Acts 22:12 kjv
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
Acts 22:12 nkjv
"Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,
Acts 22:12 niv
"A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.
Acts 22:12 esv
"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
Acts 22:12 nlt
A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus.
Acts 22 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 22:12 | Ananias said, "Brother Saul, receive your sight." And at that very hour I looked up at him. | Paul's account of his conversion |
| Acts 9:17 | So Ananias departed and entered the house, and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul..." | The actual event of Ananias' visit |
| Acts 9:18 | And immediately there fell from his eyes what were like scales, and he received his sight. | The immediate result of Ananias' action |
| Galatians 1:15 | But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace... | Paul's divine appointment from the womb |
| Galatians 1:23 | they only heard it said, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." | How Paul's transformation was perceived |
| 1 Timothy 1:13 | though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy... | Paul reflecting on his past actions |
| 1 Timothy 1:16 | But for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display all his patience... | Paul as an example of God's mercy |
| 2 Corinthians 5:18 | All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation... | The ministry of reconciliation given to believers |
| Philippians 3:7 | But whatever gain I had, I counted loss for the sake of Christ. | Paul's re-evaluation of his past life |
| John 1:44 | Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. | Ananias and others from Galilee/Bethsaida |
| Acts 9:10 | Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision... | Ananias' calling to heal Paul |
| Acts 21:20 | And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are of Jews who have believed..." | Paul's ministry among Jews |
| John 9:11 | He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.'..." | Blindness and healing parallels |
| Isaiah 35:5 | Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unclogged. | Prophecy of messianic healing |
| Isaiah 42:7 | to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon... | Messianic mission to open eyes |
| 1 Corinthians 15:9 | For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. | Paul's lowliness despite his apostleship |
| Romans 11:13 | Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry... | Paul's apostleship to the Gentiles |
| Acts 26:16 | But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a minister... | Christ's commission to Paul |
| Luke 10:37 | He said, "Who showed him mercy?" And he said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said, "You go, and do likewise." | The good Samaritan – emphasis on mercy |
| Acts 22:3 | "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers... | Paul's background and credentials |
| John 10:32 | Jesus answered them, "It is for many good works that I have shown you many, which of them is it for which you intend to stone me?" | Jesus referring to his works |
| Acts 5:34 | But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and commanded that the men be put outside for a little while. | Gamaliel's influence and counsel |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:26 | Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. | Greeting one another |
| Acts 15:1 | But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." | Controversies in the early church |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 12 Meaning
This verse describes a crucial moment in Paul's defense before the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. Ananias, a devout man who adheres strictly to the Law and is well-respected by the Jewish people, is introduced as someone who bore witness to Paul's character. This testimony directly challenges the accusations leveled against Paul, emphasizing his past faithfulness to God.
Acts 22 12 Context
This verse occurs within Acts chapter 22, where the Apostle Paul is addressing a hostile Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. He is recounting his personal testimony, beginning with his background as a devout Pharisee and zealous persecutor of Christians. He then vividly describes his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus, where he encountered the risen Christ.
The specific moment here is when Paul, in his narrative, pauses to introduce Ananias, a man described as "a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony from all the Jews who lived there." Paul explains that it was Ananias who, by divine instruction, came to him, laid hands on him, and restored his sight. This detail serves to underscore Paul's transformation not just physically (regaining sight) but also spiritually, being appointed to a new mission. Paul's defense aims to show the Jewish people that his current ministry is not a rejection of their heritage but a continuation of God's work, even transforming one of their own. The hostility of the crowd stems from their perception of Paul as an apostate who abandoned Jewish tradition and law. By highlighting his credentials and divine commissioning through a respected Jewish believer like Ananias, Paul seeks to legitimize his apostleship and message in their eyes.
Acts 22 12 Word analysis
- And: Conjunction linking the previous statement or event with this one.
- Ananias: (Greek: Ἀνανίας - Ananias) - A common Jewish name, meaning "Yahweh has been gracious." This Ananias was a disciple in Damascus.
- Said: Past tense of "to say," indicating speech.
- Brother: (Greek: ἀδελφός - adelphos) - Used here in a fraternal, Christian sense, acknowledging Paul as a fellow believer. It emphasizes the unity of believers.
- Saul: Paul's original Hebrew name, signifying his Jewish identity and past.
- Receive: (Greek: ἀνάβλεψον - anablepon) - Imperative form, meaning "look up," "regain your sight," or "recover your sight." It signifies a restoration of vision.
- Your: Possessive pronoun.
- Sight: (Greek: βλέψον - blepon) - Directly refers to physical vision.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And Ananias said": Introduces the speech of Ananias, establishing his role in Paul's conversion.
- "Brother Saul": This greeting is profoundly significant. It immediately bridges the gap between Paul's past (Saul the persecutor) and his new identity in Christ, recognizing him as a fellow believer in the Christian community. It reflects the nature of God's reconciliation.
- "receive your sight": This command is both physical and symbolic. Physically, it describes the removal of the scales from Saul's eyes. Symbolically, it signifies receiving spiritual enlightenment and a new vision for life under Christ. It’s a call to look upon the truth and the reality of Jesus.
Acts 22 12 Bonus section
Ananias' reputation as a "devout man according to the law" and his good testimony among the Jews highlights the principle that God often uses those who are faithful in the community to bring about His purposes. Paul’s recounting of this event demonstrates that his apostleship and ministry were not solitary or based on a radical, unvalidated departure from his heritage, but were witnessed and affirmed by individuals respected within that same heritage. This detail lends credibility to his message to a potentially skeptical audience and showcases how God can integrate new covenant realities with existing cultural and religious respectability, transforming individuals without severing their identity but redirecting it toward a higher purpose. The emphasis on physical healing as a precursor to spiritual understanding is a recurring motif in Jesus' ministry and the early church, signifying God’s holistic concern for humanity.
Acts 22 12 Commentary
Ananias, a man of impeccable standing within the Jewish community, plays a pivotal role in confirming the authenticity of Paul's transformation. His words, "Brother Saul, receive your sight," are both a divine command and a deeply meaningful welcome into the family of faith. The use of "Brother Saul" acknowledges the man he was and the new man he is becoming, underscoring God's grace in making enemies into brothers. The act of regaining sight mirrors the spiritual illumination Paul received, opening his eyes to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah. This testimony powerfully counters the accusations against Paul by grounding his conversion and subsequent ministry in the affirmation of a respected, devout Jew, reinforcing that Paul’s faith is not an abandonment of God but a fulfillment of His promises revealed in Christ.