KJV: There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
YLT: and there went also of the disciples from Caesarea with us, bringing with them him with whom we may lodge, a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an aged disciple.
Darby: And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing with them a certain Mnason, a Cyprian, an old disciple, with whom we were to lodge.
ASV: And there went with us also certain of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.
συνῆλθον | Went |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: συνέρχομαι Sense: to come together. |
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καὶ | also [some] |
Parse: Conjunction Root: καί Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but. |
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τῶν | of the |
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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μαθητῶν | disciples |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: μαθητής Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple. |
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Καισαρείας | Caesarea |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: Καισάρεια Sense: Caesarea of Philippi was situated at the foot of Lebanon near the sources of the Jordan in Gaulanitis, and formerly called Paneas; but afterward being rebuilt by Philip the tetrarch, it was called by him Caesarea, in honour of Tiberias Caesar; subsequently called Neronias by Agrippa II, in honour of Nero. |
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ἡμῖν | us |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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ἄγοντες | bringing [one] |
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ἄγω Sense: to lead, take with one. |
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ᾧ | whom |
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: ὅς Sense: who, which, what, that. |
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ξενισθῶμεν | we would lodge |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 1st Person Plural Root: ξενίζω Sense: to receive as a guest, to entertain, hospitably. |
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Μνάσωνί | Mnason |
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: Μνάσων Sense: a Christian from Cyprus, a common Greek name. |
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τινι | a certain |
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: τὶς Sense: a certain, a certain one. |
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Κυπρίῳ | Cypriot |
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: Κύπριος Sense: a Cyprian or Cypriote, i. |
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ἀρχαίῳ | an early |
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular Root: ἀρχαῖος Sense: that has been from the beginning, original, primal, old ancient. |
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μαθητῇ | disciple |
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: μαθητής Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple. |
Greek Commentary for Acts 21:16
The genitive here occurs with τινες tines understood as often in the Greek idiom, the partitive genitive used as nominative (Robertson, Grammar, p. 502). [source]
Nominative plural participle agreeing with τινες tines understood, not with case of ματητων mathētōn One Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge (παρ ωι χενιστωμεν Μνασωνι τινι Κυπριωι αρχαιωι ματητηι par hōi xenisthōmen Mnasnōi tini Kupriōi archaiōi mathētēi). A thoroughly idiomatic Greek idiom, incorporation and attraction of the antecedent into the relative clause (Robertson, Grammar, p. 718). Μνασωνι Mnasōni is really the object of αγοντες agontes or the accusative with παρα para or προς pros understood and should be accusative, but it is placed in the clause after the relative and in the same locative case with the relative ωι hōi (due to παρ par' beside, with). Then the rest agrees in case with Μνασωνι Mnasōni He was originally from Cyprus, but now in Caesarea. The Codex Bezae adds εις τινα κωμην eis tina kōmēn (to a certain village) and makes it mean that they were to lodge with Mnason at his home there about halfway to Jerusalem. This may be true. The use of the subjunctive χενιστωμεν xenisthōmen (first aorist passive of χενιζω xenizō to entertain strangers as in Acts 10:6, Acts 10:23, Acts 10:32 already) may be volitive of purpose with the relative (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 955, 989). The use of αρχαιωι archaiōi for “early” may refer to the fact that he was one of the original disciples at Pentecost as Peter in Acts 15:7 uses ημερων αρχαιων hēmerōn archaiōn (early days) to refer to his experience at Ceasarea in Acts 10. “As the number of the first disciples lessened, the next generation accorded a sort of honour to the survivors” (Furneaux). [source]
A thoroughly idiomatic Greek idiom, incorporation and attraction of the antecedent into the relative clause (Robertson, Grammar, p. 718). Μνασωνι Mnasōni is really the object of αγοντες agontes or the accusative with παρα para or προς pros understood and should be accusative, but it is placed in the clause after the relative and in the same locative case with the relative ωι hōi (due to παρ par' beside, with). Then the rest agrees in case with Μνασωνι Mnasōni He was originally from Cyprus, but now in Caesarea. The Codex Bezae adds εις τινα κωμην eis tina kōmēn (to a certain village) and makes it mean that they were to lodge with Mnason at his home there about halfway to Jerusalem. This may be true. The use of the subjunctive χενιστωμεν xenisthōmen (first aorist passive of χενιζω xenizō to entertain strangers as in Acts 10:6, Acts 10:23, Acts 10:32 already) may be volitive of purpose with the relative (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 955, 989). The use of αρχαιωι archaiōi for “early” may refer to the fact that he was one of the original disciples at Pentecost as Peter in Acts 15:7 uses ημερων αρχαιων hēmerōn archaiōn (early days) to refer to his experience at Ceasarea in Acts 10. “As the number of the first disciples lessened, the next generation accorded a sort of honour to the survivors” (Furneaux). [source]
