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Here the apostle begins his defence, with a relation of the innocency and strictness of his life before his conversion: he did and could appeal to all that knew him, concerning the unblamableness of his conversion.
Thence note, That an innocent and blameless life from our youth upwards, is a singular support and encouragement to us in a suffering hour, especially when we are called forth to suffer for religion and righteousness' sake.
Observe farther, The instance which the apostle gives of his strictness in religion: After the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Of all the sects among the Jews, there was none that took up such an extraordinary strict way of religion as the Pharisees; of this sect was St. Paul, before converted to Christianity, and in this he rested for salvation.
Thence learn, 1. That an extraordinary strict way taken up in religion, is thought by many a sure and sufficient foundation for their eternal salvation.
Learn, 2. That many may rest upon a strict way of religion, which yet cometh not up to, but is oft-times besides, the appointment of the word of God.
The Pharisees, for their unusual and supererogating way of exactness, concluded that they should certainly go to heaven, if any did; when, alas! many things which they practised with extraordinary zeal and strictness, were never required by God at their hands.