Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
And the high priest said, Are these things so?
And the chief priest said, `Are then these things so?'
And the high priest said, Are these things then so?
Acts — The Gospel's sequel. Jerusalem → Judea and Samaria → the ends of the earth. Three missionary journeys and the voyage to Rome.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The verses this one reaches7
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
So I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders I will perform among them. And after that, he will release you.
where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’”
Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Voices4
"they saw his face." It even happens that someone who is in a lower rank appears graceful and splendid. Therefore, so that those to whom he was about to speak might be struck dumb by his words, he begins with a facial display, by which …
Oecumenius· Commentary on Acts, 550patristic
Then said the high priest,....
John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed
Then said the high priest - See the notes on Mat 2:4. In this case the high priest seems to have presided in the council. Are these things so? - To wit, the charge alleged against him of blasphemy against Moses and the temple, Act 6:13-14.
Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)evangelical
He applies this to those that prosecuted him, and sat in judgment upon him, sharply reproving them for their wickedness, by which they had brought upon themselves the ruin of their place and nation, and then could not bear to hear of it,
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan
