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Acts 22:1
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1 “Brethrena and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”  
2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the aHebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said:  
3 a“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city bat the feet of cGamaliel, taught daccording to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and ewas zealous toward God fas you all are today.  
4 aI persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,  
5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and aall the council of the elders, bfrom whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus cto bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.  
6 “Now ait happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.  
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9 “And athose who were with me indeed saw the light1 and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.  
10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’
11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 “Then aa certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, bhaving a good testimony with all the cJews who dwelt there,  
13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.
14 Then he said, a‘The God of our fathers bhas chosen you that you should cknow His will, and dsee the Just One, eand hear the voice of His mouth.  
15 aFor you will be His witness to all men of bwhat you have seen and heard.  
16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, aand wash away your sins, bcalling on the name of the Lord.’  
17 “Now ait happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance  
18 and asaw Him saying to me, b‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’  
19 So I said, ‘Lord, athey know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and bbeat those who believe on You.  
20 aAnd when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by bconsenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’  
21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, afor I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”  

Paul’s Roman Citizenship

22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, a“Away with such a fellow from the earth, for bhe is not fit to live!”  
23 Then, as they cried out and1 tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,  
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Acts 21:40   Acts 22:2 >>


Acts 22:1

Men, brethren, and fathers - This defense was addressed to the Jews, and Paul commenced it with an expression of sincere respect for them. Stephen began his defense with the same form of address. See the notes on Acts 7:2.

My defence - Against the charges brought against me. Those charges were, that he had endeavored to prejudice people everywhere against the Jews, the Law, and the temple, Acts 21:28. In order to meet this charge, Paul stated:

(1)That he was a Jew by birth, and had enjoyed all the advantages of a Jewish education, Acts 22:3;

(2)He recounted the circumstances of his conversion, and the reason why he believed that he was called to preach the gospel, Acts 22:4-16;

(3)He proceeded to state the reasons why he went among the Gentiles, and evidently intended to vindicate his conduct there, Acts 22:17-21; but at this point, at the name Gentiles, his defense was interrupted by the enraged multitude, and he was not permitted to proceed.

What would have been his defense, therefore, had he been suffered to finish it, it is impossible to know with certainty. On another occasion, however, he was permitted to make a similar defense, and perhaps to complete the train of thought which he had purposed to pursue here. See Acts 22.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Acts 22:1:

1 Corinthians 9:3
1 Corinthians 9:3
2 Corinthians 7:11
1 Peter 3:15

 

<< Acts 21:40   Acts 22:2 >>

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