Acts 22

1 Paul makes his defence before the people, 3 and relates that he was a Jew, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, 4 and that he being zealous for the Law, persecuted the Christians even unto Damascus. 6 Afterwards how he was wonderfully called and converted by Christ out of Heaven, 12 and being further informed by Ananias concerning his calling to the Apostleship, was baptized by him, 17 and how Christ by a vision in the Temple at Jerusalem, appeared to him again, and sent him to the Gentiles, 22 which words the Jews hearing, made a new uproar, and cryed out that he ought not to live, 24 wherefore the Commander causeth him to be bound that he might be scourged, 25 but seeing he appeals to his Burgesship of Rome, the same is omitted, 30 and he set before the council of the Jews.

1. Men, Brethren and Fathers, [He calleth the common people who were equal to him in age, Brethren, and their Elders and Rulers, Fathers, that so by this appellation he might stir them up to favourable audience. See the like example in Stephen, Acts 7:2.] hear ye my defence, which I at present (shall make) unto you.

2. (Now when they heard that he spake to them in the Hebrew Tongue, [That is the Syriack, which had great agreement with the Hebrew, and therefore was reckoned for one Tongue: for the people of the Jews after the Babylonish captivity, by their continual converse with the Syrians and Assyrians, had very much mingled the purity of the Hebrew Tongue with those Tongues] they kept themselves the more still.) And he said,

3. I am a man that am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, and brought up in this City, at the feet of Gamaliel: [That is under the instruction and oversight of that famous Doctor of the Law Gamaliel, of whose respect among the people is testified, Acts 5, 34. And this phrase is taken from hence, that the Teachers sate higher, in advanced chairs or seats, and the Disciples on lower benches before their feet, as is also said of Mary, Luke 10:39.] instructed according to the exactest manner: [Gr.the sharpness, i.e. the sharpest, or the Pharisaical, which (sect) by the Jews was accounted for the best and strictest observer of the Law. See Acts 26:5. Phil. 3.v. 5.] of the Law of our Fathers, being a zealot of God, [that is, a zealot for the Law of God, but without understanding as Paul addes, Romans 10:2.] like as ye all are at this day.

4. Who persecuted this way, [That is, this doctrine or Religion. See Acts 9:2.and 19.v.9, 23.] even unto death, [that is to bring them to death, as was done to Stephen Acts 7:60.] binding and delivering over into prison both men and women.

5. As the High Priest also is my witness, and the whole Council of Elders: from whom also having received letters unto the Brethren [That is, the Jews and their Rulers, Acts 9:2.whom he calleth brethren because they were of one race, although bitter Enemies of the Christians] travelled towards Damascus, to bring those that were there also , bound unto Jerusalem, that they might be punished.

6. But it happened unto me [See of this event, Acts 9:3.and the following (verses) with the annotations thereupon] as I journeyed, and drew neer to Damascus about noon, that suddenly from heaven a great light shined round about me.

7. And I fell to the Earth, and I heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?

8. And I answered, who art thou Lord? And he saidunto me I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest.

9. And they that were with me, saw indeed the light, and were sore afraid, but the voice of him that spake unto me they heard not. [Namely with understanding of the words: for otherwise they heard the sound. See the annot.on Acts 9:7.]

10. And I said Lord what shall I do? And the Lord said unto me, arise and go thy way to Damascus, and there thou shalt he spoken with, concerning all that which is ordained thee to do.

11. And when I saw not by reason of the glory of that light, [That is, the exceeding brightness of this light had so scorched mine eyes, that as it were scales were come upon them, Acts 9:18.] I was led by the hand, by those which were with me, and came to Damascus.

12. And one Ananias, a Religious man according to the Law, having (good) testimony of all the Jews which dwelt (there.)

13. Came unto me, [Namely, sent by Christ by a vision, Acts 9:10.] and standing by (mee) said unto mee, Saul, brother, be thou restored to thy sight; [or, look upwards] and the same houre I became looking upon him. [or, I looked upon him.]

14. And he said, The God of our Fathers hath before ordained thee [Or before prepared. The Greek word signifies as much as, taken thee by the hand] to know his will, and to see the righteous one, [that is, Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, although he were condemned as one that was unrighteous, Isaiah 53:11. Acts 3:14. 1 John 2:1.] and to hear the voice out of his mouth.

