1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence [which I make] now unto you.
2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
3 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.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 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.
6 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.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt [there],
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 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.
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17 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;
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 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.
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
22 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.
23 And as they cried out, and cast off [their] clothes, and threw dust into the air,
24 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.
25 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?
26 When the centurion heard [that], he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was [free] born.
29 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.
30 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.
Context and Background
Acts 22 is a pivotal chapter in the Book of Acts, which details the early history of the Christian church and the spread of the Gospel after Jesus’ resurrection. This chapter focuses on the Apostle Paul’s defense before the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, where he recounts his conversion experience and mission.
Key Themes
- Testimony and Personal Experience: Paul’s recounting of his conversion serves as a powerful testimony of faith.
- Identity and Heritage: Paul emphasizes his Jewish identity and background to connect with his audience.
- Divine Calling: The chapter highlights the theme of being called by God for a specific purpose.
- Rejection and Acceptance: The mixed reactions of the crowd illustrate the tension between acceptance and rejection of the Gospel message.
Summary of the Chapter
- Paul’s Defense (Verses 1-5): Paul begins his defense by addressing the crowd in Hebrew, establishing a connection. He shares his background as a Jew, his education under Gamaliel, and his zealous persecution of Christians.
- Conversion Experience (Verses 6-11): Paul recounts his dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, detailing the blinding light and the voice of Jesus asking why Paul was persecuting Him.
- Baptism and Commissioning (Verses 12-16): Ananias, a devout man, restores Paul’s sight and instructs him to be baptized, emphasizing the importance of his mission to spread the Gospel.
- Divine Command (Verses 17-21): Paul describes a vision he had while praying in the temple, where God instructs him to leave Jerusalem and take the message to the Gentiles.
- Crowd Reaction (Verses 22-29): The crowd reacts violently to the mention of Gentiles, leading to Paul’s arrest. The Roman commander intervenes, and Paul asserts his rights as a Roman citizen.
Analysis of Key Verses
Verses 1-5: Establishing Credibility
Paul’s opening remarks serve to establish his credibility with the Jewish audience. By speaking in Hebrew and sharing his background, he aims to bridge the gap between himself and those who are hostile towards him.
Verses 6-11: The Encounter with Christ
This section is crucial as it reveals the transformative power of encountering Christ. Paul’s experience exemplifies the radical change that can occur in a person’s life when they respond to God’s call.
Verses 12-16: The Role of Ananias
Ananias represents the early Christian community’s acceptance of Paul, despite his past. This highlights the theme of forgiveness and the idea that God can use anyone for His purposes.
Verses 17-21: The Vision and Mission
Paul’s vision in the temple signifies God’s direct communication and guidance. The command to go to the Gentiles underscores the universal nature of the Gospel, which was a radical departure from the Jewish exclusivity of the time.
Verses 22-29: The Tension with the Crowd
The violent reaction of the crowd to Paul’s mention of Gentiles illustrates the deep-seated prejudices that existed. Paul’s assertion of his Roman citizenship serves as a reminder of the legal protections available to him, highlighting the intersection of faith and civil rights.
Conclusion
Acts 22 serves as a powerful narrative of Paul’s defense, emphasizing themes of identity, calling, and the transformative power of faith. The chapter not only recounts a significant moment in Paul’s life but also reflects the broader challenges faced by early Christians in a diverse and often hostile environment.
