Acts22
New International Version
1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”
2When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said:
3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
4I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,
5as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.
9My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10“‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’
11My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
12“A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.
13He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14“Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.
15You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.
16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
17“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
18and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’
19“‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.
20And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
21“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
22The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
23As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
24the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
25As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”
26When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
27The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered.
28Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
29Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
30The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 22.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Paul's account of his conversion. (1–11). Paul directed to preach to the Gentiles. (12–21). The rage of the Jews Paul pleads that he is a Roman citizen. (22–30).
vv1-11
The apostle addressed the enraged multitude, in the customary style of respect and good-will. Paul relates the history of his early life very particularly; he notices that his conversion was wholly the act of God. Condemned sinners are struck blind by the power of darkness, and it is a lasting blindness, like that of the unbelieving Jews. Convinced sinners are struck blind as Paul was, not by darkness, but by light. They are for a time brought to be at a loss within themselves, but it is in order to their being enlightened. A simple relation of the Lord's dealings with us, in bringing us, from opposing, to profess and promote his gospel, when delivered in a right spirit and manner, will sometimes make more impression that laboured speeches, even though it amounts not to the full proof of the truth, such as was shown in the change wrought in the apostle.
vv12-21
The apostle goes on to relate how he was confirmed in the change he had made. The Lord having chosen the sinner, that he should know his will, he is humbled, enlightened, and brought to the knowledge of Christ and his blessed gospel. Christ is here called that Just One; for he is Jesus Christ the righteous. Those whom God has chosen to know his will, must look to Jesus, for by him God has made known his good-will to us. The great gospel privilege, sealed to us by baptism, is the pardon of sins. Be baptized, and wash away thy sins; that is, receive the comfort of the pardon of thy sins in and through Jesus Christ, and lay hold on his righteousness for that purpose; and receive power against sin, for the mortifying of thy corruptions. Be baptized, and rest not in the sign, but make sure of the thing signified, the putting away of the filth of sin. The great gospel duty, to which by our baptism we are bound, is, to seek for the pardon of our sins in Christ's name, and in dependence on him and his righteousness. God appoints his labourers their day and their place, and it is fit they should follow his appointment, though it may cross their own will. Providence contrives better for us than we do for ourselves; we must refer ourselves to God's guidance. If Christ send any one, his Spirit shall go along with him, and give him to see the fruit of his labours. But nothing can reconcile man's heart to the gospel, except the special grace of God.
vv22-30
The Jews listened to Paul's account of his conversion, but the mention of his being sent to the Gentiles, was so contrary to all their national prejudices, that they would hear no more. Their frantic conduct astonished the Roman officer, who supposed that Paul must have committed some great crime. Paul pleaded his privilege as a Roman citizen, by which he was exempted from all trials and punishments which might force him to confess himself guilty. The manner of his speaking plainly shows what holy security and serenity of mind he enjoyed. As Paul was a Jew, in low circumstances, the Roman officer questioned how he obtained so valuable a distinction; but the apostle told him he was free born. Let us value that freedom to which all the children of God are born; which no sum of money, however large, can purchase for those who remain unregenerate. This at once put a stop to his trouble. Thus many are kept from evil practices by the fear of man, who would not be held back from them by the fear of God. The apostle asks, simply, Is it lawful? He knew that the God whom he served would support him under all sufferings for his name's sake. But if it were not lawful, the apostle's religion directed him, if possible, to avoid it. He never shrunk from a cross which his Divine Master laid upon his onward road; and he never stept aside out of that road to take one up.
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
πατήρ (patḗr): a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
ἀκούω (akoúō): to hear (in various senses)
ἀπολογία (apología): a plea ("apology")
μοῦ (moû): of me
νῦν (nŷn): "now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate
πρός (prós): a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
ὑμᾶς (hymâs): you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
ὅτι (hóti): demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
Cross References
Acts 22Direct reference to Paul speaking in the Hebrew tongue, which instantly commanded the audience's deep silence.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Gamaliel, Paul's renowned Pharisaic teacher, is previously introduced as a moderate member of the Sanhedrim.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Illuminates the cultural posture of disciples sitting physically 'at the feet' of their instructor to learn.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The heavenly voice directly matching the primary account of Paul's conversion in Acts chapter 9.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Paul's third conversion account, highlighting Jesus speaking in the Hebrew tongue.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Connects Christ's designation as 'the Just One' with Stephen's speech prior to his martyrdom.
Supported by JFB
Links the sacrament of baptism with the promise of the washing away and remission of sins.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the historical timeframe of Paul's return to Jerusalem where he experienced this temple trance.
Supported by JFB
The historical event of Stephen's stoning where Paul guarded the clothes of his executioners.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The formal turning point where Paul declares his direct commission to go to the Gentiles.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Paul's similar assertion of his legal rights as an uncondemned Roman citizen in Philippi.
Supported by JFB
Demonstrates the fear of Roman magistrates upon learning they had illegally bound a citizen.
Supported by JFB
Describes Israel's sincere but misguided zeal for God, matching Paul's pre-conversion state.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's autobiographical reflection on his violent persecution of the church during his former life.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms Paul's citizenship of Tarsus, which did not automatically confer the Roman citizenship he possessed.
Supported by JFB