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Matthew Henry

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 22:17

And it came to pass, that when I was come again to Jerusalem ,.... Which was three years after his conversion; for he did not immediately return to Jerusalem, but went into Arabia; and when he returned to Damascus, which was three years after he came to Jerusalem; see Galatians 1:17 even while I prayed in the temple ; the temple was an house of prayer; hither persons resorted for that purpose; and as the apostle had been used to it, he continued this custom, and during the time of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 22:18

And I saw him saying unto me ,.... That is, the Lord Jesus Christ, that just One, whom he had seen in his way to Damascus, and whose voice he had heard, and whose name he had called upon at his baptism: make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem : not because his life was in danger, but because Christ had work for him to do elsewhere, which required haste; and that he might not continue here useless and unprofitable, as he would have been, had he staid; for they will not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 22:19

And I said, Lord, they know, that I imprisoned ,.... Men and women, that made a profession of the Christian religion, Acts 8:3 and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee ; in Jerusalem there were many synagogues, and in these scourging and beating of offenders were used; See Gill on Matthew 10:17 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 22:20

And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed ,.... Stephen was a martyr for Christ, both by confession with his mouth, and by the effusion of his blood; he was the proto-martyr, or "the first martyr" that suffered for Christ; and there are copies, as one of Stephens's, and the Complutensian edition, which so read in this place; his blood was shed by stoning: I also was standing by ; to see the inhuman action performed; nor was he an idle and indifferent spectator: and consenting... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 22:21

And he said unto me, depart ,.... At once from Jerusalem, and out of the land of Judea: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles ; to the nations afar off, even as far as Illyricum, Pannonia, or Hungary, where the apostle went and preached, Romans 15:19 and so by a divine mission and commission he became the apostle of the Gentiles, and preached the Gospel among them with great success, to the conversion of many thousands of them, and to the planting of many churches in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 22:17

When I was come again to Jerusalem - It is likely that he refers to the first journey to Jerusalem, about three years after his conversion, Acts 9:25 , Acts 9:26 , and Galatians 1:18 . I was in a trance - This circumstance is not mentioned any where else, unless it be that to which himself refers in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 , when he conceived himself transported to the third heaven; and, if the case be the same, the appearance of Jesus Christ to him, and the command given, are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 22:19

I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue - This shows what an active instrument Saul of Tarsus was, in the hands of this persecuting priesthood, and how very generally the followers of Christ were persecuted, and how difficult it was at this time to profess Christianity. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 22:20

When the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed - See on Acts 7:58 ; (note); Acts 8:1 ; (note). All these things Paul alleged as reasons why he could not expect to be received by the Christians; for how could they suppose that such a persecutor could be converted? read more

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