T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S presence felt in tangible results, and so very little of devotional work and spir itual retirement which cannot be esti mated by earthly standards or tabulated according to modern methods.—Exp. Bible. v.-20. Straightway preached. This is one of the inevitable results of being filled with the Spirit A heart and mouth full of testimony for Jesus is far better proof that we are filled with the Spirit than any ecstatic experiences that we can tell about.—Torrey. The new convert started at once to testify of the Savior. We have no right to keep to ourselves the great treasures that we have discovered.—Meyer. The very same expression is used by Paul in Gal atians where, after speaking of his con version, he says, “Immediately I con ferred no]t wtith fijesh and blood but went away into Arabia and again re turned into Damascus.—Stokes. Preach ed Christ. Paul’s preaching at this stage was not of an apostolic or mis sionary character but merely an argu mentative setting forth of the deity and Messiahship of Christ.—Plumptre. In the synagogues. His zeal for the salva tion of his kinsmen led him in the first instance to seek a hearing from them. (Cf. Jn 1:41.) Besides it was indispen sable that they. who knew him besft should be able to judge of his conver sion.- Saul had no idea of being a dis ciple secretly for fear of the Jews (Jn 19:38).—Horn. Com. His letters to the synagogue were not delivered but he came as the herald of One of higher authority than the chief priests. Note his constant practice of teaching in the Jewish synagogues (13:5; 14:1; 17:1, 10; 18:4,19; 19:8).—Parker. He is Son ■of God. Paul, fresh from the vision of the glory, puts the emphasis on Christ’s deity.—Scofield. v. 22. Saul increased in strength. His increase came from the indwelling .Spirit (Eph. 3:16), from acquaintance with the Scriptures (1 Jn. 2:14) and from practice in preaching.—Gerok. Confounded the Jews. He was brave. He did not simply enter his name upon the roll. He did not content himself with speaking privately to such of his former acquaintances as he might chance to meet. In the face of friend and foe he made public. confession of Jesus his Lord. He was uncompromis ing. He proclaimed Jesus jthat He is
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Son of God.—Witherspoon. They heard their Scripture applied by a trained mind and shown to be applicable to the life of Jesus. They were paralyzed by what they heard.—Camb. Bible. Proving. The word here rendered “proving” is used again in 16:10 and translated “as suredly gathering.” . It means “putting things side by side” and so making a comparison and forming a conclusion.— People’s Bible. This is the Christ. His conviction that Jesus was the Son of God was reached in the face of the greatest obstacles. No natural bias in favor of Christian truth, no motive of self interest, no social influence drew him into the number of those who preached Christ. No greater or more improbable change in character and purpose is conceivable than that by which Saul the inquisitor became the apostle of the Cross. There was no pos sible motive for imposture. The love of Christ constrained him. The grate ful desire to make some return for Christ’s love to him impelled him to labor, to preach, to suffer in His name. —Monday Club Sermons. v. 24. They watched the gates. The full extent of his danger appears only from his own account (2 Cor. ll:32 )fii “In Damascus the governor kept the city with a garrison, desirous to appre hend me.”—J. F. &. B. v. 25. Let down in a basket. The impression made upon Paul’s mind by this, the earliest of his persecutions, may be gathered from his allusion to it long after in . his Corinthian letter (2 Cor. 11:32).—Whitelaw. That Saul’s friends used a basket accorded with the present customs of the country. It is the sort of vehicle which people em ploy there now.—Hackett. v. 27. Barnabas took him. What is here said of Barnabas is in fine consist ency with the goodness ascribed to him (11:24) and with the name, “Son of con solation,” given him by the apostles (4: 36).—Jamieson. v. 29. Disputed against the Grecians. These Grecians were the Greek Jews at whose instigation Stephen had been put to death. Now Saul, who had consented to that martyrdom, was exposed to like persecution. The same word, “disput ed,” is here used which was employed to describe the controversies with Step hen (6:9), and it is found nowhere else in this book. Notice, however, that the attack is now reversed. The Grecians
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