He was brought up in Jerusalem, the principal seat of the Jewish learning, and at the feet of Gamaliel, whom they all knew to be an eminent doctor of the Jewish law, of which Paul was designed to be himself a teacher and therefore he could not be ignorant of their law, nor be thought to slight it because he did not know it. He was not only a Jew, and a gentleman, but a scholar. That he had a learned and liberal education. This was, indeed, but a small matter to make any boast of, and yet it was needful to be mentioned at this time to those who insolently trampled upon him, as if he were to be ranked with the children of fools, yea, the children of base men. He was not born in servitude, as some of the Jews of the dispersion, it is likely, were but he was a gentleman born, and perhaps could produce his certificate of his freedom in that ancient and honourable city. That he was born in a creditable reputable place, in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, and was by his birth a freeman of that city. That he was one of their own nation, of the stock of Israel, of the seed of Abraham, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, not of any obscure family, or a renegado of some other nation: "No, I am verily a man who is a Jew, aner Ioudaios - a Jewish man I am a man, and therefore ought not to be treated as a beast a man who is a Jew, not a barbarian I am a sincere friend to your nation, for I am one of it, and should defile my own nest if I should unjustly derogate from the honour of your law and your temple." 2. Paul here gives such an account of himself as might serve not only to satisfy the chief captain that he was not that Egyptian he took him to be, but the Jews also that he was not that enemy to their church and nation, to their law and temple, they took him to be, and that what he did in preaching Christ, and particularly in preaching him to the Gentiles, he did by a divine commission. ![]() 21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 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 slew him. 17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance 18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. 11 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. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? 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. 9 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. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. ![]() ![]() 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the 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. Act 22:15 | MHC | STEP | Paul's First Defence.
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