This would imply that Mnason was at Caesarea, and accompanied Paul and his companions to Jerusalem. It seems better to suppose that the disciples accompanied the apostle in order to introduce him to Mnason, whom they knew. Render, conducting us to Mnason, with whom we should lodge. [source]
Better, as Rev., early. The rendering old might be taken to mean aged; whereas the word means of long standing. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 21:16
This word, common in Mark‘s Gospel as ευτυς euthus gives trouble if one stresses the time element. The problem is how much time intervenes between “the tribulation of those days” and the vivid symbolism of Matthew 24:29. The use of εν ταχει en tachei in Revelation 1:1 should make one pause before he decides. Here we have a prophetic panorama like that with foreshortened perspective. The apocalyptic pictures in Matthew 24:29 also call for sobriety of judgment. One may compare Joel‘s prophecy as interpreted by Peter in Acts 21:16-22. Literalism is not appropriate in this apocalyptic eschatology. [source]
The wonder was that he had waited so long. Probably Paul asked him to do so. He was the usual spokesman for the apostles and his activities in Jerusalem were well-known. In particular his experience at Caesarea (Acts 10) had caused trouble here in Jerusalem from this very same party of the circumcism (Acts 11:1-18). It was fitting that Peter should speak. This is the last time that Peter appears in the Acts. A good while ago (απ ημερων αρχαιων aph' hēmerōn archaiōn). From ancient days. The adjective αρχαιος archaios is from αρχη archē beginning, and its actual age is a matter of relativity. So Mnason (Acts 21:16) is termed “an ancient disciple.” It was probably a dozen years since God “made choice” (εχελεχατο exelexato) to speak by Peter‘s mouth to Cornelius and the other Gentiles in Caesarea. His point is that what Paul and Barnabas have reported is nothing new. The Judaizers made objection then as they are doing now. [source]
From ancient days. The adjective αρχαιος archaios is from αρχη archē beginning, and its actual age is a matter of relativity. So Mnason (Acts 21:16) is termed “an ancient disciple.” It was probably a dozen years since God “made choice” (εχελεχατο exelexato) to speak by Peter‘s mouth to Cornelius and the other Gentiles in Caesarea. His point is that what Paul and Barnabas have reported is nothing new. The Judaizers made objection then as they are doing now. [source]
Lit. what he may offer. The construction is unusual. Comp. Acts 21:16. The statement is a truism, unless it be assumed that the Hebrew Christians were ignorant of the doctrine of Christ's priesthood. [source]
As in Hebrews 5:1. To offer Articular infinitive accusative case with εις eis as is common while ινα προσπερηι hina prospherēi A moral and logical necessity (from αναγκη anagkē necessity) as seen in Acts 13:46; Philemon 1:24. This high priest also “This one also,” no word for high priest, accusative of general reference with the infinitive εχειν echein (have). Somewhat to offer Second aorist active subjunctive of προσπερω prospherō (Hebrews 8:3). Vulgate aliquid quod offerat. The use of the subjunctive in this relative clause is probably volitive as in Acts 21:16; Hebrews 12:28 (possibly here merely futuristic), but note ο προσπερει ho prospherei (present indicative) in Hebrews 9:7. See Robertson, Grammar, p. 955. [source]
Four words are used in the New Testament for old or elder. Of these γέρων and πρεσβύτερος refer merely to the age of men, or, the latter, to official position based primarily upon age. Hence the official term elder. Between the two others, ἀρχαῖος and παλαιός , the distinction is not sharply maintained. Ἁρχαῖος emphasizes the reaching back to a beginning ( ἀρχή ) Thus Satan is “that old ( ἀρχαῖος ) serpent,” whose evil work was coeval with the beginning of time (Revelation 7:9; Revelation 20:2). The world before the flood is “the old ( ἀρχαῖος ) world” (2 Peter 2:5). Mnason was “an old ( ἀρχαῖος ) disciple;” not aged, but having been a disciple from the beginning (Acts 21:16). Sophocles, in “Trachiniae,” 555, gives both words. “I had an old ( παλαιὸν ) gift,” i.e., received long ago, “from the old ( ἀρχαίου ) Centaur.” The Centaur is conceived as an old-world creature, belonging to a state of things which has passed away. It carries, therefore, the idea of old fashioned: peculiar to an obsolete state of things. Παλαιός carries the sense of worn out by time, injury, sorrow, or other causes. Thus the old garment (Matthew 9:16) is παλαιόν . So the old wine-skins (Matthew 9:17). The old men of a living generation compared with the young of the same generation are παλαιοί . In παλαιός the simple conception of time dominates. In ἀρχαῖος there is often a suggestion of a character answering to the remote age. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- The commandment is here called old because it belonged to the first stage of the Christian church. Believers had had it from the beginning of their Christian faith. [source]