1 “Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defense which I now make unto you. 2 “And when they heard that spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet; and he saith, 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even 4 as ye all are this day; and I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering unto prisons both men and 5 women. 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 journeyed to Damascus, to bring them also which were there unto Jerusalem in bonds, for to be punished. 6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from 7 heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why 8 persecutest thou Me? And I answered, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of Him that 10 spake to me. 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 11 appointed for thee to do. 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. And one 12 Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that 13 dwelt there, came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know 14 His will, and to see the Righteous One, and 15 to hear a voice from His mouth. For thou shalt be a witness for Him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name. 17 And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, and saw Him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of thy testimony concerning Me. And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue 20 them that believed on Thee; and when the blood of Stephen Thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that 21 slew him. And He said unto me, Depart; for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles. 22 “And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live.”
QUESTIONS.
1. Relate the circumstances of Paul’s arrest.
2. Tell how he received permission to address the crowd.
3. In what language did he speak?
4. With what words did he begin his speech? Verse 1.
5. What was the effect of using the Hebrew language? Verse 2.
6. What did he say as to his birth and training? How and what had he been taught? What about his zeal? What admission did he make as to the zeal of his persecutors? Verse 3.
7. How had he himself in time past showed his zeal for God? Verse 4.
8. What witness did he have to his zeal as a persecutor of Christians? What did he then proceed to relate? Verse 5.
9. Tell again the story of Paul’s conversion. Verses 6–13.
10. What did he say about the reputation of Ananias? Verse 12.
11. For what did this devout Jew say that God had chosen Saul? Verse 14.
12. What did he tell Paul that he should be? Verse 15.
13. Repeat the exhortation of Ananias to Saul. Verse 16.
14. What came to pass when Paul had returned from Damascus to Jerusalem? Verse 17. How long was this after his conversion?
15. What did the Lord say to him in the temple? Why was he to leave Jerusalem? Verse 18.
16. What plea did Paul urge as a reason why he should stay and preach in Jerusalem? Verses 19, 20.
17. Nevertheless, what did the Lord say to him? Verse 21.
18. What word in Paul’s speech was the signal for an uproar among the listening Jews? What did they cry out? Verse 22.
NOTES AND QUESTIONS.
1. Paul acknowledged that the Jews who were clamoring for his blood had a zeal for God; quote a text in which he tells what was lacking with their zeal. Give reference.
2. Note the fact that Paul displayed in addressing the Jews in their own tongue instead of in the Greek, which even among them was commonly used. See also how he shows that the one man who had any part to act in his conversion was a Jew who was in good repute among all his fellow-countrymen.
3. When the Lord appeared to Saul on the way to Damascus, why did He not tell him what he was to do instead of sending Ananias to him?
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