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 22:13 mean?

Explanation

Acts 22:13 recounts a crucial moment in the life of Saul of Tarsus, who is better known as Paul the Apostle.

The verse is part of Paul’s defense before a hostile crowd in Jerusalem as he narrates his dramatic conversion from a zealous persecutor of Christians to a fervent apostle of Jesus Christ.

In the narrative, Ananias, a disciple of Jesus in Damascus, plays a significant role by obeying the vision he received from the Lord to seek out Saul.

Ananias addresses Saul as "Brother," which signifies acceptance into the Christian community.

The act of receiving his sight symbolizes not only physical healing but also spiritual enlightenment, as Saul, who had been spiritually blind, now sees the truth of Jesus Christ.

This transformation is immediate and profound, setting Saul on a new path as a dedicated follower of Christ.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 22:13 is set against the backdrop of early Christianity, shortly after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Saul, initially a Pharisee, is known for his aggressive persecution of the early Christian church.

His transformation takes place on the road to Damascus, where he intended to arrest more followers of "The Way," the early name for the Christian faith.

This event is situated within the broader historical tensions between the burgeoning Christian movement and the established Jewish religious leadership, which viewed the followers of Jesus as a heretical sect.

Theological Insights

Different Christian denominations interpret this verse through various theological lenses, but most agree on the theme of redemption and the power of divine intervention.

Protestant interpreters often emphasize the grace of God as a key element of Paul’s conversion.
Catholic perspectives may highlight the importance of Ananias's obedience to God's instruction and the communal aspect of Paul being called "Brother."
Orthodox views might stress the mystical aspect of the transformation, where blindness and sight serve as metaphors for death and resurrection in spiritual life.

Practical Applications

The verse can inspire individual believers with the message that anyone, no matter their past, can be transformed and used by God for a greater purpose.

It encourages acts of obedience and hospitality towards those seeking truth and underscores the power of divine grace in personal transformation.

For the broader Christian community, this narrative fosters a sense of unity and acceptance, as Saul is welcomed by Ananias despite his former life of persecution against Christians.

Cross-References

Acts 9:17-18 - "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hast sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."

Acts 26:12-18 - A recounting of Paul’s conversion experience, with Jesus telling him he will be a witness to all men of what he has seen and will be shown.
John 9:25 - The story of Jesus healing a man born blind, "One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words to analyze include:

"ανέβλεψα" (aneblepsa): This word translates to "I looked up" or "I regained my sight," and it is composed of “ana”, meaning "up" and “blepo”, meaning "to see".

This implies not just physical sight, but also spiritual perception.

"αδελφός" (adelphos): This term means "brother" and signifies an intimate spiritual kinship within the Christian community.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The themes of blindness and sight are common in various religions and mythologies, often symbolizing ignorance and enlightenment.

For instance, in Hinduism, the concept of "avidya" refers to spiritual ignorance, with enlightenment coming through knowledge and realization of the divine.

Similarly, in Plato's "Allegory of the Cave," darkness represents ignorance, while light represents knowledge.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse can be associated with psychological concepts of transformative experiences.

While the sudden change in Paul might appear unusual, modern psychology recognizes phenomena such as rapid cognitive restructuring, where a significant event leads to a swift and profound shift in a person’s beliefs and behaviors.

Commentaries

Commentators vary in their interpretation of this verse. Matthew Henry comments on the charity and courage of Ananias, despite knowing Saul's history of persecution. John Gill focuses on the miracle of regaining sight, which he sees as the work of God through the means of Ananias.

Many commentators also note the significance of Saul being addressed as "Brother," underscoring the dramatic change from persecutor to a member of the Christian family.

They affirm the importance of this encounter, not just as a physical healing, but as a pivotal moment of divine calling and commissioning for Saul's future mission as Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.

Acts 22

Acts 22

What does Acts 22:13 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 22:13 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?