:15
Present middle indicative second person singular. Old verb, only in the middle voice. Festus used the same word to Paul (Acts 26:24). The maid was undoubtedly excited, but it was a curious rebuff from those who had been praying all night for Peter‘s release. In their defence it may be said that Stephen and James had been put to death and many others by Saul‘s persecution. [source]
Imperfect middle of διισχυριζομαι diischurizomai an old word of vigorous and confident assertion, originally to lean upon. Only here in the N.T. The girl stuck to her statement. It is his angel (ο αγγελος εστιν αυτου Ho aggelos estin autou). This was the second alternative of the disciples. It was a popular Jewish belief that each man had a guardian angel. Luke takes no position about it. No scripture teaches it. [source]
This was the second alternative of the disciples. It was a popular Jewish belief that each man had a guardian angel. Luke takes no position about it. No scripture teaches it. [source]
Better, confidently affirmed; constant is used in its older sense of consistent. The verb contains two ideas: strong assertion ( ἰσχύς ), andholding to the assertion through all contradiction ( διά ); hence, she strongly and consistently asserted. [source]
Guardian angel, according to the popular belief among the Jews that every individual has his guardian angel, who may, on occasion, assume a visible appearance resembling that of the person whose destiny is committed to him. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 12:15
Associative instrumental case showing manner (Robertson, Grammar, p. 530) and the predicate use of the adjective, “with the voice loud” (elevated). Thou art mad (μαινηι mainēi). Old verb for raving. See also John 10:20; Acts 12:15; 1 Corinthians 14:23. The enthusiasm of Paul was too much for Festus and then he had spoken of visions and resurrection from the dead (Acts 26:8). “Thou art going mad” (linear present), Festus means. Thy much learning doth turn thee to madness “Is turning thee round.” Old verb περιτρεπω peritrepō but only here in N.T. Festus thought that Paul‘s “much learning” (=“many letters,” cf. John 7:15 of Jesus) of the Hebrew Scriptures to which he had referred was turning his head to madness (wheels in his head) and he was going mad right before them all. The old word μανια mania (our mania, frenzy, cf. maniac) occurs here only in N.T. Note unusual position of σε se between πολλα polla and γραμματα grammata (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 418, 420) [source]
Old verb for raving. See also John 10:20; Acts 12:15; 1 Corinthians 14:23. The enthusiasm of Paul was too much for Festus and then he had spoken of visions and resurrection from the dead (Acts 26:8). “Thou art going mad” (linear present), Festus means. [source]
The exact meaning of the term here is uncertain. The following are the principal interpretations: 1. The officials known as angels or messengers of the synagogue, transferred to the Christian Church. These were mere clerks or readers; so that their position does not answer to that of the angels presiding over the churches. There is, besides, no trace of the transfer of that office to the Christian Church. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- 2. Angels proper Heavenly guardians of the churches. This is urged on the ground that the word is constantly used in Revelation of a heavenly being; by reference to the angels of the little ones (Matthew 18:10), and to Peter's angel (Acts 12:15). It is urged that, if an individual may have a guardian angel, so may a Church. Reference is also made to the tutelar national angels of Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- But why should the seer be instructed to write to heavenly messengers, with exhortations to repentance and fidelity, and describing them as “rich,” “poor,” “lukewarm,” etc. (Revelation 2:4; Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:16)?-DIVIDER- 3. The angels are a personification of the churches themselves: the Church being spoken of as if concentrated in its angel or messenger. But in Revelation 1:20, they are explicitly distinguished from the golden candlesticks, the churches. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- 4. The rulers ard teachers of the congregation. These are compared by Daniel (Daniel 12:3) to stars. See Malachi 2:7, where the priest is called the messenger (angel) of the Lord; and Malachi 3:1, where the same word is used of the prophet. See also Haggai 1:13. Under this interpretation two views are possible. (a) The angels are Bishops; the word ἄγγελος sometimes occurring in that sense (as in Jerome and Socrates). This raises the question of the existence of episcopacy towards the close of the first century. (b) The word is used of the ministry collectively; the whole board of officers, including both presbyters and deacons, who represented and were responsible for the moral condition of the churches. See Acts 20:17, Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-5. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- Dr. Schaff says: “This phraseology of the Apocalypse already looks towards the idea of episcopacy in its primitive form, that is, to a monarchical concentration of governmental form in one person, bearing a patriarchal relation to the congregation, and responsible in an eminent sense for the spiritual condition of the whole … . But even in this case we must insist on an important distinction between the 'angels' of the Book of Revelation and the later diocesan Bishops. For aside from the very limited extent of their charges, as compared with the large territory of most Greek, Roman Catholic, and Anglican Bishops, these angels stood below the Apostles and their legates, and were not yet invested with the great power (particularly the right to confirm and ordain) which fell to the later Bishops after the death of the Apostles … . The angels, accordingly, if we are to understand by them single individuals, must be considered as forming the transition from the presbyters of the apostolic age to the Bishops of the second century” (“History of the Apostolic Church”). -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- [source]
