And one Ananias, a devout man according to the
law,
&c.] The Alexandrian copy, and Vulgate Latin version, read
only, "a man according to the law"; one whose walk, life, and
conversation, were agreeable to it: a strict observer of the law
of Moses, both moral and ceremonial: he not only lived a holy
life and conversation, according to the moral law, but he
religiously and devoutly attended to the rituals of the
ceremonial law; and this part of his character the apostle chose
to mention, as what would recommend him to the notice of the Jews
he now addressed: for though he was a disciple, a believer in
Christ, yet as many of the believing Jews did, so he strictly
observed the rituals of the law. The Ethiopic version adds, "who
was of the apostles"; one of that number, and in that office,
which is nowhere said that he was; and had he, it would not have
been agreeable to the apostle's design to have mentioned it; and
he is said to be one of the seventy disciples, and bishop or
pastor of the church at Damascus; (See Gill on Luke
10:1). Of this Ananias, his name and character, (See
Gill on Acts
9:10).
Having a good report of all the Jews that dwelt
there:
that is, at Damascus, as the Ethiopic version reads; and so do
the Complutensian edition, the Alexandrian copy, and several
other copies; for though he was a Christian, yet being not only a
man of an unblemished life and conversation, but zealous and
devout in the observance of the ceremonial law, was very much
interested in the affections and esteem of the Jews.
