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 22:19 mean?

Explanation

Acts 22:19 is a part of the Apostle Paul's defense before the crowd in Jerusalem.

In this verse, Paul recounts his past actions against Christians before his own conversion experience on the road to Damascus.

He is speaking to the Lord in a vision here, recounting his previous persecution of the followers of Jesus, confirming that he oftentimes imprisoned them and punished them in synagogues, the very centers of Jewish religious life.

The literal meaning reflects Paul's acknowledgment of his former life as a persecutor of Christians.

The deeper meaning reveals a transformed individual who is now identifying with those he once persecuted, showing a complete turnaround in belief and character.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 22:19 is set during a tumultuous time when the early Christian church was facing persecution.

Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, was a zealous Jew known for his persecution of Christians before his conversion.

Saul made it his mission to eradicate the fledgling Christian sect, even participating in the approval of the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Acts 22 is part of Paul's speech delivered in Jerusalem, after he was arrested in the temple.

He was speaking to a largely Jewish audience that knew of his past.

This verse highlights the dramatic change that occurred in his life and demonstrates the power of his testimony to the transformative grace of Jesus Christ.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 22:19 can be seen as a representation of divine grace and forgiveness.

Despite Paul's previous actions against Christians, he was forgiven and chosen to be an apostle.

This supports the Christian belief that no person is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

It also underscores the themes of repentance and conversion, showing Paul as an example of how one's life can radically change after encountering Christ.

For some, this verse speaks to the truth that genuine conviction can lead to drastic personal transformation.

Practical Applications

This verse can serve to remind individuals of the possibility of personal change and redemption, no matter one's past actions.

It challenges believers to consider their own lives before and after encountering faith, encouraging self-reflection and growth.

Also, it can inspire those who feel unworthy due to their past to seek forgiveness and transformation.

In a broader sense, Acts 22:19 can motivate people to extend grace and forgiveness to others who have wronged them, understanding that change is possible.

Cross-References

1 Timothy 1:13-15: "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."
Galatians 1:23: "But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed."
Philippians 3:6: "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "imprisoned" is ἐφύλακον (ephylokon), which means to guard or keep watch. This indicates Paul's active role in ensuring that the Christians were detained.

"Beat" is translated from the Greek ἔδειρα (ediera), which literally means to flog or scourge, a form of punishment often used in that time to inflict physical suffering. This term emphasizes the severity of the persecution the early Christians faced.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this verse to other ancient religious contexts, such actions of imprisonment and beatings for religious beliefs were not uncommon.

Many ancient cultures were intolerant of religious deviation. In the Roman Empire, Christians were often persecuted for their failure to worship the Roman gods or the Emperor.

However, the change in Paul after his conversion offers a contrast to many ancient narratives, where staunch characters often remain unchanging in their beliefs.

Scientific Perspectives

There is little direct scientific perspective on this verse since it deals with personal history and religious transformation.

However, modern psychology might provide insights into the radical personality changes experienced by Paul, recognizing factors such as cognitive restructuring, profound personal experiences, or even neurological changes that can lead to dramatic shifts in beliefs and behaviors.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have long discussed Paul's past and his transformation.

F.F.

Bruce notes that in the Book of Acts, Luke intends to showcase the extent of Paul's reversal from persecutor to apostle, highlighting the power of God's work in an individual's life.

John Stott emphasizes that despite Paul's authoritative teaching, he never forgot his past or the grace that was extended to him.

Many commentaries also suggest that Paul's mention of his past actions serves to authenticate his testimony and emphasize the mercy and grace of God.

Acts 22

Acts 22

What does Acts 22:19 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 22:19 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?