ACC ~ Acts 22 v17 - 24

OVERVIEW:

Omitted here is any mention of Paul’s preaching in the area of Damascus and the account of his later return to Jerusalem. Instead, we are told of Paul’s commissioning directly by Jesus to preach to the Gentiles and the fact that it took place in the temple. Commentators often point to Galatians 2:2, 7 as Paul’s further account of this experience. Chrysostom continues to set out the contours of Paul’s argument and its veracity, in contrast to the injustice he meets in being subjected to scourging. Bede sees in the clothing of the Jews a symbol of their refusal to believe.

22:18 | Rejecting Your Testimony

PAUL’S TWOFOLD ARGUMENT. CHRYSOSTOM: Look how [Paul] thrusts himself into danger. Even after that vision, I came, he says, “to Jerusalem.” This is again without witnesses. But look, the result provides the witness. He said, “They will not accept your testimony.” They did not accept it. And yet, he says, if one had to make a reasonable guess, one would have guessed that they would certainly accept it. For I was the man who made war upon the Christians, and for this reason they ought to have accepted it. Here [Paul] constructs two arguments: one, they cannot defend their actions, for they persecute him against all likelihood and contrary to reason; and two, Christ was God, who gave prophecies contrary to expectation, not looking to things past but knowing beforehand things to come. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 48.

22:23 | They Cried Out

DISROBED OF GLORY. BEDE: At the Lord’s passion only the priest leaped from his throne and tore his garments, because on that occasion the old priesthood was being changed to a new one. Now, however, since after the killing of the apostles the whole people together would be robbed of the glory of the kingdom, all of them flung off their apparel and raised up to the heavens an outcry mixed with dust, in accord with what the psalm says, “The pride of those who hate you ever rises.” COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 22.23.

22:24 | Examined by Scourging

THE TRIBUNE WAS ALSO NEGLIGENT. CHRYSOSTOM: The tribune ought to have questioned more closely whether the things that Paul said were so—even if he had to question the Jews, and if these things were not so, and only then to order that he be scourged, “to find out why they shouted thus against him.” Moreover, he ought to learn from those who were shouting and to ask if they had even heard anything that was said. Instead, he simply used his power and acted according to their pleasure. For he was not trying to do something just but only to stop their rage, unjust as it was. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 48.