Acts 9:2 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And desired of him letters— These letters contained a mandate from the high-priest, empowering him to act, as appears from chap. Acts 26:12 where they are explained by the words authority and commission; and Saul seems to have been a very proper person for executing those orders at that time, being a young man, warm in his temper, and possessed with a most intemperate zeal for Judaism. Damascus was the principal city of Syria, situated on the east sideof the mountain Antilibanus, about one hundred and twenty miles north-east from Jerusalem. How much it abounded with Jews, may partly appear from Josephus, who in one place takes notice of the inhabitants shutting up and destroying in the Gymnasium 10,000 Jewsin one hour. In another place he represents the Damascenes, as having murdered 18,000 Jews, with theirwives and children. A place which so much abounded with Jews, was very likely to have some Christians; and Saul most probably had heard that there were several converts at this place. But it may be inquired, by what authority Saul could execute at Damascus the commission given him by the high-priest? The letters were directed to the Synagogues at Damascus, and the Jews were generally indulged, in foreign states where they settled, with their synagogue worship, and the exercise of their church discipline. But can it be supposed that they were empowered to send persons, even those of their own nation, out of other countries, in order to their being punished at Jerusalem? This seems inconsistent with the laws of nations, and derogatory to the honour of states in general: but Herod, who beheaded John the Baptist, was at that time in possession of Damascus, and greater liberty was then granted the Jews than afterwards; for the year following, a war broke out between Herod and his father-in-law Aretas king of Arabia, in which Herod being defeated, Damascus came into the hands of Aretas, who placed a governor in it; and therefore not long after, when Saul returned thither, and preached Christ in the Synagogues, though the Jews designed to kill him, yet they did not attempt it without the governor's notice, who favoured them so far, as to place a garrison at the gates in order to apprehend him, 2 Corinthians 11:32 and this perhaps he might do, both to prevent disturbances, and the better to reconcile them to the government of their new prince. See the note on Isaiah 17:1.