Keraia
Acts 22

Acts 22:13

Paul’s Defense to the Crowd · Acts 22:1–21
Read Acts 22

Translations

Modern
…came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.
Traditional
Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
Literal
…having come to me and having stood near, said to me, ‘Brother Saul, look up.’ And the same hour I looked up at him.
Latin
…veniens ad me et astans, dixit mihi: Saule frater, respice. Et ego eadem hora respexi in eum.

Original

Greek
English
…came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.

Notes

Acts 22:1–21

Paul gives his most complete defense of his life and faith before his own people in Jerusalem. This speech shows his flexibility as a missionary, just as his message to the Greek philosophers in Athens also did (17:22–31; see 1 Corinthians 9:20–23).

He begins by showing his close connection with his audience. He explains his Jewish background and his training under Gamaliel the Elder (a respected Jewish teacher). He also describes his strong desire to honor God, a desire they shared (Acts 22:1–3).

Paul then recounts how he once persecuted Christians (22:4–5). He tells about seeing Jesus on the road to Damascus (22:6–10). and explains his conversion (his turning to follow Jesus; 22:11–16).

He ends by describing a vision in the temple, where the Lord spoke to him. The Lord told him that many Jews would reject the message and that he should go to the Gentiles (22:17–21).

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) Persecution

Events

Parallels

Acts 9:1–19 Acts 26:1–23

People

Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles, author of many NT epistles

Glossary

Ananias Apostle, Apostleship Book of the Acts of the Apostles Damascus Judaizers Paul the Apostle

Topics

Ananias: A Christian in Damascus Christian Minister: Call of Damascus: Paul's Experiences In Paul: His Defense Paul: His Vision and Conversion