Acts 22
DOYLYActs 22:3
- — at the feet of Gamaliel.] Alluding to the elevated seat of the teacher above that of his disciples. Abp. Newcome. See note at Deut. xxxiii. 3.
— and taught according to &c.] Instructed not only in the knowledge of the law of Moses, but in all the traditions and customs of the elders, which I thought to be for the honour of God; and I was as zealous for the observance of them, as you are now. Bp. Mann.
made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
Acts 22:5
- As also the high priest] Meaning the person who was high priest at the period to which he now referred. Bp. Pearce.
Acts 22:9
- — they heard not the voice] They understood not the voice.
Acts 22:12
- — a devout man according to the law.] The character which St. Paul here gives of Ananias, served to win the attention of his present bearers. Abp. Newcome.
Acts 22:14
- — that Just One.] Jesus Christ the righteous, the only Son of God. Bp. Mann.
Acts 22:16
- — calling on the name of the Lord.] On the name of the Lord Jesus, that is, professing thyself a Christian. At chap. ix. 14, Christians are styled those who call on the name of Christ. By this expression, says St. Chrysostom, he shews that Christ was God, because it is not lawful to invoke any besides God. Dr. Whitby.
Anno DOMINI 60. Paul pleadeth his cause. He is brought before the council. Anno DOMINI 60.
Acts 22:17
- — when I was come again to Jerusalem.] Not immediately after his conversion, (see Gal. i. 17,) but after his journey to Arabia, and his abode at Damascus, Gal. i. 18. Beausobre.
Acts 22:19
- — Lord, they know that I imprisoned, &c.] The Jews know full well what a zealous and bitter adversary I have been against Thy religion; how I joined in the first act of persecution against St. Stephen, and carried it on in many instances afterwards, so that they could not but be convinced it must be on some certain and irresistible grounds of persuasion, that I should thus preach up the faith I once destroyed; and consequently would hearken unto me before any other Christian Apostle. Pyle.
Acts 22:21
- — far hence unto the Gentiles.] The Apostle shewed great fortitude in thus boldly declaring, on this occasion, his mission to the Gentiles; but, as the Jews of Asia were his hearers, this expression immediately renewed the cause of their former clamour. Abp. Newcome, Grotius.
Acts 22:23
- — and cast off their clothes, &c.] They cast off their clothes, as in the instance of St. Stephen, chap. vii. 58, that they might be the more ready to stone him; and they threw dust in the air, to shew their rage, and abhorrence of him. Dr. Whitby. It is mentioned in Ockley’s History of the Saracens, that it is in modern times the practice of the Arabians to throw dust in the
air, when they would express their contempt of a person speaking, and their abhorrence of what he publickly pronounced. Bp. Pearce.
Acts 22:24
- — that he should be examined by scourging.] Scourging was indicted in order to make a prisoner confess the crime of which he was accused. Bp. Mann. The chief captain did not understand the Hebrew language, and therefore was ignorant of the cause of their rage against St. Paul. Bp. Pearce.
Acts 22:28
- — With a great sum obtained I &c.] It appears from the Roman history, that the right of citizenship was purchased at a high price under the first emperours. Beausobre. The freedom of the city of Rome was oftentimes sold, and more particularly in the reign of the emperor Claudius. It is plain, from many unquestionable authorities, that this freedom was attainable by foreigners in various ways; by merit, by favour, by money, by being freed from servitude. It appears that multitudes of the Jews, in particular, became free in this last manner. Biscoe.
— But I was free born.] It is doubted whether Tarsus was a Roman colony, so as to entitle the citizens to the freedom of Rome; and it is therefore conjectured that some of St. Paul’s ancestors may have had the freedom of Rome conferred upon them in the civil wars for military services. Grotius.