Acts 22:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 22:3-21

Paul here gives such an account of himself as might serve not only to satisfy the chief captain that he was not that Egyptian he took him to be, but the Jews also that he was not that enemy to their church and nation, to their law and temple, they took him to be, and that what he did in preaching Christ, and particularly in preaching him to the Gentiles, he did by a divine commission. He here gives them to understand, I. What his extraction and education were. 1. That he was one of their own... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 22:11-21

22:11-21 "Because I was not able to see because of the glory of that light, I came into Damascus led by the hand by those who were with me. And Ananias, a pious man as regards the Law, a man to whose character all the Jews who live there bear witness, came to me and stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight again'; and I, in that same hour. recovered my sight, and looked up at him. He said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will. to see the Just One and to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 22:14

And he said, the God of our fathers hath chosen thee ,.... From all eternity, in his everlasting purposes and decrees; or "he hath taken thee into his hand"; in order to form, and fit, and qualify him for his service; and may design both his call by grace, and to apostleship. The apostle represents Ananias as speaking of God, as the God of the Jewish fathers, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to show that the Christian doctrine was not contrary to the faith of the one God of Israel; nor did it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 22:14

And see that Just One - The Lord Jesus, called the Just One, in opposition to the Jews, who crucified him as a malefactor: see the note on Acts 7:52 . This is an additional proof that Jesus Christ did actually appear unto Saul of Tarsus. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 22:14

Verse 14− 14.The God of our fathers. As nothing is more fit to provoke us joyfully to go forward toward God, than when we know that God doth prevent us with his free goodness, that he may call us back from destruction to life; so Ananias beginneth here. God, saith he, hath ordained thee to know his will. For by this means Paul is taught that God had respect unto him at such time as he went astray, and was altogether an enemy to his own salvation; and so God’s predestination doth abolish all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 22:1-21

Paul's self-defense before the Jews. "Brothers and fathers." These words fell from his lips in the Hebrew tongue, and a hush fell upon them. If we desire to be listened to with attention, we must speak to the people "in their own tongue." I. THE PERIOD BEFORE CONVERSION . ( Acts 22:3-5 .) He speaks throughout of himself; but in the background of his thought is the providence and the grace of Him who had called him out from darkness into his marvelous light. He was a Jew,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 22:1-21

Paul's defense of himself to the people. I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES . 1. On the castle stairs. 2. Addressed to a tumultuous mob, full of passionate, murderous feeling, quelled for the moment by Paul's self-control and the captain's influence, showing that they feared Rome, though they feared not God, and had no desire to know the truth. 3. The magic of the Hebrew tongue, that is, the Syriac or Aramaic Hebrew, which touched their national sympathies, and at once laid to rest any... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 22:1-22

Argument and prejudice. We have here— I. AN ADMIRABLE ARGUMENT . Paul, at the inspiration of the moment, made a powerful defense of his position. He showed: 1. That no one could enter into their feelings more perfectly than himself. Was he not a Jew by birth ( Acts 22:3 )? Had he not received a thoroughly Jewish education, at the feet of a Jewish master ( Acts 22:3 )? Had he not been absolutely possessed by a devotedness to the Law, and a corresponding hatred of the new... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 22:1-22

The testimony of religious experience. Not now dwelling upon the details of Saul's conversion, treated of for the most part under the consideration of the ninth chapter, we may observe that we have here Paul's own account of it, that is to say, we have his own rehearsal of his conversion, and so far forth religious experience. We may use the opportunity for the purpose of illustrating the right occasion and use of the individual declaring to the world "what the Lord has done for his soul.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 22:1-30

The apology. It was a very remarkable promise which our Lord made to his apostles, when, forewarning them that they should be delivered up to councils, and brought before kings and rulers for his sake, he added, "But when they so deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost" ( Mark 13:9-11 ). It is impossible not to see a fulfillment... read more

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