SAUL BECOMES A CHRISTIAN 1-30. The Conversion of Saul is to regarded as a miraculous event. The way for it may have been prepared by Stephen's speech, by the spectacle of the constancy of the Christian martyrs, and by Saul's own consciousness of the imperfections of the Law (Romans 7:7 to Romans 8:1... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIGH PRIEST] The Romans allowed the Sanhedrin to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction (except in capital cases) over the whole Jewish community, even outside Palestine.... [ Continue Reading ]
SYNAGOGUES] clearly the Christians had not yet separated from the Jewish synagogues. THIS WAY] 'Way,' thus used absolutely for Christianity, is peculiar to Acts: see Acts 16:17; Acts 18:25; Acts 19:9; Acts 19:23; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14; Acts 24:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
A LIGHT] according to 1 Corinthians 9:1, Paul saw, within the light, Jesus Himself, in His risen and glorified body.... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is_ HARD FOR THEE TO KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS] These words, which the RV omits as an interpolation from Acts 26:14, mean that the _rôle_ of a persecutor is impossible to Paul. Paul is really in the position of a plough-ox. Jesus is his driver, and holds the goad. Paul can no more resist Jesus tha... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOD SPEECHLESS] According to Acts 26:14, they fell to the earth. Hearing a voice] RV 'hearing the voice.' Yet in Acts 22:9; Paul says, 'they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.' The latter account, being Paul's own, is to be preferred. Those who wish to harmonise the two accounts translat... [ Continue Reading ]
SAW NO MAN] RV 'saw nothing.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Saul fasted to show his penitence.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANANIAS] probably the head of the Christian body at Damascus. Late tradition makes him one of the Seven, consecrated bishop of Damascus by Peter and Andrew, and a martyr.... [ Continue Reading ]
A CHOSEN VESSEL] i.e. a chosen instrument: cp. Acts 13:2; Galatians 1:15, etc. THE GENTILES] cp. Acts 22:21; Acts 26:17; Romans 1:5; Romans 11:13; Galatians 2:7; Galatians 2:8. And the children of Israel] Though Paul's mission was mainly to the Gentiles, it was his custom to preach the gospel first... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SHEW HIM] see Acts 20:23; Acts 21:11; 2 Corinthians 11:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WAS BAPTIZED] It is added (Acts 22:16) that St. Paul received at his baptism the remission of his former sins. The three accounts of St. Paul's conversion (Acts 9:22; Acts 9:26) present some not very important variations. Thus, St. Paul alone fell to the earth (Acts 9), but in Acts 26 _all_ fell... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAIN DAYS] St. Luke makes no mention of the Arabian sojourn of St. Paul, which, according to Galatians 1:17, took place immediately after the conversion. Either St. Luke did not know of it, or thought it unimportant for his purpose. By 'Arabia' is probably meant the territory of the Nabatæans, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST] RV 'Jesus.' THE SON OF GOD] Whatever may be the meaning of this term in the Synoptic Gospels, in the Pauline theology it undoubtedly means a preexistent divine being, consubstantial with the Father, and His agent in the Creation and Redemption of the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER MANY DAYS] according to Galatians 1:18, after' three years.' THE JEWS] These must have persuaded the governor of king Aretas to persecute Paul: see 2 Corinthians 11:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISCIPLES] RV 'his disciples.'... [ Continue Reading ]
It is strange that after this arduous work at Damascus the Church of Jerusalem should still doubt the fact of Paul's conversion.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE APOSTLES] according to Galatians 1, Paul stayed in Jerusalem fifteen days, and of the Apostles saw only Peter and James the Lord's brother.... [ Continue Reading ]
GRECIANS] i.e. Greekspeaking Jews.... [ Continue Reading ]
The reason why Paul was willing to leave Jerusalem is given in Acts 22:18; (a vision of Jesus in the Temple).... [ Continue Reading ]
Extension of the Church in Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria. The churches] RV 'the Church.' The local churches formed one organic whole.... [ Continue Reading ]
Activity of Peter at Lydda and Joppa. 32. Throughout all _quarters_] or, 'throughout all the saints.' LYDDA] in the plain of Sharon, about 10 m. SE. of Joppa, on the way to Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
ÆNĚAS] the name is different from that of the hero of Virgil's poem (¯nças).... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostle healed 'in the name of Jesus.' Jesus healed in His own name, as being Himself the author of the cure.... [ Continue Reading ]
SARON] or, Sharon, is a very fruitful plain extending along the coast of the Mediterranean from Joppa to Carmel (1 Chronicles 27:29; Song of Solomon 2:1, etc.).... [ Continue Reading ]
JOPPA] now Jaffa, the port of Jerusalem, and the only seaport ever possessed by the Jews. DORCAS] i.e. 'gazelle.'... [ Continue Reading ]