15. For thou shalt be witness to him unto all men, of that which thou hast seen and heard.

16. And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins are washed away by the blood and the Spirit of Christ: a phrase which is often used of the Sacraments. See Mark 1:4. Ephe. 5. 26.which is more cleerly expounded, Matth. 3. 11.1 Pet. 3. 21. 1. John 1:7.] calling on the name of the Lord.

17. And it happened unto me when I was returned to Jerusalem and prayed in the Temple: that I was in a distraction of sences: [Gr.standing-out; whereof see Acts 10:10. This seems to have happened after that he was returned out of Arabia to Jerusalem, three years his conversion, Galatians 1:18.]

18. And that I saw him, and he said unto me, make speed, and go in hast out of Jerusalem: [This whole relation of Paul, as also the former, serves for this purpose to shew the Jews, that not of ignorance of the promises made to the Jews, nor of any faction against them, but only being pressed by the voice and will of God, he was gone to the Gentiles to preach the Gospell to them] for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

19. And I said, Lord, they know that I cast into prison, and scourged in the Synagogues those that believed in thee.

20. And when the blood of Stephen thy witness [Gr.Martyros, from whence commeth the word Martyr, because they give testimony to the truth of the Gospell with their blood; of whom Stephen was the first after the resurrection of Christ] was shed, (that) I also stood by, and was also well pleased in his death, and kept the clothes of them which killed him.

21. And he said unto me go thy way: for I will send thee far away to the Gentiles.

22. Now they heard him until this word: Namely, because they could not endure that the Gentiles should be made equall to them, or advanced above them, they were so disturbed about it] and they lift up their voice saying, away from the earth with such a one: for it is not meet that he should live.

23. And as they cryed, and threw the garments from them, [Or, cloaks, upper-garments] and cast dust in the aire, [namely, out of fury as mad men. Others think that they did thus, to shew that according to their Law he ought to be stoned as a blasphemer: for hich purpose seved the casting off of their clothes, Acts 7.ver. 58.and throwing of dust in stead of stones, which they had not there.]

24. The Commander [Namely, the Colonell or Commander of the Castle Antonia, called Claudius Lysias, Acts 23:26.] commanded that he should be brought into the Camp, [see thereof, Acts 21:34.] and said that he should be examined with scourging, that he might understand for what cause they cryed out so upon him.

25. And as they stretched him out with the thongs, [That is, so bound him that his limbs were stretched out, on a stake or pillar, to be scourged] Paul said to the Centurion who stood there, Is it lawfull for you to scourge a man that is a Romane [that is, one that hath the right of a Citizen of the City of Rome. See ver. 28.] and (him) uncondemned? [that is, without having taken due cognizance of matters.]

26. Now when the Centurion heard (that,) he went and told it to the Commander, saying, look what thou hast to do: For this man is a Romane.

27. And the Commander came and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Romane? And he said, yea.

28. And the Commander answered, I obtained this Burgesship for a great sum (of money.) And Paul said, But I was also born (a Citizen.) [Namely, not that he was born in the City of Rome, but in the City Tarsus in Cilicia, the Citizens whereof had obtained of the Emperour Augustus the Citizen-ship of the City of Rome, because that in his was against Brutus and Cassius they had held with him, and suffered much, being thereby deprived of their means. See Dion. Chrys.in Tars. 2. And Dion. Cass.lib. 47.Plin.also calleth the same a free City, Hist.nat.lib.5.cap.27. See also the annot.on Acts 9:11.]

29. Immediately therefore they desisted from him, that should have examined him. And teh Commander was also afraid, when he understood that he was a Roman: and that he had bound him.

30. And the next (day) being desirous to know the certainty, whereof he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from the bonds, and commanded that the Chief priest, and their whole Councill should come: and having brought down Paul [Namely, out of the Castle Antonia (which lay on a high place) below somewhere into a place of the Castle-yard, or there about, where he sent for the Councill of the Jews. For it is not likely, that he brought Paul into the Temple it self: seeing Lysias and his (men) were Gentiles, and therefore might not come into the Temple it self, and yet nevertheless it appears, Acts 23:10.that he and his souldiers were there present] he set (him) before them.