John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. As also the high priest doth bear me witness , etc.] Either Annas, or Caiaphas, who was at that time high priest; and it should seem by this, that he was still in being; or else that the apostle had preserved his letter, written with his own hand, which he was able to produce at any time, as a testimony of the truth of what he had said, or was about to say; since he speaks of him (as now) bearing him witness, or as one that could: and all the estate of the elders ; the whole Jewish sanhedrim, for this character respects not men in years, but men in office, and such who were members of the high court of judicature in Jerusalem; from whom also I received letters unto the brethren ; some render it against the brethren, as if the Christians were meant; whereas the apostle intends the Jews of the synagogue at Damascus, whom the apostle calls brethren; because they were of the same nation, and his kinsmen according to the flesh; and, at that time, of the same religion and principles with him; and this is put out of doubt, by the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, which render it, the brethren that were at Damascus: and these letters were to recommend him to them, and to empower him to persecute the Christians, and to demand and require their assistance in it; the Ethiopic version calls them, letters of power; and it seems from hence, that these letters were received from the whole sanhedrim, as well as from the high priest, and were signed by both: and went to Damascus to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished : with stripes, or with death, as they should be judged worthy; (see Acts 9:2).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - The apostle addressed the enraged multitude, in the customary style of respect and good-will. Paul relates the history of his early life very particularly; he notices that his conversion was wholly the act of God Condemned sinners are struck blind by the power of darkness, and it is a lasting blindness, like that of the unbelieving Jews. Convince sinners are struck blind as Paul was, not by darkness, but by light They are for a time brought to be at a loss within themselves, but it is in order to their being enlightened. A simple relation of the Lord' dealings with us, in bringing us, from opposing, to profess and promot his gospel, when delivered in a right spirit and manner, will sometime make more impression that laboured speeches, even though it amounts no to the full proof of the truth, such as was shown in the change wrough in the apostle.
Greek Textus Receptus
ως 5613 ADV και 2532 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM αρχιερευς 749 N-NSM μαρτυρει 3140 5719 V-PAI-3S μοι 3427 P-1DS και 2532 CONJ παν 3956 A-NSN το 3588 T-NSN πρεσβυτεριον 4244 N-NSN παρ 3844 PREP ων 3739 R-GPM και 2532 CONJ επιστολας 1992 N-APF δεξαμενος 1209 5666 V-ADP-NSM προς 4314 PREP τους 3588 T-APM αδελφους 80 N-APM εις 1519 PREP δαμασκον 1154 N-ASF επορευομην 4198 5711 V-INI-1S αξων 71 5694 V-FAP-NSM και 2532 CONJ τους 3588 T-APM εκεισε 1566 ADV οντας 5607 5752 V-PXP-APM δεδεμενους 1210 5772 V-RPP-APM εις 1519 PREP ιερουσαλημ 2419 N-PRI ινα 2443 CONJ τιμωρηθωσιν 5097 5686 V-APS-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Estate of the elders (presbuterion). The eldership or Sanhedrim.Went. The imperfect: was journeying.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
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 qen a member (#26:10). Possibly some of those present were members of the Sanhedrin qen (some 20 odd years ago). {From whom} (par' hwn). The high priest and the Sanhedrin. {Letters unto the brethren} (epistalas pros tous adelfous). Paul still can tactfully call the Jews his "brothers" as he did in #Ro 9:3. There is no bitterness in his heart. {Journeyed} (eporeuomen). Imperfect middle indicative of poreuomai, and a vivid reality to Paul still as he was going on towards Damascus. {To bring also} (axwn kai). Future active participle of ag", to express purpose, one of the few N.T. examples of this classic idiom (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1118). {Them which were there} (tous ekeise ontas). _Constructio praegnans_. The usual word would be ekei (there), not ekeise (thither). Possibly the Christians who had fled to Damascus, and so were there (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 548). {In bonds} (dedemenous). Perfect passive participle of dew, predicate position, "bound." {For to be punished} (hina tim"rth"sin). First aorist passive subjunctive of timwrew, old verb to avenge, to take vengeance on. In the N.T. only here, and #26:11. Pure final clause with hina. He carried his persecution outside of Palestine just as later he carried the gospel over the Roman empire.
