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:
3a“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.
4aI 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.
15aFor 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.’
I am verily - This defence answers all that is objected, Acts 21:28. As there, so here also mention is made of the person of Paul, Acts 22:3, of the people and the law, Acts 22:3, Acts 22:5, Acts 22:12; of the temple, Acts 22:17; of teaching all men, Acts 22:15-17, Acts 22:21; and of the truth of his doctrine, Acts 22:6. But he speaks closely and nervously, in few words, because the time was short. But brought up at the feet of Gamaliel - The scholars usually sat on low seats, or upon mats on the floor, at the feet of their masters, whose seats were raised to a considerable height. Accurately instructed - The learned education which Paul had received was once no doubt the matter of his boasting and confidence. Unsanctified learning made his bonds strong, and furnished him with numerous arguments against the Gospel. Yet when the grace of God had changed his heart, and turned his accomplishments into another channel, he was the fitter instrument to serve God's wise and merciful purposes, in the defence and propagation of Christianity.
Other John Wesley's Notes entries containing Acts 22:3:
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