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| 1 Brethren and fathers! Hear ye, the defence, which I now make unto you:– |
Hear ye my defence – The noble address was a model of skill, logic and eloquence. R1559:5
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| 2 And, when they heard that, in the Hebrew language, he had begun to address them, they kept the more quiet. And he saith– |
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| 3 I, am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but nurtured in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel,–trained after the strictness of our ancestral law; being jealous for God just as, all ye, are this day; |
Of Gamaliel – Saul had received a special course in theology or Jewish Law at Jerusalem, under Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers of that time. R2117:3
An advanced school or seminary, attended by few except the sons of the rich, implying that Paul's parents were rich. R4355:2
The custom was that the pupils would ask questions and get the views of the teachers. R5553:1
Zealous toward God – Paul was zealous toward God long before his conversion from Judaism to Christianity. R1671:6
His heart being in a right attitude of loyalty. R2823:5
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| 4 and, this way, I persecuted unto the death, binding and delivering up into prisons both men and women:– |
Persecuted this way – He had a religious zeal which led him to persecute Christ and his followers, the Church. R2823:3,5
The Lord's people. F339
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| 5 as, even the High-priest, beareth me witness, and all the Eldership,–from whom, letters also, accepting to the brethren, unto Damascus, was I journeying, to bring them who were there bound unto Jerusalem, that they might be punished. |
Went to Damascus – Armed with authority for the apprehension of the Lord's followers, accompanied by others who seemingly were under his command as a police force. R2823:6
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| 6 But it befell me, as I was journeying and drawing nigh unto Damascus, that, about mid-day–suddenly–out of heaven, there flashed a great light all around me; |
A great light – Evidently a supernatural one, because the light was far brighter than the sun at noon. R2969:4
Exceedingly bright light, glaringly brilliant. R2824:1
Round about me – Saul himself was evidently the center of the manifestation. R2117:5
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| 7 I fell also to the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me–Saul! Saul! Why, me, art thou persecuting? |
And I fell – Immediately prostrated himself. R2824:1
Unto the ground – Seeing Jesus in his glory, unveiled, Saul was smitten to the earth and seriously blinded. R5299:2
Heard a voice – The voice spoke in the Hebrew tongue; whereas those who were with Saul probably spoke in the Syriac or Greek language. R2969:5
Saul, Saul – Hebrew, Saul; Greek, Paul. R2823:2
Persecutest thou me – Fighting the truth ignorantly. R2823:3
Those who touch his saints, touch him; "He is the head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:18); "Now are ye the body of R2824:2
"Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me." (Matt. 25:40) R92:4
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| 8 And, I, answered–Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me–I, am Jesus the Nazarene, whom, thou, art persecuting! |
Who art thou, Lord? – Paul recognized that this was a lordly, powerful one--yet he wished to make no mistake, he wished to know who thus reproved him, that he might benefit more. R2824:1
Thou persecutest – Those who touch his saints, members of the Body of Christ, touch him. R2824:2
Whoever is a faultfinder and busybody in the affairs of the brethren is doing this against the flesh of Jesus. R5274:3
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| 9 Now, they who were with me, beheld, indeed, the light, but heard not, the voice, of him that was speaking with me |
The light – But not the vision which Saul saw representing the Son of Man in his glorified condition. R2969:4
The voice – Only Saul could distinguish the words, which were meant for him alone. R2117:6, 2969:5
The voice was heard by all, but the message by Saul only. R2824:3
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| 10 And said–What shall I do, Lord? And, the Lord, said unto me–Arise, and be going thy way into Damascus, and, there, shall it be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. |
What shall I do – I am ready to obey. R2824:3
It meant, I am not more sincere now than I was a moment ago, but the eyes of my understanding have been opened. I am anxious now to undo what I have been heretofore mistakenly doing. R2824:3
We can but admire the promptness with which Saul at once laid down the arms of his opposition, and placed himself on the side of the one whose cause he had so recently persecuted. R2117:6
There is more hope of those who are outspoken in their opposition to the truth, but who, though blinded, are truly consecrated to the Lord, than for some of those who are its very cool and indifferent friends. R2824:5
Appointed for thee to do – This shows us that Paul was in the divine mind and plan beforehand. R2824:4
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| 11 But, as I could not see clearly owing to the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them who were with me, I came into Damascus. |
I could not see – The wonderful light which flashed upon his eyes destroyed his sight. R2824:5
Of that light – Saul was but a man and could not see the fullness of the glory which no man can see and live, but he did see as much of a representation of that glory as was possible. R2824:6
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| 12 And, one Ananias, a man devout according to the law, well-attested by all the Jews that dwelt there, |
Ananias – The name Ananias signifies, "Jah is gracious." R2118:6
A devout man – We should always expect that those whom the Lord would choose as his special messengers would be good men, devout men, pious men. 2824:6
A good report – Ananias was esteemed amongst the Jews as a good man. R2824:6
