_Then Agrippa said unto Paul_ Agrippa was the most honourable person
in the assembly, having the title of king bestowed upon him, though
otherwise not superior to Festus, as only having the power of other
governors under the emperor. But as Festus had opened the cause, and
Agrippa, though not here s... [ Continue Reading ]
_My manner of life from my youth, which was at first_ Την απ '
αρχης, _which from the beginning_, that is, from the beginning of
my youth; was _among mine own nation at Jerusalem_ He was not born
among the Jews at Jerusalem, but he was bred among them. And though he
had of late years been conversant... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why should it be thought a thing incredible_ (It was thought so by
Festus, Acts 25:19, to whom Paul answers as if he had heard him
discourse;) _that God_ A Being of infinite perfections, and the
original author of the human frame; _should raise the dead_ And
continue their existence in a future sta... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whereupon, as I went to Damascus_, &c. See notes on Acts 9:3, and
Acts 22:5; where the substance of this paragraph occurs, and is
explained. _At mid-day, O king_ Most seasonably, in the height of the
narration, does he thus fix the king's attention; _I saw a light from
heaven, above the brightness... [ Continue Reading ]
_But rise and stand upon thy feet_ Though thou hast persecuted me and
my followers in this outrageous manner, and hast been engaged in a
desperate attempt to destroy them from the face of the earth, and, by
so doing, hast forfeited thy life. I am determined graciously to spare
it, and to use thee he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whereupon_ Or, _from that time_, as οθεν may be rendered, that
ever-memorable time, through the grace of God, giving me inclination
and power to obey; _I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision_ With
which he was pleased thus miraculously to favour me. _But showed first
unto them of Damascus_ Pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_For these causes_ And for no other; _the Jews_ Who have the same
inveteracy against the gospel of Jesus that I once had; _caught_
(seized) _me in the temple, and went about_ (attempted) _to kill me_
Διαχειρισασθαι, _to kill me with their own hands._ So
the word properly signifies; but, _having obta... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as he thus spake for himself_ And was making his defence;
_Festus_ Astonished, it seems, to hear him represent this despised
gospel of Jesus of Nazareth as a matter of such high and universal
concern, and designed to be the means of illuminating both Jews and
Gentiles, and thinking the vision h... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he said_ Calmly, and with a perfect command of himself, not in
the least provoked by such an invidious imputation; _I am not mad,
most noble Festus_ A title properly belonging to a Roman propretor.
How inexpressibly beautiful is this reply! How strong! yet, how decent
and respectful! Madmen sel... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when he had thus spoken_ That the impression Paul began to make
upon the court might reach no further; _the king rose up_ Thus
neglecting to yield to conviction, and losing, perhaps for ever, an
unspeakably precious moment. Whether the good impressions made were
ever afterward laid to heart and... [ Continue Reading ]