Acts 2:14

Standing up with the eleven (staqei sun toi endeka). Took his stand with the eleven including Matthias, who also rose up with them, and spoke as their spokesman, a formal and impressive beginning. The Codex Bezae has "ten apostles." Luke is fond of this pictorial use of staqei (first aorist passive participle of isthmi) as seen nowhere else in the N.T. ( Luke 18:11 Luke 18:40 ; Luke 19:8 ; Acts 5:20 ; Acts 17:22 ; Acts 27:21 ). Lifted up his voice (ephren thn pwnhn autou). This phrase only in Luke in the N.T. ( Luke 11:29 ; Acts 2:14 ; Acts 14:11 ; Acts 22:22 ), but is common in the old writers. First aorist active indicative of epairw. The large crowd and the confusion of tongues demanded loud speaking. "This most solemn, earnest, yet sober speech" (Bengel). Codex Bezae adds "first" after "voice." Peter did it to win and hold attention. Give ear unto my words (enwtisasqe ta rhmata mou). Late verb in LXX and only here in the N.T. First aorist middle from enwtizomai (en, ou, ear) to give ear to, receive into the ear. People's ears differ greatly, but in public speech they have to be reached through the ear. That puts an obligation on the speaker and also on the auditors who should sit where they can hear with the ears which they have, an obligation often overlooked.