_Men, brethren, and fathers_ Of whatsoever age, rank, or circumstance of life you are; _hear ye my defence_ Which ye could not hear before for the tumult. _And when they heard that he spake in_ their vulgar tongue, then called the Hebrew dialect, _they kept the more silence_ Were the more disposed,... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am verily a Jew_, &c. This defence answers all that is objected, Acts 21:28. But he speaks closely and nervously, in a few words, because the time was short; _born in Tarsus, yet brought up in this city_ For my parents were so warmly attached to their religion, and so desirous that I might be wel... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as I made my journey, &c., about noon_ For all was done in the face of the sun; _suddenly there shone a great light_ By whatever method God reveals himself to us, we shall have everlasting cause to remember it; especially when he has gone, in any remarkable manner, out of his common way, for th... [ Continue Reading ]
_When I was come again to Jerusalem_ From Damascus; and _prayed in the temple_ By this he shows that he still paid the temple its due honour, as the house of prayer; _I was in a trance_ Or ecstasy. Perhaps he might continue standing all the while, with an intenseness of countenance which, if it were... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they gave him audience_ Heard him with quietness and attention; _unto this word_ Till he began to speak of his mission to the Gentiles, and this in such a manner as implied that the Jews were in danger of being cast off; but no sooner did he mention this, than the multitude, especially such of... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as they cried out_ In this furious manner; _and cast_ Or tore; _off their clothes_ In token of indignation and horror at this pretended blasphemy: or, as Dr. Whitby thinks, as in the case of Stephen, that they might be ready to stone him; _and threw dust into the air_ Through vehemence of rage,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as they_ The soldiers ordered by the tribune; were binding _him with thongs_ In order to their scourging him; _Paul said unto the centurion that stood by_ To see the tribune's orders executed; _Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?_ A freeman of Rome might be b... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the morrow_ The chief captain, having become more anxious to know certainly what Paul's crime was, since he understood that he was a Roman citizen; _loosed him from his bands_ In which he had laid him a close prisoner; _and commanded the chief priests, and all their council_ All the members of t... [ Continue Reading ]