Acts 22 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Acts 22

22:1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language,¹ they became even more quiet. And he said:

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel² according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand³ the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul and the Roman Tribune

22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips,⁴ Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

Paul Before the Council

30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

Footnotes

[1] 22:2 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
[2] 22:3 Or city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated
[3] 22:9 Or hear with understanding
[4] 22:25 Or when they had tied him up with leather strips

Commentary

v1-5: Paul's opening comments are largely things agreed by Jews.

v1: He addresses the Jews respectfully, as fathers and brothers; see 2.14.

v2: He uses the Aramaic language; presumably he usually spoke Greek.

v3: His upbringing; a Jew, brought up in Jerusalem, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of the law, zealous towards God, "as any of you are today," thus identifying with his hearers.

Paul does not change his mind by his own choice, but because he meets Jesus Christ; this is not something that he sought.

v4-5: Paul describes his commitment to attacking Christians, which took him on his journey to Damascus.

v6-13: Paul describes his conversion; he truthfully explains what happened; he cannot deny what happened, nor does he want to; and no-one can deny that he is a changed man.

There are apparent differences in details, (compare v9 with 9.7), but this is to be expected, for Paul is still human. The key fact is that Paul alone saw and heard the Lord Jesus. His companions were afraid because they did not know what was happening; they certainly did not enter into the same spiritual experience as Paul did.

v14-21: Paul's new ministry, introduced through Ananias.

v14: God has revealed His will to Paul, to "see the Righteous One," whom we know as Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

v15: The ministry of apostleship, the witness to all kinds of people; Paul avoids using the word 'Gentile' here, knowing it will inflame his hearers.

v16: The call to baptism, which is Ananias' initiative, not Paul's.

v17-20: The later vision in Jerusalem, not recorded in chapter 9. This does confirm his call to serve God amongst the Gentiles.

v21: The special call to minister to the Gentiles; and this is particularly obnoxious to the Jews.

v22: Jewish reaction is strong; that Paul should not even live. This exposes a seriously bad attitude; no wonder there are struggles throughout Acts between new and old covenants.

v23-24: The commander lacks understanding, evidently not being familiar with matters of Judaism. Yet again, through him, Paul's life is preserved.

v25-29: Since Paul is a Roman citizen, he avoids being flogged; see also 16.37-40.

v30: The commander exercises his authority, even asking the Sanhedrin to assemble to discuss the matter of Paul.