Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 22

Acts of the Apostles 22.1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. Acts of the Apostles 22.2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) Acts of the Apostles 22.3 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. Acts of the Apostles 22.5 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.6 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Acts of the Apostles 22.8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. Acts of the Apostles 22.9 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.10 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.11 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Acts of the Apostles 22.13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. Acts of the Apostles 22.14 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. Acts of the Apostles 22.16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts of the Apostles 22.17 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; Acts of the Apostles 22.18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. Acts of the Apostles 22.19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: Acts of the Apostles 22.20 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. Acts of the Apostles 22.22 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, Acts of the Apostles 22.24 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.25 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? Acts of the Apostles 22.26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. Acts of the Apostles 22.27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. Acts of the Apostles 22.28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. Acts of the Apostles 22.29 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. Acts of the Apostles 22.30 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.

Acts of the Apostles : Chapter 22

Paul's Defense in Acts Chapter 22

Acts chapter 22 presents Paul's defense before the Jews of Jerusalem. How does the apostle testify to his faith? This powerful text recounts Paul's speech, relating his conversion and divine calling. The chapter covers essential topics such as personal transformation, identity in Christ, and the universal call of the gospel.

Acts 22 also reveals the hostile reaction to Paul's message and his claim to Roman citizenship. Consider with us five biblical passages that correlate with the fundamental themes of this revelatory chapter.

Philippians 3:5-6

"Circumcised on the eighth day, of the children of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness that is in the law, it is blameless." This passage reflects the context described by Paul in his speech in Acts 22.

Galatians 1:13-14

"You have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I violently persecuted the church of God and sought to destroy it. I have progressed in Judaism more than many Jews my age, being exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my ancestors." Paul recalls his life before his conversion, just as he does in Acts 22.

1 Corinthians 15:8-9

"Then he appeared to me as to one born out of time. For I am the least of the apostles, and not even worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." Paul mentions his conversion experience, which he describes in detail in Acts 22.

Romans 11:13-14

"I am speaking to you, Gentiles. Since I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I exalt my ministry, hoping that by some means I may arouse jealousy among my own people and save some of them." This passage reflects Paul's mission to the Gentiles, which he mentions in Acts 22:21.

2 Corinthians 11:22

"Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I." Paul affirms his Jewish identity, just as he does in his speech in Acts 22.