Acts 21:40

“And when he had given him licence, etc.] To speak to the people, which he could not well deny him, after he had so freely declared who he was, and in so courteous a manner addressed him, and asked leave of him: Paul stood on the stairs; on the steps of the ascent to the castle, on the top of them: and beckoned with the hand unto the people; to desire silence, which he might be able to do, notwithstanding his chains; for his being bound with a chain to a soldier, did not hinder the moving and lifting up of his hand: and when there was made a great silence; either through the authority of the captain, who might command it, or through the desire of the people, to hear what he could say for…”

“stood on the stairs--"What nobler spectacle than that of Paul at this moment! There he stood, bound with two chains, ready to make his defense to the people. The Roman commander sits by, to enforce order by his presence. An enraged populace look up to him from below. Yet in the midst of so many dangers, how self-possessed is he, how tranquil!" [CHRYSOSTOM (or in his name) in HACKETT]. a great silence--the people awed at the permission given him by the commandant, and seeing him sitting as a listener. in the Hebrew tongue--the Syro-Chaldaic, the vernacular tongue of the Palestine Jews since the captivity. Next: Acts Chapter 22”

“Licence - Liberty; permission. On the stairs - See the notes on Acts 21:35. Beckoned with the hand - Waving the hand as a sign that he was about to address them, and to produce silence and attention. See Acts 12:17. In the Hebrew tongue - The language which was spoken by the Jews, which was then a mixture of the Chaldee and Syriac, called Syro-Chaldaic. This language he doubtless used on this occasion in preference to the Greek, because it was understood better by the multitude, and would tend to conciliate them if they heard him address them in their own tongue. The following chapter should have been connected with this. The division here is unnatural. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes:…”

“In the Hebrew tongue - That dialect of it, which was then commonly spoken at Jerusalem. Next: Acts Chapter 22”

“on: Act 21:35; Kg2 9:13 and beckoned: Act 12:17, Act 13:16, Act 19:33 a great: Act 22:2 Hebrew: Act 6:1, Act 26:14; Luk 23:38; Joh 5:2, Joh 19:13, Joh 19:17, Joh 19:20; Rev 9:11, Rev 16:16 Next: Acts Chapter 22”