{Ananias} (Hananias). Not the one in Lu 3:2 Joh 18:13 Ac 4:7 , but the son of Nebedaeus, nominated high priest by
Herod, King of Chalcis, A.D. 48 and till A.D. 59. He was called
to Rome A.D. 52 to answer "a charge of rapine and cruelty made
against him by the Samaritans, but honourably acquitted" (Page).
Though high priest, he was a man of bad character. {Them that
stood by him} ( ois parest(9373)in aut(9369)). Dative case of second
perfect participle of parist(886d)i, to place, and intransitive.
See the same form in verse 4 (parest(9374)es). {To smite him on
the mouth} ( uptein autou to stoma). See on 气2:45; 18:17|. Cf.
the treatment of Jesus ( Joh 18:22 ). Ananias was provoked by
Paul's self-assertion while on trial before his judges. "The act
was illegal and peculiarly offensive to a Jew at the hands of a
Jew" (Knowling). More self-control might have served Paul better.
Smiting the mouth or cheek is a peculiarly irritating offence and
one not uncommon among the Jews and this fact gives point to the
command of Jesus to turn the other check ( Lu 6:29 where upt(935c)
is also used).
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