THEN PAUL STRETCHED FORTH THE HAND - See the notes on Acts 21:40. This was the usual posture of orators or public speakers. The ancient statues are commonly made in this way, with the right hand extended. The dress of the ancients favored this. The long and loose robe, or outer garment, was fastened... [ Continue Reading ]
I THINK MYSELF HAPPY - I esteem it a favor and a privilege to be permitted to make my defense before one acquainted with Jewish customs and opinions. His defense, on former occasions, had been before Roman magistrates, who had little acquaintance with the opinions and customs of the Jews; who were n... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE EXPERT - To be skilled or well acquainted. IN ALL CUSTOMS - Rites, institutions, laws, etc. Everything pertaining to the Mosaic ritual, etc. AND QUESTIONS - Subjects of debate, and of various opinions. The inquiries which had existed between the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, etc. Paul could... [ Continue Reading ]
MY MANNER OF LIFE - My opinions, principles, and conduct. FROM MY YOUTH - Paul was born in Tarsus; but at an early period he had been sent to Jerusalem for the purpose of education in the school of Gamaliel, Acts 22:3. WHICH WAS AT THE FIRST - Which was from the beginning; the early part of which;... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH KNEW ME - Who were well acquainted with me. FROM THE BEGINNING - ἄνωθεν anōthen. Formerly; or from the very commencement of my career. Who were perfectly apprised of my whole course. IF THEY WOULD TESTIFY - If they would bear witness to what they know. THAT AFTER THE MOST STRAITEST - The... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW I STAND - I stand before the tribunal. I am arraigned. AND AM JUDGED - Am tried with reference to being judged. I am undergoing a trial on the point in which all my nation are agreed. FOR THE HOPE - On account of the hope; or because, in common with my countrymen, I had entertained this ho... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO WHICH PROMISE - To the fulfillment of which promise they hope to come; that is, they hope and believe that the promise will be fulfilled, and that they will partake of its benefits. OUR TWELVE TRIBES - This was the name by which the Jews were designated. The ancient Jewish nation had hoped to c... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY SHOULD IT BE THOUGHT ... - The force of this question will be better seen by an exclamation point after why τί ti. “What! is it to be thought a thing incredible?” etc. It intimates surprise that it should be thought incredible, or implies that no reason could be given why such a doctrine should... [ Continue Reading ]
I VERILY THOUGHT - I indeed μὲν men supposed. Paul here commences the account of his conversion, and states the evidence on which he judged that he was called of God to do what he had done. He begins by saying that it was not because he was originally disposed to be a Christian, but that he was vio... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH THING I ALSO DID ... - Acts 8:3. AND MANY OF THE SAINTS ... - Many Christians, Acts 8:3. AND WHEN THEY WERE PUT TO DEATH - In the history of those transactions, there is no account of any Christian being put to death except Stephen, Acts 7. But there is no improbability in supposing that the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I PUNISHED THEM OFT ... - See Acts 22:19. AND COMPELLED THEM TO BLASPHEME - To blaspheme the name of Jesus by denying that he was the Messiah, and by admitting that he was an impostor. This was the object which they had in view in the persecution. It was not to make them blaspheme or reproach Go... [ Continue Reading ]
See this passage explained in the notes on Acts 9:5, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT RISE ... - The particulars mentioned in this verse and the two following are not recorded in the account of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9; but it is not improbable that many circumstances may have occurred which are not recorded. Paul dwells on them here at length in order particularly to show his... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVERING THEE FROM THE PEOPLE - From the Jewish people. This implied that he would be persecuted by them, and that the Lord Jesus would interpose to rescue him. AND FROM THE GENTILES - This also implied that he would be persecuted and opposed by them - a prospect which was verified by the whole c... [ Continue Reading ]
TO OPEN THEIR EYES - To enlighten or instruct them. Ignorance is represented by the eyes being closed, and the instruction of the gospel by the opening of the eyes. See Ephesians 1:18. AND TO TURN THEM FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT - From the darkness of paganism and sin to the light and purity of the gos... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREUPON - Whence ὅθεν hothen. Since the proof of his being the Messiah, of his resurrection, and of his calling me to this work, was so clear and plain, I deemed it my duty to engage without delay in the work. I WAS NOT DISOBEDIENT - I was not incredulous or unbelieving; I yielded myself to the... [ Continue Reading ]
See Acts 9:20. The 20th verse contains a summary of his labors in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus. His argument is that the Lord Jesus had from heaven commanded him to do this, and that he had done no more than to obey his injunction. The word “then” in this verse is supplied by our trans... [ Continue Reading ]
CAUGHT ME IN THE TEMPLE - Acts 21:30. AND WENT ABOUT ... - Endeavored to put me to death.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING THEREFORE OBTAINED HELP OF GOD - Paul had seen and felt his danger. He had known the determined malice of the Jews, and their efforts to take his life. He had been rescued by Lysias, and had made every effort himself to avoid the danger and to save his life; and at the end of all; he traced h... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT CHRIST - That the Messiah expected by the Jews should be a suffering Messiah. SHOULD SUFFER - Should lead a painful life, and be put to death. See the notes on Acts 17:3; compare Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 53:1. AND THAT HE SHOULD BE THE FIRST ... - This declaration contains two points: (1) That it... [ Continue Reading ]
FESTUS SAID WITH A LOUD VOICE - Amazed at the zeal of Paul. Paul doubtless evinced deep interest in the subject, and great earnestness in the delivery of his defense. THOU ART BESIDE THYSELF - Thou art deranged; thou art insane. The reasons why Festus thought Paul mad were, probably: (1) His great... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM NOT MAD - I am not deranged. There are few more happy turns than what Paul gives to this accusation of Festus. He might have appealed to the course of his argument; he might have dwelt on the importance of the subject, and continued to reason; but he makes an appeal at once to Agrippa, and brin... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE KING - King Agrippa. KNOWETH - He had been many years in that region, and the fame of Jesus and of Paul’s conversion were probably well known to him. THESE THINGS - The things pertaining to the early persecutions of Christians; the spread of the gospel; and the remarkable conversion of Pau... [ Continue Reading ]
KING AGRIPPA - This bold personal address is an instance of Paul’s happy manner of appeal. He does it to bring in the testimony of Agrippa to meet the charge of Festus that he was deranged. BELIEVEST THOU THE PROPHETS? - The prophecies respecting the character, the sufferings, and the death of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN AGRIPPA SAID UNTO PAUL - He could not deny that he believed the prophecies in the Old Testament. He could not deny that the argument was a strong one that they had been fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. He could not deny that the evidence of the miraculous interposition of God in the conversion o... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD TO GOD - I pray to God; I earnestly desire it of God. This shows: (1) Paul’s intense desire that Agrippa, and all who heard him, might be saved. (2) His steady and constant belief that none but God could incline people to become altogether Christians. Paul knew well that there was nothing... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MAN DOETH NOTHING WORTHY OF DEATH - This was the conclusion to which they had come after hearing all that the Jews had to allege against him. It was the result of the whole investigation; and we have, therefore, the concurring testimony of Claudius Lysias Acts 23:29, of Felix Acts 24, of Festus... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID AGRIPPA UNTO FESTUS ... - This is a full declaration of the conviction of Agrippa, before whom the cause had been heard, that Paul was innocent. It is an instance, also, where boldness and fidelity will be attended with happy results. Paul had concealed nothing of the truth. He had made a... [ Continue Reading ]