This chapter Acts 9 commences a very important part of the Acts of the Apostles the conversion and labors of Saul of Tarsus. The remainder of the book is chiefly occupied with an account of his labors and trials in the establishment of churches, and in spreading the gospel through the Gentile world.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAUL - See the notes on Acts 7:58; Acts 8:3. He had been engaged be fore in persecuting the Christians, but he now sought opportunity to gratify his insatiable desire on a larger scale. YET BREATHING OUT - Not satisfied with what he had done, Acts 8:3. The word breathing out is expressive often... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DESIRED OF HIM - This shows the intensity of his wish to persecute the Christians, that he was willing to ask for such an employment. LETTERS - Epistles, implying a commission to bring them to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. From this it seems that the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem claimed jurisdi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS HE JOURNEYED - On his way, or while he was traveling. The place where this occurred is not known. Irby and Mangles say it is “outside the eastern gate.” In the Boat and Caravan it is described as about a mile from the town, and near the Christian burying-ground which belongs to the Armenians.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE FELL TO THE EARTH - He was astonished and overcome by the sudden flash of light. There is a remarkable similarity between what occurred here, and what is recorded of Daniel in regard to the visions which he saw, Daniel 8:17. Also Daniel 10:8, “Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, WHO ART THOU, LORD? - The word “Lord” here, as is frequently the case in the New Testament, means no more than “sir,” John 4:19. It is evident that Saul did not as yet know that this was the Lord Jesus. He heard a voice as of a man; he heard himself addressed, but by whom the words were... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE, TREMBLING - Alarmed at what he saw and heard, and at the consciousness of his own evil course. It is not remarkable that a sinner trembles when he sees his guilt and danger. AND ASTONISHED - At what he saw. LORD, WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO? - This indicates a subdued soul, a humbled spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MEN WHICH JOURNEYED WITH HIM - Why these men attended him is unknown. They might have been appointed to aid him, or they may have been travelers with whom Saul had accidentally fallen in. STOOD SPEECHLESS - In Acts 26:14, it is said that they all fell to the earth at the appearance of the li... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HIS EYES WERE OPENED - He naturally closed them at the appearance of the light, and in his fright kept them closed for some time. HE SAW NO MAN - This darkness continued three days, Acts 9:9. There is no reason to suppose that there was a miracle in this blindness, for in Acts 22:11, it is expr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NEITHER DID EAT NOR DRINK - Probably because he was overwhelmed with a view of his sins, and was thus indisposed to eat. All the circumstances would contribute to this. His past life; his great sins; the sudden change in his views; his total absorption in the vision; perhaps also his grief at th... [ Continue Reading ]
A CERTAIN DISCIPLE - A Christian. Many have supposed that he was one of the 70 disciples. But nothing more is certainly known of him than is related here. He had very probably been some time a Christian Acts 9:13, and had heard of Saul, but was personally a stranger to him. In Acts 22:12, it is said... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE STREET WHICH IS CALLED STRAIGHT - This street extends now from the eastern to the western gate, about three miles, crossing the whole city and suburbs in a direct line. Near the eastern gate is a house, said to be that of Judah, in which Paul lodged. There is in it a very small closet, wher... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HATH SEEN IN A VISION ... - When this was shown to Saul, or how, is not recorded. The vision was shown to Saul to assure him when Ananias came that he was no impostor. He was thus prepared to receive consolation from this disciple. He was even apprised of his name, that he might be the more c... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE HEARD BY MANY ... - This was in the vision, Acts 9:10. The passage of such a train of thoughts through the mind was perfectly natural at the command to go and search out Saul. There would instantly occur all that had been heard of his fury in persecution; and the expression here may indicate... [ Continue Reading ]
GO THY WAY - This is often the only answer that we obtain to the suggestion of our doubts and hesitations about duty. God tells us still to do what he requires, with an assurance only that his commands are just, and that there are good reasons for them. A CHOSEN VESSEL - The usual meaning of the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL SHOW HIM ... - This seems to be added to encourage Ananias. He had feared Saul. The Lord now informs him that Saul, hitherto his enemy, would ever after be his friend. He would not merely profess repentance, but would manifest the sincerity of it by encountering trials and reproaches for... [ Continue Reading ]
PUTTING HIS HANDS ON HIM - This was not “ordination,” but was the usual mode of imparting or communicating blessings. See the notes on Matthew 19:13; Matthew 9:18. BROTHER SAUL - An expression recognizing him as a fellow-Christian. BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST - See the notes on Acts 2:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT HAD BEEN SCALES - ὡσεὶ λεπίδες hōsei lepides. The word ὡσεὶ hōsei, “as it had been,” is designed to qualify the following word. It is not said that scales literally fell from his eyes, but that an effect followed as if scales had been suddenly taken off. Evidently, the expression is dei... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD RECEIVED MEAT - Food. The word “meat” has undergone a change since our translation was made. It then meant, as the original does, food of all kinds. WITH THE DISCIPLES - With Christians, compare Acts 2:42. ORDER? CERTAIN DAYS WITH THE DISCIPLES? - Certain days: How long is not known. It was lon... [ Continue Reading ]
AND STRAIGHTWAY - Immediately. It was an evidence of the genuineness of his conversion that he was willing at once to avow himself to be the friend of the Lord Jesus. HE PREACHED CHRIST - He proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ. See Acts 9:22. Many manuscripts read here Jesus instead of Christ. Grie... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE AMAZED - Amazed at his sudden and remarkable change. THAT DESTROYED - That opposed; laid waste; persecuted. Compare Galatians 1:13. FOR THAT INTENT - With that design, that he might destroy the church at Damascus.... [ Continue Reading ]
