Bible Commentaries
Acts 22

Verse 1

Defence [απολογιας] . See on answer, 1 Peter 3:15.

Verse 2

Kept - silence [παρεσχον ησυχιαν] . Lit., gave quiet.

Verse 3

At the feet. Referring to the Jewish custom of the pupils sitting on benches or on the floor, while the teacher occupied an elevated platform. Gamaliel. One of the seven Rabbis to whom the Jews gave the title Rabban. Rab, "teacher," was the lowest degree; Rabbi, "my teacher," the next higher. and Rabban, "our teacher," the highest. Gamaliel was a liberal Pharisee. "As Aquinas among the schoolmen was called Doctor Angelicus, and Bonaventura Doctor Seraphicus, so Gamaliel was called the Beauty of the Law. He had no antipathy to the Greek learning. Candor and wisdom seem to have been features of his character" (Conybeare and Howson). See ch. Acts 5:34 sq.

Instructed [πεπαιδευμενος] . See on chastise, Luke 23:16.

According to the perfect manner [κατα ακριβειαν] . Lit., according to the strictness. See on perfect understanding, Luke 1:3; and diligently, Acts 18:25. Compare, also, Acts 18:26; Acts 26:5.

Zealous [ζηλωτης] . Or a zealot. On the word as a title, see on Mark 3:18.

Verse 4

Way. See on ch. Acts 9:2.

Verse 5

Estate of the elders [πρεσβυτεριον] . The eldership or Sanhedrim.

Went. The imperfect : was journeying.

Verse 6

About noon. Not mentioned in ch. 9.

Verse 8

Of Nazareth [ο ναζωραιος] . Lit., the Nazarene. Not mentioned in ch. 9.

Verse 9

Heard not [ουκ ηκουσαν] . The verb is to be taken in the sense of understood, as Mark 4:33; 1 Corinthians 14:2, which explains the apparent discrepancy with ch. 9 7.

Verse 11

For the glory of that light. The cause of his blindness is not stated in ch. 9.

Verse 12

A devout man, etc. In ch. 9 10, he is called a disciple. Paul here "affirms that he was not introduced to Christianity by an opponent of Judaism, but by a strict Jew" (Gloag).

Verse 13

Stood [επιστας] . More correctly, as Rev., "standing by [επι] ." Receive thy sight [αναβλεψον] . Better, look up. See the following words : I looked up upon him. The word admits of both translations, to look up and to recover sight.

I looked up upon him. Some unite both meanings here : I looked up with recovered sight. So Rev., in margin.

Verse 14

The God of our fathers - Just One. A conciliatory touch in Paul 's speech, mentioning both God and Christ by their Jewish names. Compare ch. Acts 3:14; Acts 7:52.

Hath chosen [προεχειρισατο] . See on ch. Acts 3:20. Better, as Rev., appointed.

Verse 15

All men. He keeps back the offensive word Gentiles (ch. 9 15).

Verse 16

Wash away [απολουσαι] . See on ch. Acts 16:33.

Verse 17

I was in a trance [γενεσθαι με εν εκστασει] . Rev., more correctly, I fell into a trance; the verb meaning to become, rather than the simple to be. On trance, see note on astonishment, Mark 5:42; and compare note on Acts 10:10.

Verse 20

Martyr. Better, as Rev., witness. The special sense of the word was probably not in use at this time. See on ch. Acts 1:22. It occurs, however, in Revelation 2:13; Revelation 17:6.

Standing by. See on verse 13.

Consenting [συνευδοκων] . See on allow, Luke 11:48; and compare Acts 8:1.

Slew. See on Luke 23:32.

Verse 21

Gentiles. "The fatal word, which hitherto he had carefully avoided, but which it was impossible for him to avoid any longer, was enough.... The word 'Gentiles, ' confirming all their worst suspicions, fell like a spark on the inflammable mass of their fanaticism" (Farrar, " Life and Work of Paul ").

Verse 22

They gave him audience [ηκουον] . The imperfect. Up to this word they were listening.

Lifted up their voice, etc. "Then began one of the most odious and despicable spectacles which the world can witness, the spectacle of an oriental mob, hideous with impotent rage, howling, yelling, cursing, gnashing their teeth, flinging about their arms, waving and tossing their blue and red robes, casting dust into the air by handfuls, with all the furious gesticulations of an uncontrolled fanaticism" (Farrar). Hackett cites Sir John Chardin (" Travels into Persia and the East Indies ") as saying that it is common for the peasants in Persia, when they have a complaint to lay before their governors, to repair to them by hundreds or a thousand at once. They place themselves near the gate of the palace, where they suppose they are most likely to be seen and heard, and there set up a horrid outcry, rend their garments, and throw dust into the air, at the same time demanding justice. Compare 2 Samuel 16:13.

Verse 24

Examined [ανεταζεσθαι] . Only here and ver. 29. Not found in classical Greek. Apocrypha, Susanna, ver. 14.

By scourging [μαστιξιν] . Lit., with scourges.

Verse 25

Bound him with thongs (proeteinan aujton toiv iJmasin). Against the rendering of the A. V. is the word proeteinan, they stretched forward, in allusion to the position of the victim for scourging, and the article with thongs; "the thongs," with reference to some well - known instrument. If the words referred simply to binding him, with thongs would be superfluous. It is better, therefore, to take thongs as referring to the scourge, consisting of one or more lashes or cords, a sense in which it occurs in classical Greek, and to render stretched him out for (or before) the thongs. The word is used elsewhere in the New Testament of a shoe - latchet (Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:27).

Roman. See on ch. Acts 16:37.

Verse 28

Sum [κεφαλαιου] . Lit., capital. The purchase of Roman citizenship was an investment. Under the first Roman emperors it was obtained only at large cost and with great difficulty; later, it was sold for a trifle. I was free born [εγω και γεγεννημαι] . Lit., I am even so born, leaving the mind to supply free or a Roman. Better, as Rev., I am a Roman born.

Verse 30

Brought Paul down. To the meeting - place of the Sanhedrim : probably not their usual place of assembly, which lay within the wall of partition, which Lysias and his soldiers would not have been allowed to pass.