返回Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Acts 22:1–2. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear now my defense before you. And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. He said.
The expression "fathers" is a sign of respect, and the expression "brethren" is an indication of kinship. Notice, his speech is both free from flattery and full of gentleness. He did not say "lords," but "brothers," which was especially pleasing to the people. I am not a stranger to you, he says, nor am I against you.
"And when they heard that he spoke… in the Hebrew language." You see how it affected them that he spoke the same language as they did — they had a certain kind of respect for that language.
Acts 22:3–4. I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, carefully instructed in the ancestral law, a zealot for God, as all of you are today. I even persecuted the followers of this teaching to the death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women.
With such a beginning he paves the way for his speech: "I," he says, "am a Jew." To hear this was most pleasant of all for them. But lest they again think that he is a Jew by nationality and not by faith, he adds: "born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up in this city." He shows his great devotion to the faith, such that, having left so far away and so glorious a homeland, he desired to study the law here. He does not simply say "under Gamaliel," but "at the feet of Gamaliel," indicating by this his constant, unrelenting diligence and attention and his great respect for this man.
"Instructed in the ancestral law" – he was instructed not simply in the law, but in the ancestral law. So then, what of it? You have learned the law excellently, yet you do not defend it and do not love it?
"A zealot," he says. Since Paul had already spoken many praises of himself, he summarizes: "As you all are today." But pay attention to how many witnesses he appeals to: both the elders, and the high priest, and the citizens. Up to this point he has witnesses; but the subsequent content of the speech no longer finds witnesses.
Acts 22:5–8. As the high priest and all the elders can bear witness about me, from whom I also received letters to the brethren living in Damascus, and I went to bring those who were there in chains to Jerusalem for punishment. When I was on my way and was approaching Damascus around midday, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me: "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute Me?" I answered: "Who are You, Lord?" He said to me: "I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you persecute."
So that they would not think this was an invention, Paul shows that he did everything out of love and zeal, and not out of vainglory.
Acts 22:9–13. 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. And I said: "Lord, what shall I do?" 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." 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. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews which dwelt in Damascus, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me: "Brother Saul, receive thy sight." And the same hour I looked up upon him.
This was done with purpose, since he alone was to hear that voice. And since rather ordinary people trust sight more, those who were with Saul only "saw the light and were filled with fear; but did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me." And the light produced such an effect not for them, but for Saul; therefore it deprived him of sight, and not them; but at the time when the light was poured out upon him, they too were allowed to look upon this light, if they wished. It seems to me, however, that they did not believe by a special Divine arrangement, so that they would be such witnesses of the event whom the Jews could not disbelieve.
"Those who were with me led me by the hand into Damascus." The mention of the city is fittingly added so that the Jews would know that Saul was a persecutor. Paul-Saul interweaves the testimonies of persons with the testimonies of circumstances, both those concerning himself and those concerning others; the witnesses are the priests, the elders, the companions. Facts are attested by facts, and not only by persons. The witnesses are Ananias, an outsider, and furthermore the very fact itself, that is, the recovery of sight.
Acts 22:14. And he said to me: "The God of our fathers has foreordained you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from His mouth.
He said beautifully: "The God of our fathers," in order to show that they are not Jews, but apostates from the law, and that they do not act out of zeal for God.
"He saw the Righteous One." He speaks so directly and forcefully, because if Jesus is the Righteous One, then they are transgressors.
Acts 22:15–18. For you will be His witness before all people of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Arise, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord Jesus." When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance. And I saw Him, and He said to me: "Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for here they will not accept your testimony about Me."
Because you will not betray nor forget what you have seen and heard.
"What you have seen and heard." The Lord persuades Saul by means of both senses, that is, by means of sight and hearing.
"Because you will be His witness before all people."
Not before fellow countrymen only, but also before foreigners, because witnesses are witnesses precisely in order to testify not before those who know, but before those who do not know. But this is also a great prophecy; and look — it was fulfilled, because by his deeds, by his sufferings, by his words, Paul truly became a witness before all people.
Acts 22:19–22. I said: "Lord! They know that I was imprisoning and beating in the synagogues those who believe in You; and when the blood of Stephen, Your witness, was being shed, I myself was standing there, approving his killing and guarding the garments of those who were killing him." And He said to me: "Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles." They listened to him up to this word; but then they raised a cry, saying: Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he ought not to live.
