Acts 22:1-21

Paul's Speech to the Jews. The opening of the speech is like that of Stephen (Acts 7:2). In 2 Corinthians 11:22 Paul attests his full membership of the Jewish people, and having lived many years in Palestine he could no doubt speak Aramaic, though his countrymen did not expect it of him.

Acts 22:3. at the feet of Gamaliel: Jewish boys sat on the floor at their lessons. Gamaliel: cf. Acts 5:34. Some scholars are strongly inclined to put Paul down as a pure Hellenist in his schooling. If he did study with Gamaliel, it was probably immediately before his conversion (Acts 11:25 *). zealous for God: cf. Galatians 1:14.

Acts 22:4. this Way: cf. Acts 9:2, Galatians 1:13; on the High Priest's letters cf. Acts 9:2. The following narrative has curious differences from that in ch. 9; it was an oft-told tale.

Acts 22:6. about noon is a new touch here.

Acts 22:7 f. as in ch. 9.

Acts 22:9 differs from Acts 9:7.

Acts 22:14. The knowledge of his vocation, which Paul himself (Galatians 1:16) ascribes to Divine revelation, is here communicated to him by Ananias. In Acts 9 Ananias has it imparted to him; here he imparts it to Paul. know his will: cf. Luke 12:47; Romans 2:18. the righteous one: cf. Acts 3:14.

Acts 22:15. In Acts 1:8; Acts 1:22 the believers are to be witnesses of the Resurrection; what Paul has seen and heard qualifies him to be so too.

Acts 22:16. calling on his name: cf. Acts 2:21, Acts 9:14.

Acts 22:17. Paul's call to the Gentile mission is here represented as taking place not as, in Acts 9:15 and Acts 26:17, at his conversion, but some time after it at Jerusalem. This is not consistent with his own statements in Galatians 1, where his first visit to Jerusalem had no such importance for him; but explains how his call came to be different from that of the first apostles.