1.
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
Men, &c. See note on Acts 1:11 with Acts 7:2 .
defence . Greek. apologia. Occurs eight times, here; Act 25:16 . 1 Corinthians 9:3 . 2 Corinthians 7:11 .Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:7 , Philippians 1:17 ; 2Ti 4:16 . 1 Peter 3:15 . See the verb, Acts 19:33 .
2.
(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
spake . . . to = addressed. Greek. prosphoneo, as in Acts 21:40 .
Hebrew . Greek. Hebrais, as in Acts 21:40 .
tongue . Greek. dialektos, as in Acts 1:19 .
kept, &c . = shewed silence the more.
3.
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
verily . Texts omit.
man . Greek. aner . App-123 .
in Cilicia = of Cilicia.
brought up . Greek. anatrepho. Only here and Acts 7:20 , Acts 7:21 .
Gamaliel . See note on Acts 5:34 . Only mentioned in these two places.
taught . Greek. paideuo, to train a child ( pais ), instruct, chastise. See Acts 7:22 .Luke 23:16 , Luke 23:22 .
according to . Greek. kata. App-104 .
perfect manner . Literally accuracy. Greek. akribeia. Only here. Much used by medical writers.
of the fathers . Greek. patroos , pertaining to the fathers. Only here, Acts 24:14 ; Acts 28:17 .
and was = being. Gr huparcho . See note on Luke 9:48 .
zealous . See note on Acts 21:20 .
toward = of, i.e. a zealot in behalf of. Compare Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:5 , Philippians 1:6 .
God . App-98 .
as ye, &c . This was to conciliate them. Figure of speech Protherapeia . App-6 .
4.
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
this . Emph.
way . See Acts 9:2 .
unto = as far as.
the . Omit.
binding . Greek. desmeuo . Only here and Matthew 23:4 .
delivering . Same as "commit" in Acts 8:3 .
women . Compare Acts 8:3 ; Acts 9:2 .
5.
As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
also, &c . = the high priest also.
bear . . . witness . Greek. martureo . See p. 1511. Same as Acts 15:8 .
all the estate, &c . = the whole presbytery. Greek. presbuterion . Only here, Luke 22:66 . 1 Timothy 4:14 .
brethren . This means the Jewish rulers in Damascus.
went = was going.
to = unto. Greek. eis . App-104 .
there . Greek. ekeise . Only here and Acts 21:3 . Add "also".
for to be punished = in order that (Greek. hina) they might be punished. Greek. timoreo . Only here and Acts 26:11 .
6.
And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
was come nigh = drew near.
unto = to.
noon . Greek. mesembria . Only here and Acts 8:26 (south).
suddenly . Greek. exaiphnes . See note on Acts 9:3 .
shone . . . round . Greek. periastrapto . See note on Acts 9:3 .
from = out of. Greek. ek . App-104 .
heaven = the heaven. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
light . Greek. phos . App-130 .
7.
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8.
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
answered . Greek. apokrinomai . App-122 .
Lord . App-98 .
Jesus . App-98 .
of Nazareth = the Nazarene. See Acts 2:22 . The Lord Himself uses the despised name.
9.
And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
with . Greek. sun . App-104 .
saw = beheld. Greek. theaomai . App-133 . It was no mere lightning flash. Compare "glory", Acts 22:11 .
and were afraid . Omit.
heard . See note on Acts 9:7 .
spake . Greek. laleo. App-121 .
10.
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
What shall I do . This question is only in this account.
Arise . Greek. anistemi. App-178 .
told . Greek. laleo , as in Acts 22:9 .
of = concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .
appointed . Greek. tasso . See note on Acts 13:48 .
11.
And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
12.
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
one = a certain. Greek. tis . App-123 .
devout . Greek. eusebes. See note on Acts 10:2 , but the texts read eulabes , as in Acts 2:5 .
having a good report = borne witness to. Greek. matureo, as in Acts 22:5 . Compare Hebrews 11:2 , Hebrews 11:4 , &c, Revised Version.
dwelt . Greek. katoikeo. See note on Acts 2:5 .
13.
Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
Saul . Greek. Saoul, as in Acts 22:7 .
receive thy sight . Literally look up. Greek. anablepo. App-133 .:6.
looked up . Same word. Greek. anablepo .
14.
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
chosen = destined. Greek. procheirizomai. Only here and Acts 26:16 . Not the same as in Acts 1:2 , &c.
that thou shouldest know = to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .
will . Greek. thelema. App-102 .
see . Greek. eid o n . App-133 .
that Just One = the Righteous One. Greek. dikaios. App-191 . Compare Acts 3:14 ; Act 7:52 . 1 John 2:1 . Figure of speech Antonomasia. App-6 . Paul was thus led to avoid using any term that would excite his hearers.
shouldest hear = to hear.
the voice of His mouth = His commands. Figure of speech Idioma. App-6 . Paul thus received his commission direct from the Lord Himself. Compare Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:12 .
of = out of. Gr ek. App-104 .
