translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: ACT

label: NET study note

text: See the note on synagogue in 6:9 .


text: The expression “the way” in ancient religious literature refers at times to “the whole way of life fr. a moral and spiritual viewpoint” (BDAG 692 s.v. ὁδός 3.c), and it has been so used of Christianity and its teachings in the book of Acts (see also 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22 ). It is a variation of Judaism’s idea of two ways, the true and the false, where “ the Way ” is the true one ( 1 En. 91:18; 2 En. 30:15).


text: From Damascus to Jerusalem was a six-day journey. Christianity had now expanded into Syria. map For location see Map5-B1 ; Map6-F3 ; Map7-E2 ; Map8-F2 ; Map10-B3 ; JP1-F4 ; JP2-F4 ; JP3-F4 ; JP4-F4 .


text: Persecuting me. To persecute the church is to persecute Jesus.


text: This is a parenthetical note by the author. Acts 22:9 appears to indicate that they saw the light but did not hear a voice. They were “witnesses” that something happened.


text: He could see nothing. This sign of blindness, which was temporary until v. 18 , is like the sign of deafness experienced by Zechariah in . It allowed some time for Saul (Paul) to reflect on what had happened without distractions.


text: The Lord is directing all the events leading to the expansion of the gospel as he works on both sides of the meeting between Paul and Ananias. “The Lord” here refers to Jesus (see v. 17 ).


text: The noting of the detail of the locale, ironically called ‘Straight’ Street, shows how directive and specific the Lord was.


text: places the words in brackets, indicating doubts as to their authenticity. Apparently while in Damascus Paul had a subsequent vision in the midst of his blindness, fulfilling the prediction in 9:6 .


text: Ananias replied. Past events might have suggested to Ananias that this was not good counsel, but like Peter in , Ananias’ intuitions were wrong.


text: The expression “those who call on your name ” is a frequent description of believers ( Acts 2:21 ; 1 Cor 1:2 ; Rom 10:13 ).


text: Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Here someone who is not an apostle (Ananias) commissions another person with the Spirit.


text: Fitting the pattern emphasized earlier with Stephen and his speech in , some Jews plotted to kill God’s messenger (cf. Luke 11:53-54 ).


text: Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine, south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1 . map For location see Map2-C1 ; Map4-B3 ; Map5-F2 ; Map7-A1 ; JP1-F4 ; JP2-F4 ; JP3-F4 ; JP4-F4 .


text: Lydda was a city northwest of Jerusalem on the way to Joppa. It was about 10.5 miles (17 km) southeast of Joppa.


text: Lydda was a city northwest of Jerusalem on the way to Joppa.


text: Sharon refers to the plain of Sharon, a region along the coast of Palestine.


text: They turned. To “turn” is a good summary term for the response to the gospel.


text: Joppa was a seaport on the Philistine coast, in the same location as modern Jaffa. “Though Joppa never became a major seaport, it was of some importance as a logistical base and an outlet to the Mediterranean” (A. F. Rainey, ISBE 2:1118-19).


text: This is a parenthetical note by the author. Dorcas is the Greek translation of the Aramaic name Tabitha . Dorcas in Greek means “gazelle” or “deer.”


text: She sat up. This event is told much like Luke 8:49-56 and Mark 5:35-43 . Peter’s ministry mirrored that of Jesus.


text: This became known…many believed in the Lord. This is a “sign” miracle that pictures how the Lord can give life.