Acts 22

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

What does Acts 22:10 mean?

Explanation

Acts 22:10 records a moment of crucial instruction given to Saul of Tarsus, who is known as Paul the Apostle after his conversion.

This verse is part of Paul’s own recollection of his dramatic encounter with the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus as he is recounting the event before an audience in Jerusalem.

Literally, the verse depicts Paul in a state of submission, asking Jesus, whom he recognizes as Lord, what he should do next after being confronted by a blinding light and hearing a voice asking him why he is persecuting Him (Jesus).

The deeper meaning here reflects the radical transformation in Paul's life, going from persecuting followers of Jesus to becoming one of them and seeking guidance from the Lord he once denied.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated within the Book of Acts, which documents the early history of the Christian church following Jesus' resurrection and ascension.

The particular context of Acts 22 is Paul's defense before a crowd in Jerusalem after he was arrested in the temple.

Paul shares his conversion story as a way to connect with his Jewish audience and explain his own radical transformation from a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians to a devout apostle of Christ.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse exemplifies the concept of immediate obedience to divine revelation.

Paul's response to the Lord's dramatic appearance is seen as a model for Christian conversion and discipleship, encountering Christ and willingly submitting one's life to His guidance.

Different denominations may emphasize various aspects of this encounter.

For instance, some may focus on the aspect of personal calling and divine election, while others might see it as a template for the structure of calling, conversion, and commission.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages believers to seek God's direction when confronted with life-altering decisions.

It exemplifies the importance of being open to divine instruction and the perceptive and prompt obedience that is expected from followers of Christ.

The modern application could be found in the practice of prayer, discernment, and a willingness to follow God's leading even when the path may not be completely clear or may require drastic life changes.

Cross-References

Acts 9:1-19: Gives another account of Paul's conversion experience, which includes Ananias' role in Damascus.
Acts 26:12-18: Paul recounts his conversion and commission during his defense before King Agrippa.
Galatians 1:15-17: Paul describes his calling and immediate response without consulting anyone.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "Lord" is translated from “Κύριος” (Kyrios), which denotes sovereign and divine authority.

The request, “What shall I do, Lord?” shows acknowledgement of this sovereignty, as Saul seeks direction from a higher authority.

The imperative "arise" is a translation of “ἀνάστηθι” (anastēthi), which conveys the urgency and necessity of immediate action.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Paul's experience can be compared to the prophetic call narratives found in other religious traditions, where a divine encounter leads to a personal mission.

For instance, the Prophet Mohamed's experience in the cave of Hira in Islamic tradition involves the angel Gabriel commanding him to proclaim the words of God.

A significant difference, however, is that Paul’s conversion was from one who opposed to one who propagated the Christian faith, whereas Mohammed was called to found a new religion.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not directly deal with scientific content.

However, some scientific perspectives might address the nature of visionary experiences or sudden life changes in terms of psychology or neurology.

Studies on religious experiences often delve into how the brain reacts to profound spiritual moments, similar to Paul’s encounter.

It's important to note that such scientific interpretations do not typically make claims concerning the theological truth or falsehood of these experiences, but rather aim to understand the neurological underpinnings.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have interpreted this verse through different lenses.

Generally, there is agreement that this conversion experience is pivotal not only for Paul's life but also for the spread of Christianity.

For instance, John Chrysostom highlights Paul's humility and obedience, while modern scholars might emphasize the historical context that allowed Paul's subsequent mission to be so successful.

F.F.

Bruce notes that the commission to go into Damascus is essential because it is in that city that Paul would be equipped for his future ministry.

Other commentators, such as Matthew Henry, focus on the divine guidance aspect, where God provides specific direction for Paul’s journey, reflecting a model for divine call and guidance.

Acts 22

Acts 22

What does Acts 22:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 22:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?