Acts 22 - Introduction
THE BOOK OF ACTS. CHAPTER 22 OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 22:... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BOOK OF ACTS. CHAPTER 22 OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 22:... [ Continue Reading ]
"Brethren and fathers" Stephen began his defense with the same words (Acts 7:2).... [ Continue Reading ]
"Addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet" "One who spoke Hebrew was not likely to blaspheme the temple or the Law; and so extending him. temporary good will, they became more silent than they had been when he gestured for silence so he could speak" (Reese p. 808). "Paul's... [ Continue Reading ]
"I am Jew" To this crowd in Jerusalem who had heard that Paul spoke against the Law and the temple, Paul makes it clear that he is proud of his Jewish ancestry. "Born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city" Thus, he had. very close association with the city of Jerusalem. "Educated under G... [ Continue Reading ]
"And. persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons" See Acts 9:1 ff; Acts 26:9 ff. His opposition to Christianity had been as great as theirs. "He recounted how he, too, once had been. fanatical opponent of Christianity, just as they were that day" (Reese p.... [ Continue Reading ]
"As also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify" The Sanhedrin could testify to all this seeing it was "they who had issued him with the extradition order which he took with him to Damascus" (Stott p. 347). "When Paul calls the high priest as. witness of his truthfulness, ther... [ Continue Reading ]
"And it came to pass that as. was on my way" That is, on his way to persecute and arrest Christians in Damascus. As Paul was filled with rage and zeal for the law. just as they were at the moment. This account of Paul's conversion is also given in Acts 9:1; Acts 26:1. "A very bright light" Which was... [ Continue Reading ]
Paul makes it very clear that his zeal for God and the law had become misdirected, and instead of arresting evildoers he was guilty of arresting God's people.... [ Continue Reading ]
The men with Paul saw the light and heard the sound, but they did not understand what was spoken to Paul by the Lord. Compare with Acts 9:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Paul's zeal for God is manifested by his readiness to immediately obey when the Lord speaks, even if the Lord contradicts Paul's previous ideas. Notice that while Jesus appeared to Paul there is still something that Paul must do to be saved. He still has. very active role to play in his own salvatio... [ Continue Reading ]
"And. certain Ananias,. man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there" Paul deliberately referred to Ananias as being devout according to the standard of the Law, and being one who had. good reputation among godly Jews. Thus the man who baptized Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
This sight was instantly restored; another proof that what had happened on the road was an actual encounter with God. Acts 22:14 Paul now begins to explain why Jesus had appeared to him. "The God of our fathers" Who was behind Jesus appearing to Paul. the God that his audience worshipped! The God th... [ Continue Reading ]
"For you will be. witness" Witnesses just like the original 12 apostles were appointed to be witnesses (Acts 1:8; Acts 1:22). "For Him to all men of what you have seen and heard" Thus Paul becomes not only an apostle selected by Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:8), but also the last apostle chosen.... [ Continue Reading ]
"And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name" God considers it delaying to put off becoming. Christian three days after you have heard the truth. The term arise infers that Paul had to get up to be baptized, that the water could not he simply brou... [ Continue Reading ]
"And it came about when. returned to Jerusalem" Remember, Paul was converted in Damascus, and then some years later returned to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26; Galatians 1:17). "And was praying in the temple" Please note that Paul specifically mentions that he was praying in the temple. Paul did not speak aga... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 22:18-21 Paul now reveals that the Lord had predicted two things. First, that the Jews would persecute him (just like they were doing on this day) and secondly that preaching to the Gentiles the message of salvation in Jesus was not his own opinion or some eccentric idea, but was. direct comman... [ Continue Reading ]
"They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, 'Away with such. fellow from the earth for he should not be allowed to live!'" Sadly, these Jews did not even listen to the Law that they claimed to be upholding. There were many passages in the Law that not only... [ Continue Reading ]
"The crowd was not content with shouting and screaming (22); they started waving their cloaks about and flinging dust into the air. These gestures may have expressed not so much excitement, anger and hostility as horror in reaction to what they considered to be blasphemy" (Stott p. 349). Yet notice... [ Continue Reading ]
The Roman commander at this point realizes that he is getting nowhere with the crowd, so he brings Paul inside the fortress. "Stating that he would be examined by scourging" Simply put, they were planning on torturing Paul until he told them what they considered to be the truth. "This ghastly ordeal... [ Continue Reading ]
"And when they stretched him out with thongs" "The person to be scourged was stripped to the waist, and then tied with leather thongs, either in. stooping position over. short post or suspended by the hands above the ground" (Reese p. 810). Paul had been already beaten with rods several times by bot... [ Continue Reading ]
The centurion who had been preparing Paul for the scourging quickly reports this information to the commander.... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 22:27-28 "I acquired this citizenship with. large sum of money" "Citizenship tended to be either by right (for those of high status or office) or by reward (for those who had served the Empire well). It was passed on from father to son (which was the case with Paul); it could also be bought, no... [ Continue Reading ]
Paul is immediately untied and the commander was afraid because he had come so close to committing. very serious crime. "Because he had put him in chains" This does not refer to the chains necessary to arrest someone (Acts 21:33), but rather to the chains that were put upon him in preparation for to... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet, the commander still knows very little about Paul and specifically why the Jewish mob was seeking to kill him. In addition, he cannot simply release Paul, because that might have actually endangered his life in Jerusalem, but he is also afraid of releasing someone who just might turn out to be.... [ Continue Reading ]