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The question has been raised as to whether Luke understood Hebrew. It cannot be
settled from the record of this speech, for Paul could have given Luke a translation
afterwards, or Luke could have been inspired by God to give it without intermediate
assistance. On the other hand, the presence of a number of Hebraisms make it possible
that Paul did not translate the speech for Luke, but that Luke gave his own translation,
revealing himself by the presence of Hebrew forms of speech instead of ordinary Greek.
Dean Alford's conclusion is:
"Now we do find, (1) that the speech is full of Hebraisms, (2) that while it contains
several expressions occurring nowhere but in the writings of Luke, not one is found in it
peculiar to Paul, or even strikingly in his manner. Our inference then is that Luke himself
has rendered this speech from having heard it delivered; and, consequently, that he was
acquainted with Hebrew."
The matter is not of sufficient importance to pursue further. There is this to be said,
however; all other writers of the Scriptures were Hebrews. Luke has been considered the
exception, partly by reason of his Gentile name, and partly from tradition, but while there
is insufficient evidence to settle the point there is every probability that "Luke the
beloved physician" will not prove to be an exception to the rule.
The Apostle's purpose in this speech is expressed by himself in his opening words:
"Men, brethren and fathers, hear ye my defence" (Acts 22: 1). The Greek word
translated "defence" has passed into our own language in the word "apology". In the
course of time the word has departed from its original meaning, and to-day an "apology"
may be "A frank acknowledgment, by way of reparation, of offence given", or "A
defensive argument, often, specifically, the argumentative defence of Christianity". The
Apostle however conciliatory his manner in the choice of argument, or even of the
language in which he addressed the enraged gathering near the Temple, was certainly not
apologetic in the modern sense. Sturdy defence need not be rude, and firm conviction of
the rightness of one's position is not made more evident by stubbornness or lack of
courtesy. In his short speech, spontaneously uttered in circumstances of great pressure,
the Apostle gives us a model both of courtesy and concession, coupled with unflinching
faithfulness and courage.
Men who had but immediately beforehand charged him with abominable conduct,
accompanying their false charge with a ruthless and savage attack which had led Paul
into the extremely unpleasant, and possibly dangerous, position of being a prisoner in the
hands of the Roman guard, were addressed by the Apostle as he opened his defence with
the courteous and respectful words, "Men, brethren and fathers". Further, to gain their
confidence, he spoke of his early training at the feet of Gamaliel, and of his zeal,
manifested alas in persecuting "this way" unto the death. Animated with the same
motive, he turned from speaking in Greek to the Roman Captain (Acts 21: 37) to the use
of Hebrew when addressing the members of his own nation. They had accused him of
polluting the sanctuary. He therefore not only tells them his place of birth and his
training in Jerusalem, but adds that he was: "taught according to the perfect manner of
the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day". He might
have said, "and was blindly fanatical, as ye all are this day", but he did not. Again, when