KJV: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
YLT: that the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.'
Darby: namely, whether Christ should suffer; whether he first, through resurrection of the dead, should announce light both to the people and to the nations.
ASV: how that the Christ must suffer, and how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.
εἰ | that |
Parse: Conjunction Root: εἰ Sense: if, whether. |
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παθητὸς | would suffer |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: παθητός Sense: passible, endued with the capacity of suffering, capable of feeling. |
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Χριστός | Christ |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Χριστός Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God. |
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πρῶτος | first |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: πρῶτος Sense: first in time or place. |
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ἐξ | through |
Parse: Preposition Root: ἐκ Sense: out of, from, by, away from. |
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ἀναστάσεως | resurrection |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ἀνάστασις Sense: a raising up, rising (e. |
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νεκρῶν | from [the] dead |
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: νεκρός Sense: properly. |
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φῶς | light |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: φῶς Sense: light. |
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μέλλει | He is about |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: μέλλω Sense: to be about. |
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καταγγέλλειν | to preach |
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: καταγγέλλω Sense: to announce, declare, promulgate, make known. |
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τε | both |
Parse: Conjunction Root: τέ Sense: not only … but also. |
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λαῷ | our people |
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: λαός Sense: a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language. |
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τοῖς | to the |
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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ἔθνεσιν | Gentiles |
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural Root: ἔθνος Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together. |
Greek Commentary for Acts 26:23
Literally, “if the Messiah is subject to suffering.” Ει Ei can here mean “whether” as in Hebrews 7:15. This use of a verbal in τος ̇tos for capability or possibility occurs in the N.T. alone in πατητος pathētos (Robertson, Grammar, p. 157). This word occurs in Plutarch in this sense. It is like the Latin patibilis and is from ει πρωτος εχ αναστασεως νεκρων paschō Here alone in N.T. Paul is speaking from the Jewish point of view. Most rabbis had not rightly understood Isaiah 53:1-12. When the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29) it was a startling idea. It is not then “must suffer” here, but “can suffer.” The Cross of Christ was a stumbling-block to the rabbis. [source]
Same construction with πρωτος ei (whether). This point Paul had often discussed with the Jews: “whether he (the Messiah) by a resurrection of dead people.” Others had been raised from the dead, but Christ is the first Paul is still speaking from the Jewish standpoint: “is about to (going to) proclaim light.” See Acts 26:18 for “light” and Luke 2:32. Both to the people and to the Gentiles (ετνη tōi te laōi kai tois ethnesin). See Acts 26:17. It was at the word Gentiles (αναστασις ethnē) that the mob lost control of themselves in the speech from the stairs (Acts 22:21.). So it is here, only not because of that word, but because of the word “resurrection” (anastasis). [source]
See Acts 26:17. It was at the word Gentiles So it is here, only not because of that word, but because of the word “resurrection” (anastasis). [source]
Rather, if or whether the Messiah is liable to suffering. He expresses himself in a problematic form, because it was the point of debate among the Jews whether a suffering Messiah was to be believed in. They believed in a triumphant Messiah, and the doctrine of his sufferings was an obstacle to their receiving him as Messiah. Note the article, “the Christ,” and see on Matthew 1:1. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 26:23
