Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Ver. 37. They were pricked] Punctually pricked and pierced (κατενυγησαν). They felt the nails wherewith they had crucified Christ sticking fast in their own hearts, as so many sharp daggers or stings of scorpions, 2 Corinthians 12:7. Sin is set forth by a word that signifieth the head of a bearded arrow sticking in the flesh (σκολοψ). After Socrates was put to death at Athens, Aristophanes rehearsed a tragedy of his concerning Palamedes, who had been executed by the Grecians long before, at the siege of Troy. In this tragedy were these verses, a
"Ye have slain, ye have slain of Greeks the very best,
(All me) that never any did infest."
The people at the hearing of these lines were so moved that they presently fell upon the authors of Socrates' death, and drew them forth to punishment. Oh, that we could be as nimble to apprehend and be avenged upon our sins, the cause of Christ's death.
a Εκτανετε, εκτανετε αριστον των ‘ Ελληνων, τον ανδιαν μηδενα βλαψαντα