Acts 22:19

They. The Greek is emphatic and might be rendered, “these very ones.” The same ones who, upon that former occasion, had sought his life well knew Paul’s former zeal in persecuting Christians.

I imprisoned and beat. Paul probably did not administer the beatings himself. The tense of verbs indicates action extending over a period of time. Paul had made persecution his occupation. His purpose now, before this angry mob eager for his blood, was to find common ground by making clear that he knew exactly how they felt. Perhaps then they would be willing to listen to what more he might have to say.

In every synagogue. Concerning the synagogue as a place where charges against heretics and troublemakers were heard and where punishment was administered, see Matt. 10:17; 23:34; Mark 13:9; Luke 12:11. Tertullian, about A.D. 225, wrote that in his day Jewish synagogues were still “fountains of persecution” against the Christians (Scorpiace x).

Believed on thee. See on ch. 15:21.