Acts 9:18 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

There fell from his eyes as it had been scales:— Perhaps the outward coats of his eyes might have been scorched by the heat of that splendid light which he had seen; and what fell from them, might have had some resemblance to the small scales of fishes. His being thus restored to sight was, however, a most lively emblem of the veil's being done away from his heart. Immediately Saul rose up and was baptized, and, as appears by the event, was then also filled with the Holy Spirit; that is, as that phrase commonly signifies, the Holy Spirit was poured down upon him immediately from heaven, and not conveyed by the laying on of the hands of any man; and very probably that effusion upon Saul was accompanied with a glory, cloven tongues, or pointed flames, like as of fire, which was always the external symbol when the Spirit was given in the most honourable manner, as well as in the highest measure; and if that symbol attended his receiving the Holy Spirit, it was proper that his eyes should be first opened, that he himself might see the glory, and so be convinced, both byexternal signs and internal gifts, that he who had formerly been a persecutor, was now graciously accepted as a Christian, a prophet, and an apostle.