Acts 22:13 kjv
Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
Acts 22:13 nkjv
came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him.
Acts 22:13 niv
He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.
Acts 22:13 esv
came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.
Acts 22:13 nlt
He came and stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight.' And that very moment I could see him!
Acts 22 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 22:7 | And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying... | Direct continuation of the event |
| Acts 26:14 | and we all fell to the ground, I heard a voice saying... | Paul's recounting of the same event |
| John 12:29 | The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered... | Auditory experience from heaven |
| 1 Corinthians 15:8 | Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. | Paul's post-resurrection appearance |
| Galatians 1:16 | to reveal his Son to me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles | The purpose of the revelation |
| Acts 9:3-6 | On his way he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him... | The initial divine encounter |
| 1 Samuel 26:8 | And David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lay an innocent person in the Lord's hand and be guiltless?” | God's protection of His anointed |
| Matthew 17:6 | When Simon Peter heard this, he fell on his face and was terrified. | Similar prostrations before divine manifestation |
| Revelation 1:17 | When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not..." | John's reaction to Christ's glory |
| Psalm 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Divine guidance |
| Acts 9:17 | So Ananias went and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul..." | Confirmation of Paul's calling |
| Ephesians 3:7 | of which I became a minister according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his mighty power. | Paul's ministry as a divine gift |
| 1 Timothy 1:12 | I am grateful to him who gave me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service... | Acknowledgment of Christ's enablement |
| Acts 13:2 | while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” | Calling to specific ministry |
| 2 Corinthians 12:2 | I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven... | Paul's other heavenly visions |
| Isaiah 43:2 | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you... | God's presence in trials |
| Jeremiah 1:8 | Do not fear them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord. | God's assurance to His messengers |
| Romans 10:14 | How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? | Necessity of evangelism |
| Acts 9:22 | Saul kept increasing in strength, and confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. | Early impact of Paul's conversion |
| Genesis 1:3 | And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. | Divine creative power |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 13 Meaning
This verse describes Paul recounting his supernatural experience during his conversion. He explicitly states that he fell to the ground and heard a voice. The primary significance is the direct auditory and visual revelation from Jesus Christ, confirming the divine nature of his commission and the reality of his transformation.
Acts 22 13 Context
This verse occurs within Paul's defense before the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. He is recounting the story of his conversion to demonstrate his legitimate calling as an apostle, especially to the Gentiles. The crowd has become agitated, leading Paul to switch to speaking in Aramaic. This specific verse highlights the personal and divine nature of the encounter that led to his transformation from a persecutor to an apostle. It sets the stage for explaining the divine mandate he received.
Acts 22 13 Word Analysis
- Ὃν (hon): "whom" - refers back to Jesus.
- ὑμεῖς (hymeis): "you" - referring to the crowd he is addressing.
- ἐστραμμμένος (estrammenos): "turned" or "overthrown" - implies a radical change or conversion.
- ἔπεσον (epeson): "I fell" - indicates a physical response to the divine presence and voice, often associated with awe and reverence.
- χαμὰν (chaman): "to the ground" - emphasizes the immediate and complete submission to the heavenly authority.
- ἔ ouvir (ouirein): "to hear" - a direct sensory experience.
- ἔ (e): "and" - a conjunction connecting the actions.
- φωνῆς (phones): "voice" - a clear, distinct sound, identified as from God/Jesus.
- λέγουσῃ (legousae): "saying" - introducing the direct words spoken by the voice.
- Λέγοντι (Legonti): "to me" - indicating the direct address.
- Σαοὺλ (Saoul): "Saul" - Paul's original Hebrew name, used by Jesus here.
- Σαοὺλ (Saoul): "Saul" - the personal address.
- Σαοὺλ (Saoul): "Saul" - the direct call by name.
- τί (ti): "why" - a question indicating the reason for the pursuit.
- με (me): "me" - the object of the pursuit.
- διώκεις (diokeis): "you persecute" - the action Paul was engaged in before his conversion.
- ἰσχὺν (ischyn): "strength" or "power" - highlighting the power encountered.
- ποιεῖς (poieis): "you do" or "you make" - refers to the actions and deeds.
Words Group Analysis:
- "fell to the ground": This imagery conveys a sense of overwhelming divine power that incapacitates. It’s not merely stumbling but a response of awe, submission, and helplessness in the face of God's glory, paralleled in other biblical encounters with divine beings or theophanies.
- "heard a voice saying": The voice is not just an abstract sound but a direct communication from a divine entity, carrying authority and a specific message.
- "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?": The repetition of the name emphasizes personal confrontation and direct accountability. The question cuts to the heart of Paul's actions, equating his persecution of the church with persecution of Christ himself.
Acts 22 13 Bonus Section
The use of "Saul, Saul" by Jesus is highly significant. It reflects a pattern in Scripture where God calls individuals by name, often twice, to get their attention and signify a profound change or destiny, such as "Abraham, Abraham" (Gen 22:11) and "Samuel, Samuel" (1 Sam 3:10). This personal calling from Christ underscored the unique and intimate nature of Paul's conversion. It also signifies that Paul's mission, though seemingly destructive from his perspective, was directly opposed to the purposes of God as represented by Jesus. The impact of this question would have been immense, forcing Paul to re-evaluate his entire life and beliefs.
Acts 22 13 Commentary
Paul is meticulously recounting his conversion experience to this hostile crowd. His purpose is to establish his credentials and the divine source of his apostleship, specifically for the Gentiles. He states that upon being struck by a heavenly light, he physically fell. Crucially, he heard a divine voice, which he later identifies as Jesus. The voice called him by his Hebrew name, "Saul," making the confrontation deeply personal. The question, "Why do you persecute me?" directly links the suffering of the church to Christ himself, a fundamental tenet of Christian belief. This direct, supernatural encounter with the risen Christ, accompanied by audible divine speech, validates Paul's commission and his subsequent ministry, overriding any need for human ordination in his own testimony.