CHAPTER XXII. _Paul, in his address to the people, gives an account of his_ _birth and education_, 1-3. _His prejudices against Christianity_, 4, 5. _And of his miraculous conversion, and call to the apostleship_, 6-21. _The Jews, hearing him say that God had sent him to preach the_ _Gospel t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:2. _WHEN THEY HEARD THAT HE SPAKE IN THE HEBREW TONGUE_] He had probably been traduced by the Jews of Asia as a mere _Gentile_, distinguished only by his virulence against the Jewish religion; which virulence proceeded from his malice and _ignorance_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:3. _I AM VERILY A MAN_ WHICH AM _A JEW_] A periphrasis for, _I_ _am really a Jew_: and his mentioning this adds weight to the conjecture in the preceding note. He shows that he could not be ignorant of the Jewish religion, as he had had the best instructer in it which Jerusalem could p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:4. _I PERSECUTED THIS WAY_] Ταυτην την ὁδον; _This doctrine,_ _the way_ of worshipping God, and arriving at a state of blessedness. Acts 9:2. _BINDING AND DELIVERING INTO PRISONS_] Acts 8:3; and Acts 9:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:5. _THE HIGH PRIEST DOTH BEAR ME WITNESS_, c.] He probably referred to the _letters of authority_ which he had received from the high priest, and the _whole estate of the elders_, παν το πρεσβυτεριον, _the whole of the presbytery_, that is, the _sanhedrin_ and it is likely, that he had... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. - 13. _AS I MADE MY JOURNEY_, c.] See the whole of this account, and all the particular circumstances, considered at large in _Clarke's notes on "_Acts 9:1_"_, c., and the observations at the conclusion of that chapter. See Clarke on Ac 9:43... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:14. _AND SEE THAT JUST ONE_] The Lord Jesus, called the _Just_ _One_, in opposition to the Jews, who crucified him as a _malefactor_: Acts 7:52, Acts 7:52. This is an additional proof that Jesus Christ did actually _appear_ unto Saul of Tarsus.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:15. _THOU SHALT BE HIS WITNESS UNTO ALL_] Thou shalt proclaim Christ crucified, both to _Jews_ and _Gentiles_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:16. _ARISE, AND BE BAPTIZED_] Take now the profession of Christ's faith most solemnly upon thee, by being baptized in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. _WASH AWAY THY SINS_, c.] Let this washing of thy body represent to thee the washing away of thy sins: and know that this _wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:17. _WHEN I WAS COME AGAIN TO JERUSALEM_] It is likely that he refers to the first journey to Jerusalem, about three years after his conversion, Acts 9:25, and Galatians 1:18. _I WAS IN A TRANCE_] This circumstance is not mentioned any where else, unless it be that to which himself re... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:19. _I IMPRISONED AND BEAT IN EVERY SYNAGOGUE_] This shows what an active instrument Saul of Tarsus was, in the hands of this persecuting priesthood, and how very _generally_ the followers of Christ _were_ persecuted, and how difficult it was at this time to profess Christianity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:20. _WHEN THE BLOOD OF THY MARTYR STEPHEN WAS SHED_] Acts 7:58, Acts 7:58; and Acts 8:1, Acts 8:1. All these things Paul alleged as _reasons_ why he could not expect to be received by the Christians; for how could they suppose that _such_ a persecutor could be converted?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:21. _I WILL SEND THEE FAR HENCE UNTO THE GENTILES._] This was the particular appointment of St. Paul: he was _the apostle of_ _the Gentiles_; for, though he preached frequently to the Jews, yet to _preach_ the Gospel to the Gentiles, and to write for the conversion and establishment o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:22. _THEY GAVE HIM AUDIENCE UNTO THIS WORD_] Namely, that God had sent him to the Gentiles: not that they refused to preach the _law_ to the Gentiles, and make them proselytes; for this they were fond of doing, so that our Lord says, _they compassed sea and_ _land to make a proselyte_;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:23. _CAST OFF_ THEIR _CLOTHES_] Bishop Pearce supposes that _shaking their upper garments_ is all that is meant here; and that it was an ancient custom for men to do so when highly pleased or greatly irritated; but it is likely that some of them were now actually throwing off their clo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:24. _EXAMINED BY SCOURGING_] As the chief captain did not understand the Hebrew language, he was ignorant of the _charge_ brought against Paul, and ignorant also of the _defence_ which the apostle had made; and, as he saw that they grew more and more outrageous, he supposed that Paul m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:25. _AND AS THEY BOUND HIM_, c.] They were going to tie him to a post, that they might scourge him. _IS IT LAWFUL_, c.] The Roman law absolutely forbade the _binding_ of a Roman citizen. Acts 16:37, Acts 16:37.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:28. _WITH A GREAT SUM OBTAINED I THIS FREEDOM_] So it appears that the freedom, even of Rome, might be _purchased_, and that it was sold at a very _high price_. _BUT I WAS FREE BORN._] It has been generally believed that the inhabitants of Tarsus, born in that city, had the same righ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:29. _AFTER HE KNEW THAT HE WAS A ROMAN_] He who was going to scourge him durst not proceed to the torture when Paul declared himself to be a _Roman_. A passage from Cicero, Orat. pro Verr. Act. ii. lib. v. 64, throws the fullest light on this place: Ille, quisquis erat, quem tu in cru... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 22:30. _HE - COMMANDED - ALL THEIR COUNCIL TO APPEAR_] Instead of ελθειν, _to come_, which we translate, _to appear_, συνελθειν, _to assemble_, or _meet together_, is the reading of ACE, nearly twenty others, the _AEthiopic, Arabic, Vulgate, Chrysostom_, and _Theophylact_: this reading _... [ Continue Reading ]