the Third Week after Easter
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Syriac Peshitta (NT Only)
Acts 9:25
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from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the disciples: Maundrell states that after visiting the place of vision, "about half a mile distant from the city eastward," they returned to the city, and "were shown the gate where St. Paul was let down in a basket. This gate is at present walled up, by reason of its vicinity to the east gate, which renders it of little use."
let: Joshua 2:15, 1 Samuel 19:11, 1 Samuel 19:12, 2 Corinthians 11:33
Reciprocal: Matthew 10:23 - when Acts 9:30 - when Acts 17:10 - the brethren Acts 17:14 - then 2 Corinthians 11:32 - Damascus
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Then the disciples took him by night,.... The Alexandrian copy reads, "his disciples"; the disciples of Saul, such as he had been instrumental in making at Damascus: but it is not usual for the saints to be called in Scripture the disciples of any man; therefore the common reading is best, and designs the disciples and followers of Christ; who being concerned for the preservation of so valuable a life, took Saul in the night season,
and let him down by the wall in a basket. Damascus was a walled city; hence we read of the wall of Damascus, Jeremiah 49:27. And the house where Saul was, and which very likely was one of the disciples, was built upon the wall, as the house of Rahab was upon the town wall of Jericho; and as she let down the spies from thence by a cord through the window, Joshua 2:15 so the disciples let down Saul in a basket with cords through the window of the house, as appears from 2Co 11:33. Joshua 2:15- :: no doubt, the disciples were directed by the overruling providence of God, in order to preserve the life of the apostle, who had much work to do for Christ in several parts of the world, and therefore must not fall into the hands of his enemies and die, his time not being yet come; and this shows, that it is lawful to make use of all prudent means and proper methods to prevent the designs of wicked men, and escape out of their hands, and preserve life when in danger; by which means Saul escaped their hands.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Took him by night ... - This was done through a window in the wall, 2 Corinthians 11:33.
In a basket - This word is used to denote commonly “the basket in which food was carried,” Matthew 15:37; Mark 8:8, Mark 8:20. It was in this way that Rahab let down the spies Joshua 2:15, and so David escaped from Saul, 1 Samuel 19:12. Probably this occurred in an unguarded part of the wall, where some overhanging houses, as is usual in Eastern cities, opened into the outer country. This conduct of Saul was in accordance with the direction of the Lord Jesus Matthew 10:23, “When they persecute you in one city, flee ye into another,” etc. Saul was certain of death if he remained; and as he could secure his life by flight without abandoning any principle of religion, or denying his Lord, it was his duty to do so. Christianity requires us to sacrifice our lives only when we cannot avoid it without denying the Saviour, or abandoning the principles of our religion.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Acts 9:25. Let him down, by the wall — Favoured, probably, by a house built against or upon the wall, through the window of which they could lower him in a basket; and by this means he made his escape. His escape was something similar to that of the spies at Jericho, Joshua 2:15.