_Then Agrippa said unto Paul_ Agrippa was the most honourable person in the assembly, having the title of king bestowed upon him, though otherwise not superior to Festus, as only having the power of other governors under the emperor. But as Festus had opened the cause, and Agrippa, though not here s... [ Continue Reading ]
_My manner of life from my youth, which was at first_ Την απ ' αρχης, _which from the beginning_, that is, from the beginning of my youth; was _among mine own nation at Jerusalem_ He was not born among the Jews at Jerusalem, but he was bred among them. And though he had of late years been conversant... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why should it be thought a thing incredible_ (It was thought so by Festus, Acts 25:19, to whom Paul answers as if he had heard him discourse;) _that God_ A Being of infinite perfections, and the original author of the human frame; _should raise the dead_ And continue their existence in a future sta... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whereupon, as I went to Damascus_, &c. See notes on Acts 9:3, and Acts 22:5; where the substance of this paragraph occurs, and is explained. _At mid-day, O king_ Most seasonably, in the height of the narration, does he thus fix the king's attention; _I saw a light from heaven, above the brightness... [ Continue Reading ]
_But rise and stand upon thy feet_ Though thou hast persecuted me and my followers in this outrageous manner, and hast been engaged in a desperate attempt to destroy them from the face of the earth, and, by so doing, hast forfeited thy life. I am determined graciously to spare it, and to use thee he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whereupon_ Or, _from that time_, as οθεν may be rendered, that ever-memorable time, through the grace of God, giving me inclination and power to obey; _I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision_ With which he was pleased thus miraculously to favour me. _But showed first unto them of Damascus_ Pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_For these causes_ And for no other; _the Jews_ Who have the same inveteracy against the gospel of Jesus that I once had; _caught_ (seized) _me in the temple, and went about_ (attempted) _to kill me_ Διαχειρισασθαι, _to kill me with their own hands._ So the word properly signifies; but, _having obta... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as he thus spake for himself_ And was making his defence; _Festus_ Astonished, it seems, to hear him represent this despised gospel of Jesus of Nazareth as a matter of such high and universal concern, and designed to be the means of illuminating both Jews and Gentiles, and thinking the vision h... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he said_ Calmly, and with a perfect command of himself, not in the least provoked by such an invidious imputation; _I am not mad, most noble Festus_ A title properly belonging to a Roman propretor. How inexpressibly beautiful is this reply! How strong! yet, how decent and respectful! Madmen sel... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when he had thus spoken_ That the impression Paul began to make upon the court might reach no further; _the king rose up_ Thus neglecting to yield to conviction, and losing, perhaps for ever, an unspeakably precious moment. Whether the good impressions made were ever afterward laid to heart and... [ Continue Reading ]