Men, brethren and fathers, hear ye the account which I now give unto you.
ανδρες αδελφοι και πατερες ακουσατε μου της προς υμας νυνι απολογιας
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
See how free his words are from flattery and how full of meekness. He did not say, "lords" or "masters," but "brethren," which was especially pleasing to them. It was as though he said, I am not a stranger to you and not against you. "Men, brethren and fathers," he says. By the latter word he expresses respect, and by the former, kinship. "Hear now my defense before you." He did not say "instruction" or "speech," but "defense." He presents himself as one on trial.
The expression "fathers" is a sign of respect, while the expression "brethren" indicates kinship. See how his word is free from flattery and full of meekness. He did not say, "lords," but "brethren," which was especially pleasing to the people. I am not a stranger to you, he says, and not against you.
At the entrance to the fortress, on the stairs, the Apostle Paul asked the tribune for permission to speak to the people. He then addressed them and, in defense of himself, recounted the history of his wondrous conversion to Christ; see the interpretations on chapter 9.
Men, brethren, and fathers: the first address is directed to all who had assembled. The last is a respectful address to those higher in rank and older in years. The middle expression shows Paul's brotherly love for all his people; cf. Acts 7:2. My defense means his answer to the accusations brought against him by some of them, the Jews from Asia Minor; Acts 21:27-28.
The Apostle Paul’s speech in Jerusalem, from the fortress stairs to the Jews who had risen against him in the temple, is full of wisdom, forgiveness, and the fullest love for his enemies.
He calls it a defense. Therefore he begins by explaining who he is. With particular force he points out that he is not alien to Jerusalem and to all that is especially honored there.
Namely, he is a zealot for God, carefully raised in that direction under the best teacher of that time, Gamaliel. He also calls his hearers zealots for God.
He does not flatter them, but notes their real quality. It had only received a perverse direction from malicious men, the apostle’s first accusers.
That many then acted from irrational zeal is also evident from the fact that they listened to the apostle’s speech in their native language with special attention.
“See,” says Saint John Chrysostom, “with what meekness he speaks. This also is the greatest proof of his innocence, that he is so ready to defend himself and resolves to withstand the crowd of Jews by word.
Look at this man’s prudence. The place greatly favored him, since he spoke from above, as did the fact that he was bound. What can compare with this sight, when Paul spoke bound with two chains?
How was he not troubled, how was he not thrown into confusion, when such a multitude of people had risen against him and the commander stood before him? But first he allowed their rage to grow quiet, and then he began to speak.
And see how wisely. First of all, he disposes them toward himself by their native language, then by meekness. See how his words are free from flattery.
He did not say, ‘lords’ or ‘masters,’ but ‘brethren,’ which especially could please them. It is as though he said, ‘I am not a stranger to you and not against you.’
He did not say, ‘Hear a teaching’ or ‘a speech,’ but ‘a defense.’ He presents himself as one under judgment. After saying much about himself, he then adds, ‘as all of you are this day.’
By this he shows that they acted not from human reasoning, but from divine zeal. He speaks thus in order to gain their goodwill, prepare their mind, and hold them to that in which there was as yet no harm.”
In this speech Saint Paul proclaimed to them that he could not have acted otherwise. From being a zealous Pharisee, he had been converted to the faith which he had persecuted by the appearance of the Lord Himself (Acts 22:8). Then, when he returned to Jerusalem, the same Lord, appearing to him in the temple, sent him to preach among the Gentiles (Acts 22:21).
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 11 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS