And being overcome by his reasons and power of speaking, they betook themselves to other viler arts, and hired some men to accuse him falsely, and to make complaint to the sanhedrim, that they had heard him speak dishonourably of the Jewish religion. a continue in, προκαταπλημιν τῇ. a they prayed, and laid, προκαταπλημιν αὐτοῦ. [i] lest haply ye] These words μήποτε, &c., lest ye be found fighters against God, are in the sense to be connected with ἑάσατε αὐτούς, let them alone, ver. 37. So that all that is betwixt must be read as in parenthesis. And they took his advice, and sending for the apostles in again into the court, they appointed them to be scourged, (a punishment of a reproachful contumelious nature, ver. 41,) and giving them charge not to preach the faith of Christ any more, they released them. And this was matter of comfort and rejoicing to the apostles, (according to that of Matt. v. 12,) that they were advanced to that degree of honour and blessedness, as to be scourged for preaching of Christ. [k] suffer shame] Ἀτιμάζεται ὁ ὑβριζόμενος ἓν τινι πράγματι, saith Ammonius: it signifies "reproachful, contumelious usage;" such was this of scourging, that was a servile, and dishonourable, infamous punishment.