Act 4:3, 5:18, 40, 7:58, 8:3, 12:3, 14:5, 19, 16:23, 17:5, 21:30, 23:2 | PNT | STEP | Put [them] in hold . In prison until the next day, for it was now late in the evening.

‏ Acts 4:3

Put [them] in hold. In prison until the next day, for it was now late in the evening.

‏ Acts 5:18

Put them in the common prison. In the city jail, among malefactors. Van Lenneps says: ``The "common prison", corresponding to our jail, consists of a single room in the governor's cellar, with a floor of earth, and one small window, where all manner of people, from the murderer to the insolent debtor, are promiscuously crowded together. The only furniture consists of a bench, always occupied by the strongest; the rest lie on the floor, or stand. We have visited prisons of this kind where we could only stand a few moments upon the threshold on account of the foul air. The keepers remain outside of the door (Ac 5:23), but the prisoners are not bound.''

‏ Acts 5:40

To him they agreed. He carried the Sanhedrin with him.

Called the apostles, and beaten [them]. While rejecting the punishment of death, they decided to scourge them for disobedience. Scourging was often inflicted even by the rulers of the synagogues. The scourging was on the bare back, and bloody and cruel.

‏ Acts 7:58

Cast [him] out of the city. See Le 24:14. Though committing murder, they were scrupulous to comply with their custom of execution outside of the city.

And stoned [him]. Jesus was crucified, because the Romans put him to death; Stephen was stoned, because Jesus slew him. Stoning was their usual method of execution.

The witnesses. The witnesses had to cast the first stones (De 13:10 17:7). Though doing all in a tumult, without the consent of the Roman governor, the forms of the law were observed.

At a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. Chrysostom says that this young man, who was to become so celebrated, was now about thirty-five. Hackett thinks we was about thirty. For a fuller account of him, see PNT Ac 9:1.

‏ Acts 8:3

As for Saul, he made havock of the church. This mad violence he often recalled and mentioned while serving Christ. See Ac 22:4 26:10 1Co 15:9 Ga 1:13 Php 3:6 1Ti 1:13.

Entering into every house. Where he supposed disciples could be found.

Haling. Dragging with violence. As we learn from Paul's statements elsewhere, the saints were not only committed to prison, but scourged in the synagogues and persecuted unto death.

‏ Acts 12:3

He saw it pleased the Jews. He would rather please men than God. Hence, he seized Peter.

The days of unleavened bread. The Passover week. See Ex 12:15,16. Called "Easter" in Ac 12:4.

‏ Acts 14:5

There was an assault made. Hardly an assault, so much as a movement to make one. The Greek term "horme" implies a sudden movement. The attempt was avoided by the preachers receiving information and escaping from the city. In this effort there was concert of action between the Gentiles and Jews, the rulers of the synagogue joining, and the purpose was murderous. Paul says, "Once was I stoned" (2Co 11:25). That stoning was at Lystra (Ac 14:19). There was an attempt to stone at Iconium, but not a stone was thrown.

‏ Acts 14:19

[Certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium. These inveterate opposers followed from the late scenes of gospel triumphs, and found the Lystrians disappointed that they had not been allowed to adore Paul and Barnabas. From one extreme they were easily led to the other. If they were not gods, they were bad men. The fickle populace was easily stirred to riot, and, led by the Jews, they seized and stoned the great apostle until they supposed he was dead. This, the first bodily injury he suffered for Christ, of which we have record, is alluded to in 2Co 11:25, where he gives some account of what he had endured.

Having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city. After the stoning, his enemies dragged him out of the city as they would a carcass.

‏ Acts 16:23

Laid many stripes upon them. Moses mercifully restricted the number of stripes (De 25:3); hence, Paul says: "Five times I received of the Jews forty stripes, save one" (2Co 11:24). With the Romans there was no such restriction.

‏ Acts 17:5

But the Jews. As usual, a part believed and the others were filled with hatred.

Lewd fellows of the baser sort. "Vile fellows of the rabble" (Revised Version). The Jews called in the worst classes to aid them.

Assaulted the house of Jason. Paul and Silas had abode there (Ac 17:7), but were not found, probably from having a warning.

‏ Acts 21:30

They took Paul, and drew him out of the temple. He was, no doubt, within the inner courts, and was hurried without, and the gates shut, to prevent the pollution of the sacred courts by the shedding of blood. They proposed to slay him when they had dragged him where it could be done without profanation. They were willing to murder, but not to profane the temple.

‏ Acts 23:2

To strike him on the mouth. The high priest flamed up in an instant at the statement of Paul that he had acted in good conscience. "How could such a renegade from Judaism be conscientious"? It is common in the despotic East to order the mouths that are supposed to have spoken falsely to be smitten. Ananias was high priest at this time, but was removed on a charge brought by King Agrippa in A.D. 59 (Ac 25:13). He was at last assassinated.