Act 22:2 | RWP | e4.org | He spake ( προσεφωνε ). Imperfect active, was speaking. See aorist active προσεφωνησεν in . They were the more quiet ( μαλλον παρεσχον ησυχιαν ). Literally, The more ( μαλλον ) they furnished or supplied (second aorist active indicative of παρεχω ) quietness ( ησυχιαν , old word, in the N.T. only here and ; .). Precisely this idiom occurs in Plutarch ( Cor . 18) and the LXX ( ). Knowling notes the fondness of Luke for words of silence ( σιγη, σιγαω, ησυχαζω ) as in ; ; ; ; ; , . It is a vivid picture of the sudden hush that swept over the vast mob under the spell of the Aramaic. They would have understood Paul's Koine Greek, but they much preferred the Aramaic. It was a masterstroke.

‏ Acts 22:2

He spake ( προσεφωνε ). Imperfect active, was speaking. See aorist active προσεφωνησεν in 21:40.

They were the more quiet ( μαλλον παρεσχον ησυχιαν ). Literally, The more ( μαλλον ) they furnished or supplied (second aorist active indicative of παρεχω ) quietness ( ησυχιαν, old word, in the N.T. only here and 2Th 3:12; 1Ti 2:11ff.). Precisely this idiom occurs in Plutarch (Cor. 18) and the LXX (Job 34:29). Knowling notes the fondness of Luke for words of silence ( σιγη, σιγαω, ησυχαζω ) as in Lu 14:4; 15:26; Ac 11:18; 12:17; 15:12; 21:14, 40. It is a vivid picture of the sudden hush that swept over the vast mob under the spell of the Aramaic. They would have understood Paul's Koine Greek, but they much preferred the Aramaic. It was a masterstroke.