Bible Commentaries

Defence (ἀπολογίας)

See on answer, 1 Peter 3:15.

Kept - silence (παρέσχον ἡσυχίαν)

Lit., gave quiet.

At the feet

Referring to the Jewish custom of the pupils sitting on benches or on the floor, while the teacher occupied an elevated platform.

Gamaliel

One of the seven Rabbis to whom the Jews gave the title Rabban. Rab, "teacher," was the lowest degree; Rabbi, "my teacher," the next higher; and Rabban, "our teacher," the highest. Gamaliel was a liberal Pharisee. "As Aquinas among the schoolmen was called Doctor Angelicus, and Bonaventura Doctor Seraphicus, so Gamaliel was called the Beauty of the Law. He had no antipathy to the Greek learning. Candor and wisdom seem to have been features of his character" (Conybeare and Hewson). See Acts 5:34 sq.

Instructed (πεπαιδευμένος)

See on chastise, Luke 23:16.

According to the perfect manner (κατὰ ἀκρίβειαν)

Lit., according to the strictness. See on perfect understanding, Luke 1:3; and diligently, Acts 18:25. Compare, also, Acts 18:26; Acts 26:5.

Zealous (ζηλωτὴς)

Or a zealot. On the word as a title, see on Mark 3:18.

Way

See on Acts 9:2.

Estate of the elders (πρεσβυτέριον)

The eldership or Sanhedrim.

Went

The imperfect: was journeying.

About noon

Not mentioned in ch. 9.

Of Nazareth (ὁ Ναζωραῖος)

Lit., the Nazarene. Not mentioned in ch. 9.

Heard not (οὐκ ἤκουσαν)

The verb is to be taken in the sense of understood, as Mark 4:33; 1 Corinthians 14:2, which explains the apparent discrepancy with Acts 9:7.