John Calvin Commentary Acts 9:25

"but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket." — Acts 9:25 (ASV)

The disciples having taken him by night. A question is raised here, whether it was lawful for the disciples to save Paul in this way, or not? And also, whether it was lawful for Paul to escape danger by this means, or not? For the laws say that the walls of cities are holy, and that the gates are holy.

Therefore, he ought to have suffered death rather than allow a public order to be broken for his sake. I answer that we must consider why the laws decree that the walls should not be violated: namely, so that cities may not be exposed to murders and robberies, and so that cities may be free from treason.

That reason ceases when the issue concerns the delivery of an innocent man. Therefore, it was no less lawful for the faithful to be let down in a basket than it would be lawful for any private person to leap over a wall to avoid a sudden invasion by the enemy.

Cicero handles this latter point, and he states very well that although the law forbids a stranger to come near the wall, yet he who goes up on the wall to save the city does not offend, because the laws must always be inclined toward equity. Therefore, Paul is not to be blamed for escaping by stealth, since he did so without causing any tumult among the people.

Nevertheless, we see how the Lord humbles His own, since Paul is forced to escape secretly from the city watchmen to save himself. Therefore, he reckons this example among his infirmities. He was acquainted early with the cross through this first trial.