Acts 26:4

Manner of life. Paul’s conduct, his principles of living, and his philosophy of life.

At the first. Rather, “from the beginning.” Paul had come to Jerusalem as a youth. Even in Tarsus from the days of childhood he had been immersed in Jewish ways. At Jerusalem he had spent the years so formative of character, and all who knew him from that time could testify to his way of life among them.

At Jerusalem. Or, “and at Jerusalem.” This translation would suggest that even in Tarsus Paul had associated primarily with his own people, who doubtless formed a self-contained colony in that pagan city (see on Acts 9:11). Paul was thoroughly imbued with Jewish customs and prejudices, and would be unlikely to go against them. His further studies in Jerusalem as a youth would deepen his childhood experiences and loyalties.

Know all the Jews. Many leading Jews had known Paul, and more had known of him, chiefly as a young man admitted to the Sanhedrin (Acts 8:1, 3; AA 102) and from the reputation he had earned as an ardent persecutor of the hated Nazarene sect. Because of the confidence of the leaders in him he had been entrusted with the special mission to Damascus (Acts 9:1, 2).