To the disciples the first Sunday evening (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25), the second Sunday evening (John 20:26-29), at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-23), on the mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:6), to the disciples in Jerusalem and Olivet (Luke 24:44-53; Mark 16:19.; Acts 1:1-11). Luke uses this verb παριστημι paristēmi 13 times in the Acts both transitively and intransitively. It is rendered by various English words (present, furnish, provide, assist, commend). The early disciples including Paul never doubted the fact of the Resurrection, once they were convinced by personal experience. At first some doubted like Thomas (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:41; John 20:24.; Matthew 28:17). But after that they never wavered in their testimony to their own experience with the Risen Christ, “whereof we are witnesses” Peter said (Acts 3:15). They doubted at first, that we may believe, but at last they risked life itself in defence of this firm faith. After his passion (μετα το πατειν αυτον meta to pathein auton). Neat Greek idiom, μετα meta with the articular infinitive (second aorist active of πασχω paschō) and the accusative of general reference, “after the suffering as to him.” For πατειν pathein used absolutely of Christ‘s suffering see also Acts 17:3; Acts 26:23. By many proofs Literally, “in many proofs.” Τεκμηριον Tekmērion is only here in the N.T., though an old and common word in ancient Greek and occurring in the Koiné{[28928]}š (papyri, etc.). The verb τεκμαιρω tekmairō to prove by sure signs, is from τεκμαρ tekmar a sign. Luke does not hesitate to apply the definite word “proofs” to the evidence for the Resurrection of Christ after full investigation on the part of this scientific historian. Aristotle makes a distinction between τεκμηριον tekmērion (proof) and σημειον sēmeion (sign) as does Galen the medical writer. Appearing (οπτανομενος optanomenos). Present middle participle from late verb οπτανω optanō late Koiné{[28928]}š verb from root οπτω optō seen in οπσομαι ωπτην opsomaiοπτασια ōphthēn In lxx, papyri of second century b.c. (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 83). Only here in the N.T. For δι ημερων τεσσερακοντα optasia for vision, see note on Acts 26:19; Luke 1:22; Luke 24:23. By the space of forty days At intervals In the Gospel of Luke 24 this separation of forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension is not drawn. The things concerning the Kingdom of God (ευαγγελιον ta peri tēs basileias tou theou). This phrase appears 33 times in Luke‘s Gospel, 15 times in Mark, 4 times in Matthew who elsewhere has “the kingdom of heaven,” once in John, and 6 times in Acts. No essential distinction is to be drawn between the two for the Jews often used “heaven” rather than “God” to avoid using the Tetragrammaton. But it is noticeable how the word kingdom drops out of Acts. Other words like gospel (τα περι euaggelion) take the place of “kingdom.” Jesus was fond of the word “kingdom” and Luke is fond of the idiom “the things concerning” (ta peri). Certainly with Jesus the term “kingdom” applies to the present and the future and covers so much that it is not strange that the disciples with their notions of a political Messianic kingdom (Acts 1:6) were slow to comprehend the spiritual nature of the reign of God. [source]
Neat Greek idiom, μετα meta with the articular infinitive (second aorist active of πασχω paschō) and the accusative of general reference, “after the suffering as to him.” For πατειν pathein used absolutely of Christ‘s suffering see also Acts 17:3; Acts 26:23. [source]
The second aorist active infinitive is the subject of εδει edei with τον Χριστον ton Christon the accusative of general reference. This is Paul‘s major premise in his argument from the Scriptures about the Messiah, the necessity of his sufferings according to the Scriptures, the very argument made by the Risen Jesus to the two on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:25-27). The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah was a passage in point that the rabbis had overlooked. Peter made the same point in Acts 3:18 and Paul again in Acts 26:23. The minor premise is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. To rise again from the dead (αναστηναι εκ νεκρων anastēnai ek nekrōn). This second aorist active infinitive αναστηναι anastēnai is also the subject of εδει edei The actual resurrection of Jesus was also a necessity as Paul says he preached to them (1 Thessalonians 4:14) and argued always from Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and from his own experience (Acts 9:22; Acts 22:7; Acts 26:8, Acts 26:14; 1 Corinthians 15:8). This Jesus is the Christ More precisely, “This is the Messiah, viz., Jesus whom I am proclaiming unto you.” This is the conclusion of Paul‘s line of argument and it is logical and overwhelming. It is his method everywhere as in Damascus, in Antioch in Pisidia, here, in Corinth. He spoke as an eye-witness. [source]
Accusative of general reference with the aorist active infinitive Their crime, though real, was carrying out God‘s purpose (Acts 2:23; John 3:16). See the same idea in Acts 17:3; Acts 26:23. This “immense paradox” (Page) was a stumbling block to these Jews as it is yet (1 Corinthians 1:23). Peter discusses the sufferings of Christ in 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 5:1. [source]
Lit., unto Christ. So Rev., in margin. The sufferings destined for Christ, as in 1 Peter 1:10he speaks of the grace, εἰς ὑμᾶς , unto you; i.e., destined to come unto you. Peter was especially concerned to show that the sufferings of Christ were in fulfilment of prophecy, because it was a subject of dispute with the Jews whether the Christ was to suffer (Acts 3:18; Acts 26:22, Acts 26:23). [source]