22:31 I am verily a man [which am] a Jew, born in Tarsus, [a
city] in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the a
feet of Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect
manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward
God, as ye all are this day.
(1) Paul, making a short declaration of his former life, proves
both his calling and doctrine to be from God.
(a) That is, his daily hearer: the reason of this speech is
this: those who teach commonly sit in the higher place,
speaking to their students who sit upon benches
beneath, and therefore he says "at the feet of
Gamaliel".
22:20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also
was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept
the raiment of them that b slew him.
(b) This is properly spoken, for Steven was murdered by a
bunch of cutthroats, not by order of justice, but by
open force: for at that time the Jews could not put
any man to death by law.
22:222 And they gave him audience unto this word, and [then]
lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a
[fellow] from the earth: for it is not fit that he should
live.
(2) Resolute and stubborn pride will neither embrace the truth
itself, neither allow others to receive it.
22:23 And as they c cried out, and cast off [their] clothes,
and threw dust into the air,
(c) The description of a seditious tumult, and of a
foolish and mad multitude.
22:243 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the
castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging;
that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
(3) The wisdom of the flesh does not consider what is just, but
what is profitable, and in addition takes into account the
profit that can be gained, according as it presently
appears.
22:254 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the
centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a
man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
(4) There is no reason why we may not use those lawful means
which God gives us in order to repel or prevent an injury.
22:29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have
examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after
he knew that he was d a Roman, and because he had bound
him.
(d) Not by nation, but by the law of his city of birth.
