Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 22]
3:4-7. {Of our fathers} (\patr•iou\). Old adjective from
\pater\, only here and 24:14 in N.T. Means descending from
father to son, especially property and other inherited
privileges. \Patrikos\ (patrician) refers more to personal
attributes and affiliations. {Being zealous for God} (\z•l•t•s
huparch•n tou theou\). Not adjective, but substantive {zealot}
(same word used by James of the thousands of Jewish Christians in
Jerusalem, 21:20 which see) with objective genitive \tou theou\
(for God). See also verse 14; 28:17; 2Ti 1:3 where he makes a
similar claim. So did Peter (Ac 3:13; 5:30) and Stephen
(7:32). Paul definitely claims, whatever freedom he demanded
for Gentile Christians, to be personally "a zealot for God" "even
as ye all are this day" (\kath•s pantes humeis este s•meron\). In
his conciliation he went to the limit and puts himself by the
side of the mob in their zeal for the law, mistaken as they were
about him. He was generous surely to interpret their fanatical
frenzy as zeal for God. But Paul is sincere as he proceeds to
show by appeal to his own conduct.
22:4 {And I} (\hos\). {I who}, literally. {This Way} (\taut•n t•n
hodon\). The very term used for Christianity by Luke concerning
Paul's persecution (9:2), which see. Here it "avoids any
irritating name for the Christian body" (Furneaux) by using this
Jewish terminology. {Unto the death} (\achri thanatou\). Unto
death, actual death of many as 26:10 shows. {Both men and
women} (\andras te kai gunaikas\). Paul felt ashamed of this fact
and it was undoubtedly in his mind when he pictured his former
state as "a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious (1Ti
1:13), the first of sinners" (1Ti 1:15). But it showed the
lengths to which Paul went in his zeal for Judaism.
22:5 {Doth bear me witness} (\marturei moi\). Present active
indicative as if still living. Caiaphas was no longer high priest
now, for Ananias is at this time (23:2), though he may be still
alive. {All the estate of the elders} (\pan to presbuterion\).
All the eldership or the Sanhedrin (4:5) of which Paul was
probably then a member (26:10). Possibly some of those present
were members of the Sanhedrin then (some 20 odd years ago). {From
whom} (\par' h•n\). The high priest and the Sanhedrin. {Letters
unto the brethren} (\epistalas pros tous adelphous\). Paul still
can tactfully call the Jews his "brothers" as he did in Ro 9:3.
There is no bitterness in his heart. {Journeyed} (\eporeuom•n\).
Imperfect middle indicative of \poreuomai\, and a vivid reality
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