More dignified and solemn than simply "brothers and fathers."

Paul faced his opponents in a way different from Christ's way. For the accomplishing of His redemption, Christ was like a lamb brought to the slaughter; and like a sheep dumb before its shearer, He did not open His mouth when judged by men (Isa. 53:7; Matt. 26:62-63; 27:12, 14). But as a faithful and bold apostle sent by the Lord, Paul needed to make a defense and exercise his wisdom to save his life from his persecutors that he might fulfill the course of his ministry. Although he was willing and ready to sacrifice his life for the Lord (Acts 20:24; note Acts 21:12¹; Acts 21:13), he still endeavored to live longer that he might carry out the Lord's ministry as much as possible. See note Acts 22:25², note Acts 23:3¹ and note Acts 23:6³.

See note Acts 21:40¹.

Lit., a man, a Jew.

See note Acts 9:2^1c.

Referring to the presbytery, the eldership (of the Sanhedrin). Hence, the Sanhedrin. See note Matt. 5:22^6c.

See note Acts 9:2^1c.

See note Acts 9:5¹.

I.e., understand, as in Mark 4:33; 1 Cor. 14:2. They heard the voice but did not understand it, just as they beheld the light but saw no one (Acts 9:7).

See note Acts 9:6¹.

See note Acts 9:8¹.

See note Acts 9:11¹.

See note Acts 9:12^1c.

See note Acts 8:36¹ and note Mark 16:16^1a.

See note Acts 2:21¹. Calling on the Lord's name here was a means for Paul to wash away his sins committed in arresting so many of the believers who called on the Lord's name. All the believers knew that he had considered calling on the Lord's name a sign of those whom he should arrest (Acts 9:14, 21). Now he had turned to the Lord. In order for Paul to wash away, before God and before all the believers, the sins that he had committed in persecuting and arresting the Lord's callers, he was charged by Ananias to call on the name that he had formerly abhorred. He had to do this — an act contrary to his former practice — at his baptism, in which he made a public confession of the Lord whom he had persecuted.

His is significant here, pointing particularly to the name of the One whom Paul had hated and persecuted (v. 8).

See note Acts 10:10^3a.

See note Acts 21:31^1b.

Or, for the lashes.

This was Paul's wisdom, to utilize his Roman citizenship to save himself from suffering persecution. See note Acts 22:1^2b.

See note Acts 22:5¹.