Instant' and 'instantly' are now used only of time. In AV they have their earlier meaning of 'urgent,' 'urgently,' as in Lu 23:23 'they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified'; Lu 7:4 'they besought him instantly' (RV 'earnestly'). Cf. Erasmus, Paraphrase, i. 31, 'whoso knocketh at the doore instantly, to him it shal be opened.'