as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
Paul establishes he is no enemy to his nation but one of them, born free in a respectable city, educated under Gamaliel in the strictest learning of the law. His credentials were unimpeachable among the Jews themselves; what he now preaches comes not from rebellion against his people but from divine commission.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 22:3-21
As also the high priest doth bear me witness,.... Either Annas, or Caiaphas, who was at that time high priest; and it should seem by this, that he was still in being; or else that the apostle had preserved his letter, written with his own hand, which he was able to produce at any time, as a testimony of the truth of what he had...
Verse 5. As also the High Priest, etc. . All the estate of the elders. Greek, All the presbytery; that is, the whole body of the sanhedrim, or great council of the nation. Unto the brethren. The Jewish brethren, who were at Damascus. Paul here speaks as a Jew, and regards his countrymen as his brethren. (|) "doth" "Can" (&) "estate of the elders" "Body" (k) "Damascus"