SEV Biblia, Chapter 26:3
mayormente sabiendo t todas las costumbres y cuestiones que hay entre los judíos, por lo cual te ruego que me oigas con paciencia.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. Especially, because I know thee to be expert in all customs , etc.] Rites and ceremonies of the Jews, whether enjoined by the law of Moses, or by the elders, fathers, and wise men: and questions which are among the Jews ; concerning angels, spirits, and the resurrection of the dead; which were moved and agitated between the Sadducees and Pharisees; and a multitude of others, which were disputed between the schools of Hillell and Shammai, of which their Misna and Talmud are full, and with these Agrippa was well acquainted; and to their rites and customs he conformed, of which we have some instances recorded in their writings: when they went with their firstfruits to Jerusalem f1220 , a pipe sounded before them till they came to the mountain of the house, and when they came to the mountain of the house (the temple), even King Agrippa carried the basket upon his shoulder, and went in till he came to the court. So concerning the reading of the law by a king, they give this following account f1221 : a king stands and takes (the book of the law), and reads sitting; King Agrippa stood and took it, and read standing, and the wise men praised him; and when he came to that passage, ( Deuteronomy 17:15) Thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, his eyes flowed with tears; they said unto him, fear not, Agrippa, thou art our brother.
Some of their writers say f1222 , this was a piece of flattery in them: they also elsewhere commend him for his modesty and humility f1223 ; according to the tradition of the doctors, when persons attending a funeral met a bride (with her retinue), the former gave way, and both to a king of Israel, when they met him; but they say concerning King Agrippa, that he met a bride, and gave way, and they praised him.
And whereas it was forbidden to eat on the eve of the passover, before the Minchah, though ever so little, that they might eat the unleavened bread with appetite f1224 ; it is observed, that even King Agrippa, who was used to eat at the ninth hour, that day did not eat till it was dark f1225 : so that from hence it appears, that King Agrippa was famous for his exact knowledge and observance of the customs and manners of the Jews, and which was well known, and was by the apostle: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently ; since he was charged with a breach of the laws and customs of the Jews; and his defence would proceed upon things which Agrippa was not altogether ignorant of.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Christianity teaches us to give a reason of the hope that is in us, an also to give honour to whom honour is due, without flattery or fear of man. Agrippa was well versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament therefore could the better judge as to the controversy about Jesu being the Messiah. Surely ministers may expect, when they preach the faith of Christ, to be heard patiently. Paul professes that he stil kept to all the good in which he was first educated and trained up. Se here what his religion was. He was a moralist, a man of virtue, and ha not learned the arts of the crafty, covetous Pharisees; he was no chargeable with any open vice and profaneness. He was sound in the faith. He always had a holy regard for the ancient promise made of God unto the fathers, and built his hope upon it. The apostle knew very well that all this would not justify him before God, yet he knew it wa for his reputation among the Jews, and an argument that he was not suc a man as they represented him to be. Though he counted this but loss that he might win Christ, yet he mentioned it when it might serve to honour Christ. See here what Paul's religion is; he has not such zea for the ceremonial law as he had in his youth; the sacrifices an offerings appointed by that, are done away by the great Sacrifice whic they typified. Of the ceremonial cleansings he makes no conscience, an thinks the Levitical priesthood is done away in the priesthood of Christ; but, as to the main principles of his religion, he is a zealous as ever. Christ and heaven, are the two great doctrines of the gospel; that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. These are the matter of the promise made unto the fathers. The temple service, or continual course of religious duties, day and night was kept up as the profession of faith in the promise of eternal life and in expectation of it. The prospect of eternal life should engage u to be diligent and stedfast in all religious exercises. Yet the Sadducees hated Paul for preaching the resurrection; and the other Jew joined them, because he testified that Jesus was risen, and was the promised Redeemer of Israel. Many things are thought to be beyon belief, only because the infinite nature and perfections of Him tha has revealed, performed, or promised them, are overlooked. Pau acknowledged, that while he continued a Pharisee, he was a bitter enem to Christianity. This was his character and manner of life in the beginning of his time; and there was every thing to hinder his being Christian. Those who have been most strict in their conduct befor conversion, will afterwards see abundant reason for humblin themselves, even on account of things which they then thought ought to have been done.
Greek Textus Receptus
μαλιστα 3122 ADV γνωστην 1109 N-ASM οντα 5607 5752 V-PXP-ASM σε 4571 P-2AS {VAR2: ειδως 1492 5761 V-RAP-NSM } παντων 3956 A-GPM των 3588 T-GPN κατα 2596 PREP ιουδαιους 2453 A-APM εθων 1485 N-GPN τε 5037 PRT και 2532 CONJ ζητηματων 2213 N-GPN διο 1352 CONJ δεομαι 1189 5736 V-PNI-1S σου 4675 P-2GS μακροθυμως 3116 ADV ακουσαι 191 5658 V-AAN μου 3450 P-1GS
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Expert (gnwsthn). Lit., a knower.Questions (zhthmatwn). See on ch. xv. 2.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
26:3 {Especially because thou art expert} (malista gnwsten onta se). Or like the margin, "because thou art especially expert," according as malista is construed. gnwsten is from ginwskw and means a knower, expert, connoisseur. Plutarch uses it and Deissmann (_Light_, etc., p. 367) restores it in a papyrus. Agrippa had the care of the temple, the appointment of the high priest, and the care of the sacred vestments. But the accusative onta se gives trouble here coming so soon after sou (genitive with epi). Some MSS. insert epistamenos or eidws (knowing) but neither is genuine. Page takes it as "governed by the sense of thinking or considering." Knowling considers it an anacoluthon. Buttmann held it to be an accusative absolute after the old Greek idiom. tucon is such an instance though used as an adverb (#1Co 16:6). It is possible that one exists in #Eph 1:18. See other examples discussed in Robertson's _Grammar_, pp. 490f. {Customs and questions} (eqwn te kai zetematwn). Both _consuetudinum in practicis_ and _quaestionum in theoreticis_ (Bengel). Agrippa was qualified to give Paul an understanding and a sympathetic hearing. Paul understands perfectly the grand-stand play of the whole performance, but he refused to be silent and chose to use this opportunity, slim as it seemed, to get a fresh hearing for his own case and to present the claims of Christ to this influential man. His address is a masterpiece of noble apologetic. {Patiently} (makroqumws). Adverb from makroqumos. Only here in the N.T., though makroqumia occurs several times. Vulgate has _longanimiter_. Long spirit, endurance, opposite of impatience. So Paul takes his time.
