the Fourth Week after Easter
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Croatian Bible
Djela apostolska 22:20
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalBible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
martyr: Revelation 2:13, Revelation 17:6
Stephen: Acts 7:58, Acts 8:1
consenting: Luke 11:48, Romans 1:32
Reciprocal: Matthew 23:34 - ye Mark 13:9 - take Luke 11:49 - and some Acts 9:13 - how Acts 14:19 - having Acts 22:4 - I persecuted Acts 26:10 - I also
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed,.... Stephen was a martyr for Christ, both by confession with his mouth, and by the effusion of his blood; he was the proto-martyr, or "the first martyr" that suffered for Christ; and there are copies, as one of Stephens's, and the Complutensian edition, which so read in this place; his blood was shed by stoning:
I also was standing by; to see the inhuman action performed; nor was he an idle and indifferent spectator:
and consenting unto his death; being pleased and delighted with it, and rejoicing at it; see Acts 8:1.
and kept the raiment of them that slew him; the accusers of him, and witnesses against him, whose hands were first on him, and cast the first stones at him, and continued to stone him, until they killed him: these laid their garments at the feet of Saul, who looked after them, that nobody stole them, and run away with them, whilst they were stoning Stephen; which shows how disposed he was to that fact, and how much he approved of it: and these things he mentions to suggest that surely the Jews would receive his testimony, since they knew what a bitter enemy he had been to this way: and therefore might conclude, that he must have some very good and strong reasons, which had prevailed upon him to embrace this religion against all his prejudices, and so might be willing to hear them; and it also shows what an affection the apostle had for the Jews, and how much he desired their spiritual welfare, for which reason he chose to have stayed, and preached among them.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed - See Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1.
I also was standing by - Acts 7:58.
And consenting unto his death - Acts 8:1.
And kept the raiment - The outer robes or garments, which were usually laid aside when they engaged in running or labor. See Acts 7:58. All this showed that, though Paul was not engaged in stoning Stephen, yet he was with them in spirit, and fully accorded with what they did. These circumstances are mentioned here by him as reasons why he knew that he would not be received by Christians as one of their number, and why it was necessary, therefore, for him to turn to the Gentile world.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Acts 22:20. When the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed — Acts 7:58; Acts 7:58; and Acts 8:1; Acts 8:1. All these things Paul alleged as reasons why he could not expect to be received by the Christians; for how could they suppose that such a persecutor could be converted?