Acts 18:6

Opposed themselves. Or, “set themselves up in opposition.” The verb implies strong opposition, as a force drawn up in battle array. The opposition to Paul was well organized and determined. Blasphemed. Gr. blasphemed, “to speak evilly [of someone],” “to reproach,” “to blaspheme.” The word comes from blax, “stupid,” and phemi, “to speak.” Certainly unwarranted reproach is “stupid speech,” and blasphemy is much more. In the present instance, the Jews’ blasphemy doubtless involved evilspeaking not only against Paul, but also against Christ, which was blasphemy in its fullest sense. Compare the use of blasphemed in 2 Peter 2:2: “The way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” The same conduct, though the word is different, is described in Acts 19:9: “spake evil of that way before the multitude.” These disturbances reproduced what had doubtless already taken place at Rome (see on ch. 18:2) and what had occurred at many other places (see chs. 13; 14; etc.). An echo of the blasphemies may be found in the expression “Jesus be cursed!” (1 Cor. 12:3, RSV). Shook his raiment. On the significance of the act see on Neh. 5:13; Matt. 10:14; Acts 13:51. As an act by a Jew to Jews, it registered the apostle’s indignation better than would any other action. It was Paul’s last recourse. His appeals to reason and conscience were met only by brute violence. Blood. He uses the word “blood” in the sense of “destruction,” using figurative language (cf. Joshua 2:19). The thought and the form in which it is expressed are both essentially Hebrew (see on Matt. 27:25). Compare the language of Ezekiel that defined his responsibility as a watchman (Eze. 3:18, 19). Unto the Gentiles. See on ch. 13:46. Obviously what Paul said about turning from the Jews had only a limited and local application. The apostle did not discontinue all work among the Jews, but simply gave up preaching to them at Corinth (cf. chs. 9:15; 19:8).