Acts 9:24

Laying await. Gr. epiboule, “a plan against one,” hence, “a plot.” The same word is used in chs. 20:3, 19; 23:30, but is peculiar to Acts. It implies a carefully planned opposition, with the death of Saul as its goal. Saul came to hear of the plot, perhaps through one of his own disciples (see on ch. 9:25). The fact that he was warned shows that he had made friends in the city, and that these were willing to aid him in the emergency that now developed.

Watched. Rather, “were watching,” secretly, by day and by night. For details of this incident in the apostle’s life see 2 Cor. 11:32, 33. An active part in the plot against Saul was taken by the ethnarch (governor) of the city. This ethnarch represented the Nabataean Aretas, king of Arabia Petraea, who had Petra in ancient Edom as his capital, and who was the father of the woman whom Herod Antipas divorced in order to marry Herodias (see Vol. V, pp. 40, 64). For a suggestion as to how Aretas had come into possession of Damascus see on Acts 9:2. Damascene coins have been found bearing the names of Augustus and Tiberius, but none has been found for the reigns of Tiberius’ successors, Caligula and Claudius. Tiberius had been a friend and supporter of Herod Antipas against Aretas, but it is possible that Caligula reversed this policy and created a new ethnarchy, in favor of Aretas, to whose predecessors Damascus had belonged (Josephus Antiquities xiii. 15.2 [392]). The ethnarch apparently wished to court favor with the large Jewish population, and looking upon Saul as a disturber of the public peace, took measures for his arrest and condemnation. From Luke’s account it appears that the Jews assumed a large part of the responsibility for Saul’s capture. Paul’s own story (2 Cor. 11:32) does not conflict with this, but shows that they had the ethnarch’s support. Sentinels were evidently stationed at each gate of the city, through which a fugitive might attempt to pass, in order to prevent Saul’s escape.