15.
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
His witness = a witness to Him.
witness . See Acts 1:8 .
men . Greek. anthropos. App-123 .
what = the things which.
seen . Greek. horao. App-133 .
16.
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17.
And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
was come again = returned. See Acts 9:26 . Galatians 1:18 . App-180 .
prayed = was praying. Greek. proseuchomai . App-134 .
temple . Greek. hieron. See Matthew 23:16 . A point to weigh with his hearers.
trance . Greek. ekstasis. See note on Acts 10:10 .
18.
And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
saying . Before "saying" supply ellipsis, "and heard Him".
quickly = with (Greek. en. App-104 .) speed.
out of . Greek. ek . App-104 .
receive . Greek. paradechomai. See note on Acts 16:21 . Figure of speech Tapeinosis. App-6 .
testimony . Greek. marturia. See note on p. 1511 and Compare Acts 1:8 .
concerning . Greek. peri . App-104 .
19.
And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
they = they themselves,
know . Greek. epistamai. App-132 .
imprisoned = was imprisoning. Greek. phulakizo. Only here.
beat = was beating. Greek. dero . See note on Acts 5:40 .
in every synagogue . Greek. kata tas sunagogas, synagogue by synagogue. Showing Paul's systematic action.
believed . Greek. pisteuo. App-150 .
20.
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
Thy martyr Stephen = Stephen Thy witness (Greek. martur. See Acts 1:8 ).
shed = being poured out. Greek. ekcheo as in Acts 2:17 , Acts 2:18 , Acts 2:33 .
consenting . Greek. suneudokeo. See note on Acts 8:1 .
unto his death . The texts omit.
kept = was guarding.
raiment = garments. As in Acts 14:14 .
slew . Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23 .
21.
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
send . Greek. exapostello. App-174 .
Gentiles = nations. Greek. ethnos.
22.
And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
gave him audience = were listening to him. As in Acts 22:7 , the verb followed by the Genitive case shows that they followed what he was saying.
word . Greek. logos. App-121 . The thought of Gentiles on an equality with Jews was intolerable.
ullet
lifted up, &c . Compare Acts 2:14 ; Acts 14:11 .
Away . See note on John 19:15 .
earth . Greek. ge . App-129 .
fit . Greek. katheko . Only here and Romans 1:28 . To teach the Gentiles that the Messiah of the Jews was a crucified malefactor was an outrageous offence to the orthodox Jew (1 Corinthians 1:23 ).
23.
And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
cried out = were crying out. Greek. kraugazo. See John 18:40 .
cast off . Greek. ripto .
clothes = outer garments. Greek. himation. Holding them in their hands and tossing them upward.
threw = were throwing. Greek. ballo. App-174 .
24.
The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
chief captain . See note on Acts 21:31 .
castle . See note on Acts 21:34 .
examined . Greek. anetazo . Only here and Acts 22:29 .
scourging . Greek. mastix. Here and Hebrews 11:36 translated "scourging"; in the Gospels (Mark 3:10 ; Mark 5:29 , Mark 5:34 , Luke 7:21 ) Translated "plague". Compare John 19:1 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina .
know . Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .
wherefore = on account of (Greek. dia) . what cause.
cried = were shouting. Greek. epiphoneo. See note on Acts 12:22 .
against . Literally "at". No preposition.
25.
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
bound . Greek. pr oteino, to stretch out or tie up. Only here.
thongs . Greek. himas. Here, Mark 1:7 . Luke 3:16 . John 1:27 .
centurion . See note on Acts 21:32 .
Is it = If (Greek. ei . App-118 . a) it is.
scourge . Greek. mastizo. Only here. The usual word is mastigoo.
uncondemned . Greek. akatakritos. See note on Acts 16:37 .
26.
When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
went . The chiliarch having given his orders, had gone to his quarters.
told . Greek. apangello. See note on Acts 16:36 .
Take heed . The texts omit.
what thou doest = what art thou about to do?
27.
Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28.
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
sum . Greek. kephalaion. Only here and Hebrews 8:1 . In Septuagint Leviticus 6:4 .Numbers 4:2 ; Numbers 5:7 (principal), &c.
obtained . Greek. ktaomai. See note on Acts 1:18 .
freedom . Greek. politeia = citizenship. Here and Ephesians 2:12 .
born = "even born so. "
29.
Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
straightway . Greek. eutheos, as in Acts 21:30 (forthwith).
departed . See note on Acts 19:9 .
should have, &c . = were about to examine.
30.
On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
On the morrow = But on the morrow.
because, &c . = wishing (Greek. boulomai. App-102 .) to know.
certainty . See note on Acts 21:34 .
accused. Greek. katlgoreo. Occurs nine times in Acts.
of . Greek. para. App-104 , but the texts read hup o, xviii. 1.
from his bands . The texts omit.
council = the Sanhedrin. See John 11:47 .
appear . The texts read "come together".
brought . . . down . Greek. katago. See note on Acts 21:3 .