Masculine accusative retained without attraction to case of αστερων asterōn (genitive, ων hōn).In my right hand (επι της δεχιας μου epi tēs dexias mou). Or “upon,” but εν τηι en tēi etc., in Revelation 1:16.And the seven golden candlesticks “The seven lampstands the golden,” identifying the stars of Revelation 1:16 with the lampstands of Revelation 1:12. The accusative case here is even more peculiar than the accusative absolute μυστηριον mustērion since the genitive λυχνιων luchniōn after μυστηριον mustērion is what one would expect. Charles suggests that John did not revise his work.The angels of the seven churches (αγγελοι των επτα εκκλησιων aggeloi tōn hepta ekklēsiōn). Anarthrous in the predicate (angels of, etc.). “The seven churches” mentioned in Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:11. Various views of αγγελος aggelos here exist. The simplest is the etymological meaning of the word as messenger from αγγελλω aggellō (Matthew 11:10) as messengers from the seven churches to Patmos or by John from Patmos to the churches (or both). Another view is that αγγελος aggelos is the pastor of the church, the reading την γυναικα σου tēn gunaika sou (thy wife) in Revelation 2:20 (if genuine) confirming this view. Some would even take it to be the bishop over the elders as επισχοπος episcopos in Ignatius, but a separate αγγελος aggelos in each church is against this idea. Some take it to be a symbol for the church itself or the spirit and genius of the church, though distinguished in this very verse from the churches themselves (the lampstands). Others take it to be the guardian angel of each church assuming angelic patrons to be taught in Matthew 18:10; Acts 12:15. Each view is encompassed with difficulties, perhaps fewer belonging to the view that the “angel” is the pastor.Are seven churches These seven churches (Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:11) are themselves lampstands (Revelation 1:12) reflecting the light of Christ to the world (Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:12) in the midst of which Christ walks (Revelation 1:13). [source]
“The seven lampstands the golden,” identifying the stars of Revelation 1:16 with the lampstands of Revelation 1:12. The accusative case here is even more peculiar than the accusative absolute μυστηριον mustērion since the genitive λυχνιων luchniōn after μυστηριον mustērion is what one would expect. Charles suggests that John did not revise his work.The angels of the seven churches (αγγελοι των επτα εκκλησιων aggeloi tōn hepta ekklēsiōn). Anarthrous in the predicate (angels of, etc.). “The seven churches” mentioned in Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:11. Various views of αγγελος aggelos here exist. The simplest is the etymological meaning of the word as messenger from αγγελλω aggellō (Matthew 11:10) as messengers from the seven churches to Patmos or by John from Patmos to the churches (or both). Another view is that αγγελος aggelos is the pastor of the church, the reading την γυναικα σου tēn gunaika sou (thy wife) in Revelation 2:20 (if genuine) confirming this view. Some would even take it to be the bishop over the elders as επισχοπος episcopos in Ignatius, but a separate αγγελος aggelos in each church is against this idea. Some take it to be a symbol for the church itself or the spirit and genius of the church, though distinguished in this very verse from the churches themselves (the lampstands). Others take it to be the guardian angel of each church assuming angelic patrons to be taught in Matthew 18:10; Acts 12:15. Each view is encompassed with difficulties, perhaps fewer belonging to the view that the “angel” is the pastor.Are seven churches These seven churches (Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:11) are themselves lampstands (Revelation 1:12) reflecting the light of Christ to the world (Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:12) in the midst of which Christ walks (Revelation 1:13). [source]
Anarthrous in the predicate (angels of, etc.). “The seven churches” mentioned in Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:11. Various views of αγγελος aggelos here exist. The simplest is the etymological meaning of the word as messenger from αγγελλω aggellō (Matthew 11:10) as messengers from the seven churches to Patmos or by John from Patmos to the churches (or both). Another view is that αγγελος aggelos is the pastor of the church, the reading την γυναικα σου tēn gunaika sou (thy wife) in Revelation 2:20 (if genuine) confirming this view. Some would even take it to be the bishop over the elders as επισχοπος episcopos in Ignatius, but a separate αγγελος aggelos in each church is against this idea. Some take it to be a symbol for the church itself or the spirit and genius of the church, though distinguished in this very verse from the churches themselves (the lampstands). Others take it to be the guardian angel of each church assuming angelic patrons to be taught in Matthew 18:10; Acts 12:15. Each view is encompassed with difficulties, perhaps fewer belonging to the view that the “angel” is the pastor. [source]