Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Corinthians 11:33

33 And thorow a window in a basket, was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands .

Luke hath shortly given us the History of this danger, Acts 9.23, 24, 25. Soon after Paul was converted from the Jewish to the Christian Religion, he disputing with the Jews, which dwelt at Damascus, confounded them by his Arguments, proving Jesus was the Christ, (as we read there v. 21.) This so inraged them, as that they sought to kill him, v. 23. And (as we learn from this Text) to effect their design, they had by some acts or other brought over the Governour to favour their design; (which Governour was a Substitute under Aretas the King, who was Father-in-law to Herod.) For (as Iosephus tells us) Herod. put away his Wife, the Daughter of this Aretas, when he took Herodias. The Jews had got this Deputy Heathen Governour so much on their side, that he shut up the Gates, keeping his Souldiers in Arms. But (as S. Luke tells us, Acts 9.24.) Paul coming to the knowledge of this design, though they watched the Gates day and night, yet he found a way of escape by the help of those Christians, who at that time were in Damascus, v. 25. The Disciples took him by night, and let him down by a wall in a basket. Two Questions are started upon this passage of Pauls life; 1. Whether it was lawful for him to flye? But besides the particular licence our Lord, in this case, had given his first Ministers, Matt. 10.23. Paul did in this case no more than what Divines make lawful for a more ordinary Minister, viz. to flye, when the persecution was directed against him in particular, leaving sufficient supply behind him. The second Question raised is, Whether it being against humane Laws to go over the walls of a City or Garrison, Paul did not sin in this escape? But that is easily answered: For 1. This was lawful in some cases. 2. Gods glory, and the good of Souls, were more concerned in Pauls life, than to have it sacrificed to a punctilio of obedience to an humane Law made upon a meer politick consideration.