“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
Gamaliel - "A respected rabbi who followed the liberal interpretations of Hillell, another rabbi who lived shortly before the time of Christ. His popularity demanded that the Sanhedrin listen to him. Paul was a student of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)." (Ryrie)
"The word means 'the reward of God.' We may safely regard him as identical with the famous Rabbi Gamaliel, grandson of that Hillel who founded the more liberal of the two schools into which the Pharisees were divided. He was a man of great learning and noble character, the first of those seven eminent Jewish doctors of divinity who alone were styled Rabban (Master). He had studied Greek literature, and was in advance of most of the Rabbis in culture and liberality. He was held in the highest possible repute by the Jews, and was honourably named 'the beauty of the Law.' He is said to have died eighteen years before the destruction of the temple. As we know, Saul of Tarsus was one of his pupils (Acts 22:3)." (Walker)
being zealous for God as all of you are this day - "Note how skillfully he implies that he is no longer such (Cf. Gal 1:14) while Acts 21:20 informs us that even the Jewish believers in Judaea were still zealots for the law." (Stam)
‘Who are you, Lord?’ - "The cause of the great uprising that followed Paul's address should be kept in mind as we read this part of the narrative. The multitude raised no commotion as the apostle related how he had found Jesus to be the Messiah. Tens of thousands in Jerusalem believed this and the rest tolerated it (See Acts 21:20). What enraged them was Paul's preaching of the finished work of the now-risen Christ and the consequent replacement of the law by grace sufficient for uncircumcised Gentiles as well as Jews (Acts 21:28). This was the issue even among the believers at Jerusalem (See Acts 21:20-21). And this is still the great issue today. 'Christianity' as an offshoot of Judaism, with believers in Christ under the law, is tolerated, but true Christianity, with its freedom from the law and its riches of grace cannot be countenanced! Even some leaders of Fundamentalism pronounce it anathema. This, the glorious all-sufficiency of Christ, is what Satan hates and opposes most bitterly." (Stam)
did not understand the voice - "They did not hear (understand) the 'voice' (so translated because the verb is followed by an accusative); however, Acts 9:7 states that they did hear the 'voice.' But this should be translated 'sound' (because the verb there is followed by a genitive). Thus there is no contradiction." (Ryrie)
"There is no contradiction between Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9. Paul's companions heard the voice, but did not understand anything being said." (Stam)
Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. - "Lit., 'Having arisen, be baptised; and wash away your sins, having called on the name of the Lord.' Baptism does not wash away sins." (Ryrie)
"...it is evident that Paul was thoroughly converted on the road to Damascus, yet at that time water baptism was still required for salvation (Mark 16:16) thus he was called upon to 'wash away his sins' by water baptism, not that water in itself could wash away sins, but as an expression of faith. When God said water baptism was necessary to salvation faith would respond by being baptized." (Stam)
Gamaliel - "A respected rabbi who followed the liberal interpretations of Hillell, another rabbi who lived shortly before the time of Christ. His popularity demanded that the Sanhedrin listen to him. Paul was a student of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)." (Ryrie)
"The word means 'the reward of God.' We may safely regard him as identical with the famous Rabbi Gamaliel, grandson of that Hillel who founded the more liberal of the two schools into which the Pharisees were divided. He was a man of great learning and noble character, the first of those seven eminent Jewish doctors of divinity who alone were styled Rabban (Master). He had studied Greek literature, and was in advance of most of the Rabbis in culture and liberality. He was held in the highest possible repute by the Jews, and was honourably named 'the beauty of the Law.' He is said to have died eighteen years before the destruction of the temple. As we know, Saul of Tarsus was one of his pupils (Acts 22:3)." (Walker)
being zealous for God as all of you are this day - "Note how skillfully he implies that he is no longer such (Cf. Gal 1:14) while Acts 21:20 informs us that even the Jewish believers in Judaea were still zealots for the law." (Stam)
‘Who are you, Lord?’ - "The cause of the great uprising that followed Paul's address should be kept in mind as we read this part of the narrative. The multitude raised no commotion as the apostle related how he had found Jesus to be the Messiah. Tens of thousands in Jerusalem believed this and the rest tolerated it (See Acts 21:20). What enraged them was Paul's preaching of the finished work of the now-risen Christ and the consequent replacement of the law by grace sufficient for uncircumcised Gentiles as well as Jews (Acts 21:28). This was the issue even among the believers at Jerusalem (See Acts 21:20-21). And this is still the great issue today. 'Christianity' as an offshoot of Judaism, with believers in Christ under the law, is tolerated, but true Christianity, with its freedom from the law and its riches of grace cannot be countenanced! Even some leaders of Fundamentalism pronounce it anathema. This, the glorious all-sufficiency of Christ, is what Satan hates and opposes most bitterly." (Stam)
did not understand the voice - "They did not hear (understand) the 'voice' (so translated because the verb is followed by an accusative); however, Acts 9:7 states that they did hear the 'voice.' But this should be translated 'sound' (because the verb there is followed by a genitive). Thus there is no contradiction." (Ryrie)
"There is no contradiction between Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9. Paul's companions heard the voice, but did not understand anything being said." (Stam)
Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. - "Lit., 'Having arisen, be baptised; and wash away your sins, having called on the name of the Lord.' Baptism does not wash away sins." (Ryrie)
"...it is evident that Paul was thoroughly converted on the road to Damascus, yet at that time water baptism was still required for salvation (Mark 16:16) thus he was called upon to 'wash away his sins' by water baptism, not that water in itself could wash away sins, but as an expression of faith. When God said water baptism was necessary to salvation faith would respond by being baptized." (Stam)
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