Atos 24

Atos 24

Maclaren wrote, “The indulgence given to Paul, in his light confinement, only showed how clearly Felix knew himself to be doing wrong, but small alleviations do not patch up a great injustice.” Freedom (425)(anesis from aniemi = loose, let up, hold back ~ relaxing or release) refers to relaxing of custodial control and thus giving one some liberty as in the present passage. Anesis can also refer to relief from somethin onerous or troublesome, Gilbrant - Anesis has three basic meanings in classical literature. (1) It denotes the “loosening” or “releasing” of something (like strings); (2) metaphorically it means “a releasing” from guilt, “a remission”; (3) it refers to “relaxation” or even “recreation” (see Liddell-Scott). The Septuagint records anesis six times. Second Chronicles of the canonical writings speaks of Athaliah’s being released or permitted to leave the temple before she was killed (23:15). The apocryphal 1 Esdras tells of God’s granting “release and permission” to return to Jerusalem from the Babylonian Exile (4:62; cf. Sirach 15:20, “permission,” RSV). Anesis occurs five times in the New Testament. It functions in a wide variety of contexts. Paul spoke of a “rest” in his spirit (2 Corinthians 2:13) and a physical “rest” of the body (2 Corinthians 7:5). Of particular interest is the eschatological “rest” that Paul envisioned as awaiting the believer at the return of Christ. Here such “rest” is juxtaposed against present suffering, hardship, and persecution (2 Th 1:4ff.; cf. 2 Cor 8:13). (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) (2 Th. 1:7) (GOD WILL) give relief (anesis) to you who are afflicted (thlibo) and to us as well when (Second Coming) the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, Anesis - ease(1), freedom(1), relief(1), rest(2). Acts 24:23; 2 Co. 2:13; 2 Co. 7:5; 2 Co. 8:13; 2 Th. 1:7