Why did he say "it is known to them?" He said this not contradicting Christ, but wishing to understand such an incomprehensible thing. But Christ did not explain it to him, and only told him to go.
"And when the blood of Stephen was being shed." He reminded them of one cruel murder, when Stephen was reproving them at that time, and they could not endure it.
Acts 22:23–29. Meanwhile, as they were crying out, casting off their garments, and throwing dust into the air, the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, commanding that he be examined by scourging, so that he might learn the reason they were crying out so against him. But when they had stretched him out with straps, Paul said to the centurion who stood by: "Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?" When he heard this, the centurion went and reported to the commander, saying: "Take care what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman citizen." Then the commander came and said to him: "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" He said: "Yes." The commander answered: "I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money." And Paul said: "But I was born a citizen." Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was afraid when he learned that he was a Roman citizen, because he had bound him.
But since they were crying out, it was necessary to find out from them, to ask them what they found suspicious in Paul's words; but the tribune simply caters to those in power and acts to please them, because he was not concerned with how to act more justly, but with how to calm their anger, even though it was unjust.
"Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?" Paul did not lie in saying that he was a Roman, because his father, for the sake of status, had purchased this title with money, since those deemed worthy of being called by this name enjoyed great honor. Paul says this so that, in the event of his punishment, they would not begin to treat him with contempt. If they had punished him, they would have given the matter a different turn and killed him; but now, though for no other reason than the very fact that he was a Roman, they not only did not punish him but also released him. Paul identifies two offenses in his punishment: one — that they wanted to punish him without a trial, and the other — that they wanted to punish a Roman citizen; and therefore he struck even greater fear into them.
"But Paul said: and I was born in it." Look: his father too was a Roman. Before Paul was born, Cilicia had already come under Roman rule, and therefore his father, as one who had come under their authority, necessarily had to be a Roman. Paul, according to the prophecy, was bound in Jerusalem, and the prophetic word was fulfilled. What happens next? The tribune unties Paul and brings him before the Jews. So it is no lie that he is a Roman, because the tribune was afraid that he was a Roman, that is, a man of noble birth.
Acts 22:30. The next day, wishing to know with certainty what the Jews were accusing him of, he released him from his bonds and commanded the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin to assemble, and bringing Paul out, he set him before them.
Acts 22:1–2. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear now my defense before you. And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. He said.
The expression "fathers" is a sign of respect, and the expression "brethren" is an indication of kinship. Notice, his speech is both free from flattery and full of gentleness. He did not say "lords," but "brothers," which was especially pleasing to the people. I am not a stranger to you, he says, nor am I against you.
"And when they heard that he spoke… in the Hebrew language." You see how it affected them that he spoke the same language as they did — they had a certain kind of respect for that language.
Acts 22:3–4. I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, carefully instructed in the ancestral law, a zealot for God, as all of you are today. I even persecuted the followers of this teaching to the death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women.
With such a beginning he paves the way for his speech: "I," he says, "am a Jew." To hear this was most pleasant of all for them. But lest they again think that he is a Jew by nationality and not by faith, he adds: "born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up in this city." He shows his great devotion to the faith, such that, having left so far away and so glorious a homeland, he desired to study the law here. He does not simply say "under Gamaliel," but "at the feet of Gamaliel," indicating by this his constant, unrelenting diligence and attention and his great respect for this man.
"Instructed in the ancestral law" – he was instructed not simply in the law, but in the ancestral law. So then, what of it? You have learned the law excellently, yet you do not defend it and do not love it?
"A zealot," he says. Since Paul had already spoken many praises of himself, he summarizes: "As you all are today." But pay attention to how many witnesses he appeals to: both the elders, and the high priest, and the citizens. Up to this point he has witnesses; but the subsequent content of the speech no longer finds witnesses.
Acts 22:5–8. As the high priest and all the elders can bear witness about me, from whom I also received letters to the brethren living in Damascus, and I went to bring those who were there in chains to Jerusalem for punishment. When I was on my way and was approaching Damascus around midday, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me: "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute Me?" I answered: "Who are You, Lord?" He said to me: "I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you persecute."
So that they would not think this was an invention, Paul shows that he did everything out of love and zeal, and not out of vainglory.
Acts 22:9–13. 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. And I said: "Lord, what shall I do?" 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." 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. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews which dwelt in Damascus, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me: "Brother Saul, receive thy sight." And the same hour I looked up upon him.
