ASV
Acts 22
1Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.
2And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,
3I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:
4and I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5As 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 journeyed to Damascus to bring them also that were there unto Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10And 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.
11And 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.
12And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,
13came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him.
14And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
15For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
17And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
18and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of thee testimony concerning me.
19And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.
21And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.
22And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
23And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,
24the chief captain commanded him be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.
25And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman.
27And the chief captain came and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea.
28And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am [a Roman] born.
29They then that were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
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Ablution: Figurative Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
Ananias: A Christian in Damascus Acts 22:12–16
There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there, / came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him. / Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice.
Armies: March in Ranks: Captains (R. V. Margin, Military Tribunes) of Acts 22:24–29
the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him. / But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” / On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
Armies: March in Ranks: Centurions Acts 22:26
On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
Baptism: Christian Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
Baptism: Remission of Sins, Signified By Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
Being a Witness Acts 22:15
You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
Being Baptized Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
Being Clean Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
Bigotry of Saul, in Persecuting the Christians Acts 22:3, 4
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today. / I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,
Bigotry with Regard to Paul's Preaching Acts 22:22
The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”
Centurion: A Commander of Approximately One-Hundred Soldiers in the Roman Army Acts 22:25, 26
But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” / On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
Character of Christ: Just Acts 22:14
Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice.
Character of Saints: Devout Acts 22:12
There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
Children: Instruction of Acts 22:3
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.
Children: Mode of Giving Public Instruction To Acts 22:3
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.
Children: Tutors and Governors For Acts 22:3
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.
Christian Minister: Call of Acts 22:12–15
There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there, / came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him. / Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice.
Christian Minister: Duties of Acts 22:15
You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
Christian Minister: Persecution: Paul Acts 22:18, 21, 24–30
and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’ / Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” / the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.
Citizens: Rights of Acts 22:25–29
But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” / On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.” / The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.
Claudius Lysius: A Roman Military officer Acts 22:23–30
As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, / the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him. / But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”
Courts of Justice of the Romans in Judea: Never Examined Their own Citizens by Torture Acts 22:25–29
But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” / On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.” / The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.
Courts of Justice: Sometimes Held in Synagogues Acts 22:19
‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
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Acts 22:1-11 Verses 1-11
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.
Acts 22:12-21 Verses 12-21
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.
Acts 22:22-30 Verses 22-30
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.