Acts 22:10 kjv
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 22:10 nkjv
So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'
Acts 22:10 niv
"?'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. " 'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.'
Acts 22:10 esv
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.'
Acts 22:10 nlt
"I asked, 'What should I do, Lord?' "And the Lord told me, 'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.'
Acts 22 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 22:10 | "Then I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go to Damascus, and there you will be told what you must do.’" | Direct statement of conversion |
| Acts 9:6 | "So Saul, rising from the ground, opened his eyes; and when he saw no one, they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus." | Paul's immediate action |
| Galatians 1:16 | "to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood," | Paul's reliance on divine revelation |
| Philippians 3:10 | "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," | Desire to know Christ's will |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." | Dependence on Christ |
| Romans 12:1 | "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." | Total surrender to God |
| Isaiah 6:8 | "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’" | Prophet's readiness to obey |
| Jeremiah 1:7 | "But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a youth”; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.’" | Divine commissioning |
| Matthew 6:10 | "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." | Prayer for God's will |
| Luke 9:23 | "And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’" | Cost of discipleship |
| Acts 9:15 | "But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.’" | God's purpose for Paul |
| Acts 13:2 | "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’" | Further divine direction |
| 2 Corinthians 5:17 | "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." | Transformation in Christ |
| Ephesians 2:10 | "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." | Purpose in God's plan |
| Acts 26:16 | "But rise and stand upon your feet, for this is why I appear to you—to make you a minister and a witness to the things that you have seen, even those things that I will show you." | Detailed commission |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." | Guidance through trust |
| Psalm 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | Divine guidance |
| John 6:38 | "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me." | Christ's obedience to the Father |
| 1 Corinthians 9:16 | "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" | Apostle's sense of calling |
| 2 Timothy 2:15 | "Do your best to present yourself to God as a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." | Diligence in ministry |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 10 Meaning
"Then I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go to Damascus, and there you will be told what you must do.’" This verse marks a pivotal moment in Saul's (who later becomes Paul) conversion experience. It signifies his complete submission to God's will, a profound shift from persecutor to apostle. The Lord's instruction is clear and directive, outlining the immediate next steps for Saul's spiritual journey.
Acts 22 10 Context
This verse occurs within Paul's defense before the Jerusalem crowd, recounted in Acts chapters 21-22. He is describing his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus. The context is a tense atmosphere where the crowd, particularly the Jewish religious leaders, views Paul as a renegade and traitor to their faith. By narrating his encounter with the risen Christ, Paul aims to explain his transformation and validate his apostleship, especially his mission to the Gentiles. This personal testimony serves as a crucial part of his apologetic.
Acts 22 10 Word Analysis
- Then: Connects this statement to the preceding narrative of Paul's blinding light experience.
- I said: Indicates Paul's verbal response.
- ‘What shall I do, Lord?’: This is a pivotal utterance.
- What: The interrogative pronoun signifies a seeking of direction and purpose.
- shall I do: Expresses a willingness to act and obey.
- Lord: An acknowledgement of Jesus' divine authority and Lordship (Kyrios in Greek, which can also refer to God the Father, but in this context, unequivocally refers to the resurrected Jesus Christ).
- And the Lord said: The direct speech from the Lord Jesus himself.
- to me: Personal instruction given to Saul.
- ‘Arise’: (Anastas in Greek) A command to get up, signifying readiness and action. It echoes the resurrection power being applied to his life.
- ‘and go’: (Hupago in Greek) A command to depart or proceed.
- ‘to Damascus’: The specific geographical location designated for his next step. Historically and culturally, Damascus was a major city in Syria, north-east of Jerusalem.
- ‘and there’: Further emphasizes the location where instruction will be received.
- ‘you will be told’: (Apaggelthesetai in Greek) Future passive voice, indicating that someone else (presumably a human agent appointed by God) will inform him of the specific duties. This implies a reliance on the guidance of other believers.
- ‘what you must do’: (Hosa dei se poiein in Greek) The action or things required of him. It highlights a pre-determined divine plan for Saul.
Words Group Analysis
- "What shall I do, Lord?": This phrase encapsulates utter surrender and dependency. It's the antithesis of his previous self-assured, self-righteous actions. It signals the death of his own agenda and the embrace of God's.
- "Arise and go to Damascus, and there you will be told what you must do.": This command is a strategic step. Damascus was a prominent city, and God's direction would be provided there, signifying a new beginning and a divine purpose that would unfold progressively. The passive "you will be told" emphasizes that God uses means and individuals (like Ananias, as seen in Acts 9) to reveal His will.
Acts 22 10 Bonus Section
This experience foreshadows how God often directs His servants through community and appointed individuals. The Damascus Road conversion wasn't the end of Paul's instruction but the beginning. He would later be commissioned by the Holy Spirit alongside Barnabas (Acts 13:2) and directly instructed by Christ in visions (Acts 26:16-18), demonstrating that God’s will is progressively revealed to those who demonstrate initial obedience and a teachable spirit. His own future writings frequently emphasize obedience and surrendering one's will to God (Romans 12:1-2).
Acts 22 10 Commentary
Paul’s question, "What shall I do, Lord?" is the ultimate cry of a broken spirit submitting to divine will. It’s not just an intellectual query but a deep-seated yearning to align his life with the Lord he had just encountered. The instruction to go to Damascus is not arbitrary; it's a redirection of his intended path from persecution to divine service. This command, coupled with the promise of further instruction, underscores that obedience often involves stepping out in faith without having the complete roadmap, trusting God for the next phase. It illustrates the immediate transformation from opposition to discipleship, marking the genesis of Paul the Apostle.