INCREASED THE MORE IN STRENGTH - His conviction of the truth of the Christian religion became stronger every day, and hence his moral strength or boldness increased. AND CONFOUNDED - See Acts 2:6. The word here means “confuted.” It means also occasionally “to produce a tumult or excitement,” Acts 1... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THAT MANY DAYS ... - How long a time elapsed before this is not recorded in this place, but it is evident that the writer means to signify that a considerable time intervened. There is, therefore, an interval here which Luke has not filled up; and if this were the only narrative which we h... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEIR LAYING AWAIT - Their counsel; their design. WAS KNOWN OF SAUL - Was made known to him. In what way this was communicated we do not know. This design of the Jews against Saul is referred to in 2 Corinthians 11:32, where it is said, “In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king kept the... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK HIM BY NIGHT ... - This was done through a window in the wall, 2 Corinthians 11:33. IN A BASKET - This word is used to denote commonly “the basket in which food was carried,” Matthew 15:37; Mark 8:8, Mark 8:20. It was in this way that Rahab let down the spies Joshua 2:15, and so David escaped f... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS COME TO JERUSALEM - He did not go to Jerusalem immediately after he escaped from Damascus. He first went into Arabia, where he spent a considerable part, or the whole of three years. For the reasons why he went there, and why this fact is omitted by Luke in the Acts , see the notes on Galatians... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BARNABAS - See the notes on Acts 4:36. Barnabas was of Cyprus, not far from Tarsus, and it is not improbable that he had been before acquainted with Saul. TO THE APOSTLES - To Peter and James, Galatians 1:18. Probably the other apostles were at that time absent from Jerusalem. AND DECLARED UNT... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WAS WITH THEM ... - That is, he was admitted to their friendship, and recognized as a Christian and an apostle. The time during which he then remained at Jerusalem was, however, only fifteen days, Galatians 1:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SPAKE BOLDLY - He openly defended the doctrine that Jesus was the Messiah. IN THE NAME ... - By the authority of the Lord Jesus. AGAINST THE GRECIANS - See the word “Grecians” explained in the notes on Acts 6:1. It means that he not only maintained that Jesus was the Christ in the presence of... [ Continue Reading ]
TO CESAREA - See the notes on Acts 8:40. AND SENT HIM FORTH TO TARSUS - This was his native city. See the notes on Acts 9:11. It was in Cilicia, where Paul doubtless preached the gospel, Galatians 1:21, “Afterward I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HAD THE CHURCHES REST - That is, the persecutions against Christians ceased. Those persecutions had been excited by the opposition made to Stephen Acts 11:19; they had been greatly promoted by Saul Acts 8:3; and they had extended doubtless throughout the whole land of Palestine. The precise cau... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE SAINTS - To the Christians. WHICH DWELT AT LYDDA - This town was situated on the road from Jerusalem to Caesarea Philippi. It was about 10 or 12 miles southeast from Joppa, and belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. It was called by the Greeks Diospolis, or city of Jupiter, probably because a tem... [ Continue Reading ]
ENEAS - This is a Greek name; and probably he was a Hellenist. See the notes on Acts 6:1. SICK OF THE PALSY - See the notes on Matthew 4:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKETH THEE WHOLE - Cures thee. Peter claimed no power to do it himself. Compare Acts 3:6, Acts 3:16; Acts 4:10. MAKE THY BED - This would show that he was truly healed. Compare Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:9, Mark 2:11; John 5:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL - The mass, or body of the people. The affliction of the man had been long, and was probably well known; the miracle would be celebrated, and the effect was an extensive revival of religion. SARON - This was the champaign, or open country, usually mentioned by the name of “Sharon” in the Old... [ Continue Reading ]
AT JOPPA - This was a seaport town situated on the Mediterranean, in the tribe of Dan, about 30 miles south of Caesarea, and 45 northwest of Jerusalem. It was the principal seaport of Palestine; and hence, though the harbor was poor, it hind considerable celebrity. It was occupied by Solomon to rece... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM, WHEN THEY HAD WASHED - Among most people it has been customary to wash the body before it is buried or burned. They prepared her in the usual manner for interment. IN AN UPPER CHAMBER - See the notes on Acts 1:13. There is no evidence that they expected that Peter would raise her up to life.... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS NEIGH TO JOPPA - See the notes on Acts 9:32. THEY SENT UNTO HIM ... - Why they sent is not affirmed. It is probable that they desired his presence to comfort and sustain them in their affliction. It is certainly possible that they expected he would restore her to life; but as this is not mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PETER AROSE - See the notes on Luke 15:18. AND ALL THE WIDOWS - Whom Dorcas had benefited by her kindness. They had lost a benefactress; and it was natural that they should recall her kindness, and express their gratitude, by enumerating the proofs of her beneficence. Each one would therefore... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PETER PUT THEM ALL FORTH - From the room. See a similar case in Matthew 9:25. Why this was done is not said. Perhaps it was because he did not wish to appear as if seeking publicity. If done in the presence of many persons, it might seem like ostentation. Others suppose it was that he might offe... [ Continue Reading ]
HE PRESENTED HER ALIVE - He exhibited, or showed her to them alive. Compare 1 Kings 17:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANY BELIEVED ... - A similar effect followed when Jesus raised up Lazarus. See John 12:11. This was the first miracle of this kind that was performed by the apostles. The effect was that many believed. It was not merely a work of benevolence, in restoring to life one who contributed largely to... [ Continue Reading ]