On the occasion, on which _his historian_ represents him as speaking, what now, as to this same matter, was the persuasion, which the nature of his situation required him to endeavour to produce? It was, that Jews were the sort of persons, with whom, during the period in question, he had, to the purpose in question, been holding intercourse: Jews, even in preference to--not to say to the exclusion of--Gentiles: so far is he from being _now_ represented, as stating himself to have held converse with Gentiles, to the exclusion of Jews; which is, that of which he _himself_ has been seen taking so much pains to persuade his Galatian disciples. Yes: as far as competition could have place, Jews, on this occasion, in _preference_, at least, to Gentiles: for, on this occasion, what he was labouring at was--to recommend himself to the favour of his Jewish Judge, King Agrippa, Acts 26:8-21, by magnifying the services he had been rendering to the Jews, his very accusers not excepted: services, to the rendering of which, close and continued intercourse, during that same period, could not but have been necessary. On this occasion, being accused of--his historian does not choose to say what,--his defence was--that, of the persecution he was suffering, his preaching the _resurrection_ was the only real cause: that, having been born and bred a Pharisee,--in preaching that doctrine, so far from opposing, he had been supporting, with all his might, the principles maintained by the constituted authorities: adducing, in proof of the general proposition, the evidence furnished by a particular fact, the resurrection, that had place in the case of Jesus, Acts 25:19: that when, in his conversion vision, Jesus gave him his commission, the principal object of that commission was--the instruction of the Gentiles: to wit, by informing them--that, to such of them as would believe in the resurrection, and repent of their sins, and do works accordingly,--the benefit of it would be extended: that to this mandate, it was true, he did not ultimately fail to pay substantial obedience: yet, such was his affection for his brethren the Jews,--that it was not till, for a considerable time, he had been conferring on _them_ the benefit of his labours, that he betook himself to the Gentiles. Acts 26:19. "I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:--But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea; and _then_ to the Gentiles, that they should repent, &c.--For these causes the Jews caught me in the Temple, and went about to kill me."