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| 13 coming unto me, and standing over me, said–Saul, brother! look up. And, I, in that very hour, looked up on him. |
Receive thy sight – His eyes were never restored to their former strength. R2825:1, 2118:2
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| 14 And he said–The God of our fathers, hath chosen thee to get to know his will, and to see the Righteous One,–and to hear a voice out of his mouth. |
Hath chosen thee – "No man can come to me except the Father which sent me draw him." (John 6:44) R2825:2
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| 15 Because thou shalt be a witness to him unto all men, of the things which thou hast seen and heard. |
Unto all men – Henceforth it was open to all. R3023:5
Seen and heard – We are not to attempt to tell others things which we have not seen and have not heard ourselves. R2825:3
In mental vision Paul was "caught up to the third heaven" (2 Cor. 12:2); granted a glimpse of the R1558:3; A70
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| 16 And, now, what art thou going to do? Arise, and get thyself immersed, and have thy sins bathed away, calling upon his name. |
Why tarriest thou? – We should urge our friends who see the truth to prompt, full and complete consecration and obedience. R2825:4
Baptized – Greek, baptizo; immersed. 251:5
Which our Lord and his apostles practiced and enjoined upon all followers. R1539:3
Wash away thy sins – This relates to Jews, either natural born or proselyted. R1421:1
Jews were called to repent and to be baptized for the remission of sins against their Covenant. John's baptism was for Jews only, and were, so to speak, transferred from Moses into Christ. R2825:5, 1541:6
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| 17 And it came to pass, when had returned unto Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, that I came to be in a trance, |
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| 18 and saw him, saying unto me–Haste thee, and go forth speedily out of Jerusalem, inasmuch as they will not accept thy witness concerning me. |
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| 19 And, I, said–Lord! they themselves, well know that I was imprisoning and beating in every synagogue them who were believing on thee. |
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| 20 And, when the blood of Stephen thy witness was being shed, even I myself, was standing by, and approving, and guarding the mantles of them who were slaying him. |
I also – Saul of Tarsus was probably a member of the Sanhedrin, which tried Stephen. R2958:4
Paul tells us that he was a sort of ringleader amongst those who killed him. R2952:3
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| 21 And he said unto me–Be taking thy journey; because, I, unto nations afar off, will send thee. |
Unto the Gentiles – They heard the Apostle in peace and with profound attention up to this point. Then all their prejudices seemed to be aroused with the thought that this man taught that Gentiles could have favor with God equal to the Jews. R3189:3
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| 22 And they hearkened unto him as far as this word, and lifted up their voice, saying–Away from the earth, with such a man as this, for it is not fit that he should live. |
Away with such a fellow – They cried against him in much the same language that they used against the Lord. R3189:3
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| 23 Now, as they were both making an outcry and tearing their mantles,–dust, also were throwing into the air, |
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| 24 the captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, saying, that, with scourging, he should be put to the test,–that he might find out, for what cause they were, thus, clamouring against him. |
Examined by scourging – The Roman Colonel commanded that the Apostle must be whipped until he confessed what he had done wrong. R4485:5, 3189:4
That he might know – The Roman commander, not understanding the Hebrew language, had not been able to follow the Apostle's discourse. R3189:3
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| 25 But, when they had stretched him out with straps, Paul said unto the by-standing centurion–A Roman, and uncondemned, is it allowed you to be scourging? |
They bound him – To a bent whipping post. R4485:5
Is it lawful – He did not say, "If you beat me, I will make it a sad day for you!" R5897:6
Paul more than once appealed to the Law for justice. R954:3*
We are at liberty to use any legitimate means for our own deliverance, even as St. Paul took advantage of his Roman citizenship. R5942:3, 4485:6
That is a Roman – Saul's family must have been one of the most influential families of Tarsus to also be a citizen of Rome. R2117:2
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| 26 And, when the centurion heard [that], he went unto the captain, and reported, saying–What art thou going to do? For, this man, is, a Roman? |
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| 27 And the captain, coming up, said to him–Tell me! Art, thou, a, Roman? And, he, said–Yea! |
Yea – The Colonel took the Apostle's word for it that he was a Roman citizen; for an untruthful claim would have meant sure death. R4485:5
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| 28 And the captain answered–I, for a large sum, this citizenship acquired! And, Paul, said–But, I, am even, [free-] born! |
A great sum – Paul's Roman citizenship was worth a great sum. R478:5
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| 29 Straightway, therefore, they who were about to put him to the test, withdrew from him; and, even the captain, was struck with fear, when he found out he was, a Roman, and because, him, he had bound. |
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| 30 But, on the morrow, being minded to get to know the certainty as to why he was being accused by the Jews, he released him, and ordered the High-priests and all the High-council to come together; and, bringing down Paul, set him before them. |
Council to appear – The point of dispute was a religious one. R4485:3, 5952:1
Paul was afforded another opportunity to witness the Gospel to the Jews, to their most influential Court of Seventy. R4485:6
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