Acts 23 Acts 22:1–21 Paul declareth at large the manner of his conversion and call to the apostleship. Acts 22:22–24 At the very mentioning of the Gentiles the people exclaim furiously against him: whereupon the chief captain ordereth to examine him by scourging, Acts 22:25–29 which he avoideth by…

Although they were wicked men, and cruel persecutors, St. Paul giveth them their titles of respect, which by the places God had put them in, are due unto them: See Poole on “Acts 7:2”.

The Hebrew tongue; the ordinary Hebrew; that which was taken for Hebrew, and spoken by the Hebrews after their return from the captivity, though mixed with the Syriac; as Acts 21:40.

At the feet; the apostle alludes unto the posture that the disciples of any rabbi, or teacher, in those times did use; the master sitting in some high or elevated place, did teach his scholars, who sat at his feet on the ground; and as they grew in knowledge, were advanced to sit nearer to their…

This way; the doctrine and practice of Christianity. Unto the death; as much as in him lies, being one of the most furious persecutors, that hunted for the precious life, breathing out threatenings and slaughters with every breath, Acts 9:1.

The estate of the elders; their sanhedrim or great council. Letters; commission or orders. The brethren; the Jews of Damascus are called brethren, because they descended from the patriarchs as well as he.

As lightning it suddenly encompassed him. But see Acts 9:3, and read on; where this history is set down by St. Luke. And here little more can be taken notice of, than some small variety in the expressions.

Saul, Saul; as men that call another earnestly repeat his name; as when the angel of the Lord called Abraham, Abraham, Gen. 22:11.

I am Jesus of Nazareth; that contemned (though not contemptible) name is owned by Christ from heaven, that they might not be ashamed when they were reproached by it on earth. Of the rest, See Poole on “Acts 9:5”.

Of this; See Poole on “Acts 9:7”. This may be added to what was formerly said, that the men who travelled with Paul may be said not to have heard the voice of him that spake, because they did not understand it, or obey it; they were not converted, as Paul was, by it; the Hebrew language putting…

See Poole on “Acts 9:6”. Such things as Ananias told him from Christ, were as if Christ himself had told him them; and by Ananias our Saviour satisfied St. Paul’s question, What shall I do, Lord?

I could not see for the glory of that light; the excellency of the object overpowering his sight. It was a strange work of God that enabled St. Stephen to see Christ, who is now so glorious, Acts 7:55.

According to the law; this is added to distinguish him from a proselyte, and to let them know that he had received the gospel, not from a convert out of Gentilism, (who though they admitted, yet they had a greater jealousy over, and less kindness for), but from one like unto themselves in all…

Stood; that in this posture he might more conveniently put his hands upon Paul; which we read that he now did, Acts 9:17, and was ordinarily done upon the miraculous curing of any. The same hour; or, as Acts 9:18, immediately.

The God of our fathers; nothing could please the people better than to hear God so styled; for this they gloried in, above all things, that they and theirs had God to their Father, John 8:41. And nothing could better suit St.

His witness; the apostles were in a more special manner Christ’s witnesses; as Luke 24:48, John 1:7, Acts 1:8; God giving them extraordinary gifts, not for their own sakes chiefly, but to profit others withal; as the tree bears not fruit, nor the field yields its increase, for itself.

Wash away thy sins; as washing causeth the spots to disappear, and to be as if they had not been, Isa. 1:18; so does pardoning mercy, or remission of sins, which accompanieth baptism, as in the due receiver, Matt. 3:11, 1 Pet. 3:21–22.

This was probably about three years after his conversion, as Gal. 1:18, and was one of the visions and revelations he makes mention of, 2 Cor. 12:1. A trance; a rapture and ecstasy, as Acts 10:10.

Get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; this St. Paul takes notice of, that it might appear unto the Jews that he did not out of choice, or because he bare a grudge against them, decline them, and preach to the Gentiles.

This was Paul’s objection which he made against the will of God concerning his leaving Jerusalem, and the Jews in it; and shows how apt carnal reason is in the very best men to set up itself against the wisdom of God, and to argue for what we fancy best to be done, or left undone.

Martyr is a Greek word, that signifies a witness; and is here, and since by the ecclesiastical writers, appropriated unto such as suffer death for the testimony they give to the truths of God, or doctrine of the gospel. Consenting unto his death; as Acts 8:1.

God repeats his command, and by that answers all Paul’s reasonings; whatsoever the event be, whether the Gentiles will hear, or whether they will forbear, he must go unto them. When the will of God is manifest we must do it, whatsoever success we are like to have.

They gave him audience unto this word; they had heard all the rest of St. Paul’s discourse without any gainsaying, either thinking it did not much concern them whether it were true or false, or else, being convinced of the truth of it, they were silent; but when the mercy of God unto any but…

Cast off their clothes; they that stoned the blasphemer cast off their upper garments, that they might be the readier to do that execution, and carry the heavier stones; as Acts 7:58. They might also cast or rend them off, in sign of grief and detestation of Paul’s (supposed) blasphemy.

The chief captain; of whom, Acts 21:31. The castle, or fort, called Antonia, as in Acts 21:34. By scourging; or torturing, (being put to the question, as the French expression is, agreeable to the Greek word here used), which went no further than by scourging; which was for this purpose used upon…

They bound him with thongs; they who were to be scourged were bound to a post or column (amongst the Jews) of a cubit and a half high, inclining downwards upon it; and these thongs were such wherewith they bound Paul to this column or pillar; and with such also they intended to scourge him.

There were several centurions under one chief captain, or chiliarch, as there are several captains under one colonel; and this centurion might be deputed to examine Paul.

It is very reasonable that a good man should make use of such lawful privileges as the place in which he lives doth afford, and in his condition may be allowed. And it is part of that wisdom our Saviour does recommend, if it does not destroy the innocence of the dove, Matt. 10:16.

The historian relates, that the emperor Claudius sold this privilege to such foreigners as had not by any notable service merited to have it conferred upon them. At first it cost them very much to obtain it, as it did this chief captain; but afterwards it was more cheap and contemptible.

They departed from him, who had bound him, and would have scourged him. The chief captain also was afraid; the crime of breaking the privileges of the Roman citizens being accounted no less than treason, and a sin, as they called it, against the majesty of that people; as afterwards it was as great…

He loosed him from his bands; that he might not continue, after knowledge, in that (accounted) crime of binding a Roman citizen; as also that Paul might speak with the greater liberty and freedom in his own defence.