Act 22:4-16 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 4. And I persecuted , . This way . Those who were of this mode of worshipping God; that is, Christians. . Unto the death . Intending to put them to death, He did not probably put any to death himself, but he committed them to prison, he sought their lives, he was the agent employed in arresting them; and when they were put to death, he tells us that he gave his voice against them, ; that is, he joined in and approved of their condemnation. Delivering into prisons , etc. (i) "persecuted" (&) "way" "Doctrine"

Acts 22:4-16

Verse 4. And I persecuted, Acts 8:3.

This way. Those who were of this mode of worshipping God; that is, Christians. Acts 9:2.

Unto the death. Intending to put them to death, He did not probably put any to death himself, but he committed them to prison, he sought their lives, he was the agent employed in arresting them; and when they were put to death, he tells us that he gave his voice against them, Acts 26:10; that is, he joined in and approved of their condemnation.

Delivering into prisons, etc. Acts 8:3

(i) "persecuted" Acts 8:3 (&) "way" "Doctrine" Verse 5. As also the High Priest, etc. Acts 9:2. All the estate of the elders. Greek, All the presbytery; that is, the whole body of the sanhedrim, or great council of the nation.

Unto the brethren. The Jewish brethren, who were at Damascus. Paul here speaks as a Jew, and regards his countrymen as his brethren.

(|) "doth" "Can" (&) "estate of the elders" "Body" (k) "Damascus" Acts 9:2 Verse 6. As I made my journey. As I was on my journey.

About noon. Acts 26:13. "At mid-day." This circumstance is omitted by Luke in account in Acts 9. Paul mentions it, as being the more remarkable since it occurred at mid-day, to show that he was not deluded by any meteoric or natural appearances, which usually occur at night.

Acts 9:3 and Acts 9:4-7

(**) "journey" "journeyed" Verse 7.

Acts 9:3 and Acts 9:4-7 Verse 8.

Acts 9:3 and Acts 9:4-7. Verse 9.

Acts 9:3, and Acts 9:4-7. Verse 10.

Acts 9:3, Acts 9:4-7.

(++) "of all things" "concerning" Verse 11. The gory of that light. The splendour, the intense brillancy of the light. See this and its effect explained Acts 9:8.

(+++) "the glory" "because of" Verse 12. Acts 9:17; Acts 9:18

(m) "Aninias" Acts 10:22 (n) "good report" Acts 10:22, 1Timm 3:7, Heb 11:2 Verse 13. Acts 9:17; Acts 9:18. Verse 14. Shouldest know his will. His will in the plan of salvation, and in regard to your future life.

And see that Just One. The Messiah. Acts 3:14. As Paul was to be an apostle. and as it was the peculiar office of an apostle to bear witness to the person and deeds of the Lord Jesus, Acts 1:21; Acts 1:22, it was necessary that he should see him, that thus he might be a competent witness of the resurrection.

Shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. Shouldest hear and obey his commands.

(a) "see" Acts 21:18, 1Cor 9:1, 15:8 (b) "Just One" Acts 3:14, 7:52 (c) "voice" 1Cor 11:23, Gal 1:12 Verse 15. For thou shalt be his witness, etc. As an apostle to testify to all men that the Messiah has come, that he has died, that he has risen, and that he is the Saviour of the world.

Of what thou hast seen and heard. Of the remarkable proof which has been furnished you of the Divine mission and character of the Lord Jesus.

(d) "thou shalt" Acts 23:11, 16:16 Verse 16. And now, why tarriest thou? Why dost thou delay, or wait any longer? These words are not recorded by Luke in Acts 9, where he has given an account of the conversion of Paul; but there is nothing here contradictory to his statement.

And wash away thy sins. Receive baptism, as an act expressive of the washing away of sins. It cannot be intended that the external rite of baptism was sufficient to make the soul pure, but that it was an ordinance divinely appointed as expressive of the washing away of sins, or of purifying the heart. Comp. Heb 10:22. Sinners are represented in the Scriptures as defiled or polluted by sin. To wash away the sins denotes the purifying of the soul from this polluted influence, 1Cor 6:11, Rev 1:5, 7:14, Isa 1:16, Ps 51:2,7.

Calling on the name of the Lord. For pardon and sanctification. Rom 10:13, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." It was proper that this calling on the name of the Lord should be connected with the ordinance of baptism. That ordinance was expressive of a purifying which the Lord only could produce. It is proper that the rite of baptism should be attended with extraordinary prayer; and that he who is to be baptized should make it the occasion of peculiar and very solemn religious exercises. The external rite will avail nothing without the pardoning mercy of God.

(*) "tarriest" "delayest" (e) "wash away" Heb 10:22, 1Pet 3:21 (f) "calling" Rom 10:13, 1Cor 1:2