Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 9:23 - 9:25

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 9:23 - 9:25


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_9:23-25

23When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

Act_9:23 "When many days had elapsed" We must take into account Paul's personal account found in Gal_1:15-24, where he spent a long period of time in Arabia. In this context Arabia refers to the Nabataean kingdom (ruled by Aretas IV, who reigned from 9 b.c. to a.d. 40) just southeast of Damascus. The three-year period probably reflects somewhere close to eighteen months. Jews counted part of a day as the whole day (cf. Mat_26:61; Mat_27:40; Mat_27:63); this reckoning was also used of years.

"the Jews plotted together to do away with him" The Jews apparently stirred up the civil authorities (cf. 2Co_11:32-33). This must have been humiliating for Paul because he mentions this very event in his discussion of weakness in 2 Corinthians 11.

Act_9:25 "through an opening in the wall" This must refer to a window in a private house whose back wall was part of the wall surrounding the city (cf. 2Co_11:33; Jos_2:15; 1Sa_19:12).