This was done with purpose, since he alone was to hear that voice. And since rather ordinary people trust sight more, those who were with Saul only "saw the light and were filled with fear; but did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me." And the light produced such an effect not for them, but for Saul; therefore it deprived him of sight, and not them; but at the time when the light was poured out upon him, they too were allowed to look upon this light, if they wished. It seems to me, however, that they did not believe by a special Divine arrangement, so that they would be such witnesses of the event whom the Jews could not disbelieve.
"Those who were with me led me by the hand into Damascus." The mention of the city is fittingly added so that the Jews would know that Saul was a persecutor. Paul-Saul interweaves the testimonies of persons with the testimonies of circumstances, both those concerning himself and those concerning others; the witnesses are the priests, the elders, the companions. Facts are attested by facts, and not only by persons. The witnesses are Ananias, an outsider, and furthermore the very fact itself, that is, the recovery of sight.
Acts 22:14. And he said to me: "The God of our fathers has foreordained you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from His mouth.
He said beautifully: "The God of our fathers," in order to show that they are not Jews, but apostates from the law, and that they do not act out of zeal for God.
"He saw the Righteous One." He speaks so directly and forcefully, because if Jesus is the Righteous One, then they are transgressors.
Acts 22:15–18. For you will be His witness before all people of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Arise, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord Jesus." When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance. And I saw Him, and He said to me: "Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for here they will not accept your testimony about Me."
Because you will not betray nor forget what you have seen and heard.
"What you have seen and heard." The Lord persuades Saul by means of both senses, that is, by means of sight and hearing.
"Because you will be His witness before all people."
Not before fellow countrymen only, but also before foreigners, because witnesses are witnesses precisely in order to testify not before those who know, but before those who do not know. But this is also a great prophecy; and look — it was fulfilled, because by his deeds, by his sufferings, by his words, Paul truly became a witness before all people.
Acts 22:19–22. I said: "Lord! They know that I was imprisoning and beating in the synagogues those who believe in You; and when the blood of Stephen, Your witness, was being shed, I myself was standing there, approving his killing and guarding the garments of those who were killing him." And He said to me: "Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles." They listened to him up to this word; but then they raised a cry, saying: Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he ought not to live.
Why did he say "it is known to them?" He said this not contradicting Christ, but wishing to understand such an incomprehensible thing. But Christ did not explain it to him, and only told him to go.
"And when the blood of Stephen was being shed." He reminded them of one cruel murder, when Stephen was reproving them at that time, and they could not endure it.
Acts 22:23–29. Meanwhile, as they were crying out, casting off their garments, and throwing dust into the air, the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, commanding that he be examined by scourging, so that he might learn the reason they were crying out so against him. But when they had stretched him out with straps, Paul said to the centurion who stood by: "Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?" When he heard this, the centurion went and reported to the commander, saying: "Take care what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman citizen." Then the commander came and said to him: "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" He said: "Yes." The commander answered: "I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money." And Paul said: "But I was born a citizen." Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was afraid when he learned that he was a Roman citizen, because he had bound him.
But since they were crying out, it was necessary to find out from them, to ask them what they found suspicious in Paul's words; but the tribune simply caters to those in power and acts to please them, because he was not concerned with how to act more justly, but with how to calm their anger, even though it was unjust.
"Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?" Paul did not lie in saying that he was a Roman, because his father, for the sake of status, had purchased this title with money, since those deemed worthy of being called by this name enjoyed great honor. Paul says this so that, in the event of his punishment, they would not begin to treat him with contempt. If they had punished him, they would have given the matter a different turn and killed him; but now, though for no other reason than the very fact that he was a Roman, they not only did not punish him but also released him. Paul identifies two offenses in his punishment: one — that they wanted to punish him without a trial, and the other — that they wanted to punish a Roman citizen; and therefore he struck even greater fear into them.
"But Paul said: and I was born in it." Look: his father too was a Roman. Before Paul was born, Cilicia had already come under Roman rule, and therefore his father, as one who had come under their authority, necessarily had to be a Roman. Paul, according to the prophecy, was bound in Jerusalem, and the prophetic word was fulfilled. What happens next? The tribune unties Paul and brings him before the Jews. So it is no lie that he is a Roman, because the tribune was afraid that he was a Roman, that is, a man of noble birth.
Acts 22:30. The next day, wishing to know with certainty what the Jews were accusing him of, he released him from his bonds and commanded the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin to assemble, and bringing Paul out, he set him before them.