Acts 22 10

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 verses

Acts 22 10 Meaning

Acts 22:10 records Saul's (later Paul) immediate, humbled response to the resurrected Jesus during his conversion experience on the Damascus Road. It captures his pivotal surrender to Christ's authority and his readiness for divine direction, marking the turning point where he commits to God's will. The verse includes Christ's specific command for Saul to go to Damascus and His promise of future, detailed instructions regarding his preordained purpose and ministry. This signifies the beginning of Paul's mission, guided directly by the Lord.

Acts 22 10 Context

Acts 22:10 is part of Paul's personal testimony given in Jerusalem, delivered from the steps of the Roman barracks to an enraged Jewish crowd. Paul, having been falsely accused and nearly lynched, is given permission by the Roman tribune to address his countrymen. His testimony recounts his fervent Jewish background, his zeal as a persecutor of Christians, and the dramatic, personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. The preceding verses (22:6-9) detail the blinding light, the voice of Jesus, and his companions' confusion. Verse 10 specifically marks the moment Paul yields completely to Christ's authority and solicits direction, initiating his obedience to the Lord. This verse is crucial as it demonstrates that Paul's conversion was not a whimsical change of allegiance, but a direct, divine calling and commission by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, underscoring the authenticity and supernatural origin of his apostleship and mission. It highlights a critical turning point where his zeal was redirected from persecuting the Way to proclaiming it, under divine guidance.

Acts 22 10 Word analysis

• And I said: Paul's direct quotation, signifying his active participation and engagement in the transformative event, not merely a passive reception.

• 'What shall I do, Lord?': (Greek: Τί ποιήσω, Κύριε; - Ti poiēsō, Kyrie?)

  • What shall I do?: A question of utter submission and desire for divine instruction. It implies an abandonment of his former plans and zeal, and an open readiness to obey whatever Christ commands. It echoes the penitent cry of the multitude in Acts 2:37, "What shall we do?" after Peter's sermon, and the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:30.
  • Lord: (Kyrie) This address signifies a complete change of allegiance and recognition of Jesus' ultimate authority. From persecutor of 'The Way,' Paul now acknowledges Jesus as 'Master' and 'God,' signifying an intimate relationship and devotion beyond mere respect.

• And the Lord said to me: Confirms a direct, personal, and authoritative command from Jesus to Paul. This is not a secondary instruction but a direct divine mandate.

• 'Arise': (Greek: Ἀναστάς - anastas) Imperative verb, implying immediate action and rising from a state of prostration, both literally and figuratively. In the broader biblical narrative, "arise" often accompanies calls to action or a new spiritual beginning (e.g., Ananias' instruction to Paul in Acts 9:11).

• and go into Damascus': A specific geographic directive. Damascus, the city he was going to in order to arrest Christians, now becomes the place where he will be ministered to and instructed. It symbolizes God's redirection of his life.

• and there you will be told: A promise of future, specific revelation, not immediate, exhaustive disclosure. God often reveals His will step-by-step, building faith and dependence. This hints at the ministry of Ananias (Acts 9:10-19) and the subsequent time of preparation (Gal 1:17-18).

• all that is appointed for you to do': (Greek: πάντα τὰ τεταγμένα σοι ποιῆσαι - panta ta tetagmena soi poiēsai)

  • all that is appointed: (panta ta tetagmena) Refers to everything that has been predetermined or ordained by God for Paul's life and ministry. It emphasizes divine sovereignty and purpose. Paul's life was not a series of accidents but a divinely pre-scripted plan, even before his birth (Gal 1:15).
  • for you to do: This highlights Paul's specific and unique mission. He wasn't simply being called to be a believer but to a specific, active service. This refers to his future role as the apostle to the Gentiles.

• "What shall I do, Lord?" and "Arise and go into Damascus": This two-part exchange marks the shift from Saul's intellectual, legalistic framework to a submission of heart and action. His question opens him to divine will, and the command establishes the beginning of his new journey under Christ's direct leadership. The personal interaction signifies Jesus’ direct intervention in his life, giving him a purpose entirely different from his own prior ambition.

• "there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do": This phrase assures Paul of ongoing, comprehensive divine guidance for his entire calling. It speaks to the progressive nature of God's revelation and instruction. It means Paul's mission wasn't to be self-initiated or planned but entirely God-directed, foreshadowing his life-long obedience and mission.

Acts 22 10 Bonus section

• Paul's asking "What shall I do, Lord?" instead of arguing or questioning the validity of the vision shows an immediate and complete break with his past theological understanding and a profound, supernatural conversion of heart and mind.
• The directive to go into Damascus is significant. This was the very city where he intended to persecute believers, symbolizing the turning of the tables: the persecutor becomes the pursued by grace, and the site of intended destruction becomes the site of initial divine commissioning and restoration (through Ananias).
• This verse undergirds the concept of predestination for specific tasks within the Christian life. While salvation is freely chosen, the specific works we are prepared for are often "appointed" by God (Eph 2:10), emphasizing divine sovereignty alongside human responsibility.
• The absence of further immediate instruction from Christ compelled Paul to rely on others within the nascent Christian community (Ananias) and the Holy Spirit for his subsequent guidance, emphasizing the role of the local church and the Spirit's leading in a believer's life.

Acts 22 10 Commentary

Acts 22:10 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Paul's radical surrender and the commencement of his divinely ordained apostleship. His question, "What shall I do, Lord?", marks the immediate and complete shift of allegiance from his own will and the traditions of men to the direct authority of Jesus Christ. This inquiry is not born of uncertainty but of absolute submission, recognizing Christ's rightful Lordship. Christ's response provides initial, actionable instruction: "Arise and go into Damascus," which demands immediate obedience without full knowledge of what awaits. The promise, "there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do," reveals God's method of progressive guidance, building trust and dependence. It asserts that Paul's entire life purpose and ministry were preordained by God, to be unveiled at the proper time. This interaction established a foundational principle for Paul's future, as well as for all believers: humble obedience to God's specific call leads to the unfolding of His perfect, sovereign plan for our lives.

• Example: Just as a general might issue initial orders to a soldier—"Go to point X; there you will receive your next orders"—Christ gives Paul the first step of a mission with the promise of more detailed instructions to come, requiring faith and obedience at each stage.
• Example: It highlights that sometimes God reveals the next step, not the whole path, to teach dependence and cultivate faith in His ultimate guidance.