Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
Acts 9:1
The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
SUMMARY OF ACTS 9: Saul's Journey to Damascus. The Lord Meets Him on
the Way. Called to Be a Witness to the Gentiles. Baptized by
Ananias. Preaches Christ to the Jews in Damascus. They Seek His
Death. His Escape to Jerusalem and Meeting with the Apostles.
Departure to Tarsus. Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. Raises Dorcas at
Joppa.
Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter. See Acts 8:3,
from which the narrative is now resumed. As the great change in the
life of Saul is now recorded, it is proper to state what can be known
of him before his conversion. Probably about a year before he appears
in the history at the death of Stephen. He was of the tribe of Benjamin
(Philippians 3:5); his father, though a Jew, had been admitted to Roman
citizenship, and Paul was therefore a "Roman" (Acts 22:26); he was
born at Tarsus (Acts 22:3), a Grecian city, the capital of Cilicia;
there he had become familiar with Grecian literature, as well as
educated in the law; at what time we know not, but while still young he
went to Jerusalem to study in the great Rabbinical schools, and had the
celebrated Gamaliel for his teacher (Acts 22:3); he had, according
to Jewish custom, learned a trade, being a tent-maker (Acts 18:3);
he was a Pharisee after the strictest manner of the sect (Acts 23:6).
How long he had been in Jerusalem when he appears in this history,
whether he was there for the second time, or had not returned after his
attendance at the school of Gamaliel, is uncertain, but when we first
behold him he is a "young man" (Acts 7:58), prominent and influential,
active in his opposition to the church, and a trusted leader of its
enemies.
Went unto the high priest. Probably Theophilus, the son of Annas,
who was made high priest by the Romans in A.D. 37. He was a Sadducee.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Acts 9:1
Acts 26:12-14
1 Corinthians 15:9
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