Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 21:40

40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckned with the hand unto the people: And when there was m[illegible: 1 letter]de a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

As he was now about to be carried into the Castle, Antonia before mentioned;

signifying, that he craved their audience; as Chap. 12.17. and 13.16.

The Hebrew Tongue being understood by all of them, and most grateful unto them. Yet this was not the pure and ancient Hebrew, which had been corrupted ever since their Captivity; but the Syriack Tongue, which they there learned, was called Hebrew, it having at first been derived from the Hebrew, and being then in use by those who were Hebrews.