Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
When he was gone up (anabav). Second aorist active participle in sharp contrast to katabav (went down) of verse Acts 20:10.
Had broken bread (klasav ton arton). Probably the Eucharist to observe which ordinance Paul had come and tarried (verse Acts 20:7), though some scholars distinguish between what took place in verse Acts 20:7 and verse Acts 20:11, needlessly so as was stated on verse Acts 20:7.
And eaten (kai geusamenov). The word is used in Acts 10:10 of eating an ordinary meal and so might apply to the Agaph, but it suits equally for the Eucharist. The accident had interrupted Paul's sermon so that it was observed now and then Paul resumed his discourse.
And had talked with them a long while (ef ikanon te omilhsav). Luke, as we have seen, is fond of ikanov for periods of time, for a considerable space of time, "even till break of day" (axri aughv). Old word for brightness, radiance like German Auge, English eye, only here in the N.T. Occurs in the papyri and in modern Greek for dawn. This second discourse lasted from midnight till dawn and was probably more informal (as in Acts 10:27) and conversational (omilhsav, though our word homiletics comes from omilew) than the discourse before midnight (dialegomai, verses Acts 20:7, Acts 20:9). He had much to say before he left.
So he departed (outwv echlqen). Thus Luke sums up the result. Paul left (went forth) only after all the events narrated by the numerous preceding participles had taken place. Effective aorist active indicative ecelqen. outwv here equals tum demum, now at length (Acts 27:7) as Page shows.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 20:11:
Luke 24:14
Acts 10:27
Acts 20:7
Acts 20:11
Acts 24:26
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
