Acts 22:18 kjv
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 22:18 nkjv
and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.'
Acts 22:18 niv
and saw the Lord speaking to me. 'Quick!' he said. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.'
Acts 22:18 esv
and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'
Acts 22:18 nlt
I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, 'Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won't accept your testimony about me.'
Acts 22 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 9:15 | "...this is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles..." | Paul's initial commission |
| Acts 13:2 | "As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" | The Spirit confirms the calling |
| Acts 13:46 | "Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, 'It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first, but since you yourselves reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.'" | Turning to the Gentiles confirmed |
| Acts 18:6 | "But when they opposed and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, 'Your blood be on your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'" | Consistent pattern of Gentile outreach |
| Acts 20:24 | "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." | Paul's dedication to his ministry |
| Acts 26:17 | "‘delivering you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,'" | Reiteration of the Gentile mission |
| Acts 26:18 | "...to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'" | Purpose of the Gentile mission |
| Romans 1:5 | "...through whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name," | Apostolic mandate for the nations |
| Romans 11:13 | "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry," | Paul's pride in his Gentile ministry |
| 1 Cor 9:1 | "Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?" | Paul defending his apostleship |
| Galatians 2:7 | "But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel on the uncircumcised had been committed to Peter," | Apostolic division of labor |
| Ephesians 3:8 | "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," | Humility and unsearchable riches |
| 1 Tim 2:7 | "for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." | Paul's declared teaching role |
| Gen 12:3 | "I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”" | Abrahamic covenant for nations |
| Isa 49:6 | "...'It is too small a thing that You should raise up the tribes of Jacob, And restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You may be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'" | Prophecy of a light to Gentiles |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." | Incarnation of Christ |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." | God's love for the world |
| Matt 28:19 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." | The Great Commission |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." | Ambassadorial role |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people..." | Believers as God's people |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 18 Meaning
Paul is relaying his spiritual experience and obedience to God's command. He recounts being sent by Jesus to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, even after being persecuted by his own people. This highlights his divine commission and unwavering commitment despite opposition.
Acts 22 18 Context
In Acts chapter 22, Paul is in Jerusalem, having just arrived and stirred up opposition from the Jews. He is allowed to address the crowd from the temple steps to explain his ministry. He recounts his conversion experience on the road to Damascus and his subsequent call to preach to the Gentiles. He emphasizes that this commission was directly from Jesus and that he is carrying out God's will, despite the fierce rejection he faced from his own people. This entire defense is a response to their outcry and violence against him, seeking to demonstrate his loyalty to God and his adherence to divine instruction.
Acts 22 18 Word Analysis
- Paul: The central figure, the apostle to the Gentiles.
- speaking (λαλῶν - lalōn): Present participle of laleō, meaning to speak, talk, discourse. It indicates a continuous action or state of being.
- to me: Direct recipient of the message.
- when: Temporal conjunction, indicating the time of the command.
- I (ἐγώ - egō): Emphasis on Paul himself.
- was: Past tense indicating the state or occurrence of the action.
- sent (ἀπέσταλκα - apestalha): Perfect tense of apostellō, meaning to send forth, dispatch, commission. It signifies a completed action with a continuing result or authority. It's a key term for "apostle."
- from: Indicates origin.
- thence (ἐκεῖθεν - ekeithen): From that place, referring back to Damascus.
- unto: Indicates destination.
- the (τοῖς - tois): Definite article.
- Gentiles (ἔθνεσιν - ethnesin): Dative plural of ethnos, meaning nations, people groups. Refers to non-Jewish peoples.
- the: Definite article.
- work (ἔργον - ergon): Task, deed, action. The mission given by Christ.
- which: Relative pronoun, connecting to the preceding noun.
- I (ἐγώ - egō): Again, emphasis on Paul.
- should: Expresses obligation or intention.
- do (ποιήσω - poiēsō): Future indicative of poiéō, meaning to do, make, perform. Paul states his purpose to perform the work.
Word Group Analysis
- "when I was sent from thence unto the Gentiles": This phrase encapsulates Paul's divinely appointed mission. The term "sent" (apestella) is crucial, linking directly to his role as an "apostle" (one sent forth). The origin point ("thence" - Damascus) signifies the moment of divine impartation, and the destination ("Gentiles") defines the primary scope of his ministry. This contrasts sharply with the Jewish expectation of Messiah's kingdom primarily for Israel.
Acts 22 18 Bonus Section
Paul's recitation of his commission to the Gentiles in Acts 22 is strategically placed as a defense before the Jewish authorities. It serves to illustrate that his ministry was not an act of rebellion against his heritage, but a direct assignment from the resurrected Christ, a fulfillment of God's broader plan for salvation. This also mirrors Jesus' own ministry which, while initially focused on Israel, consistently pointed to the inclusion of the nations (e.g., Matt 8:11, Luke 2:32).
Acts 22 18 Commentary
Paul emphasizes the divine origin and scope of his mission. His mandate was not self-chosen but directly given by Christ Himself after His resurrection. This divine commission overrides any human opposition or rejection he faces. His purpose is to bring salvation to the Gentiles, fulfilling prophecy and demonstrating the universal reach of God's grace. The perfect tense of "was sent" (apestalka) underlines the permanent validity and authority of this commission.