Acts 22:19 kjv
And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
Acts 22:19 nkjv
So I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.
Acts 22:19 niv
"?'Lord,' I replied, 'these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.
Acts 22:19 esv
And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.
Acts 22:19 nlt
"'But Lord,' I argued, 'they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.
Acts 22 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 9:14 | "...here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison..." | Paul's initial mission |
| Acts 26:10 | "...as I also reported to the chief priests, I cast my vote..." | Paul reiterates his past |
| John 16:2 | "Indeed, an hour is coming when whoever kills you will think..." | Persecution of believers |
| 1 Cor 15:9 | "For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called..." | Paul's former persecution |
| Gal 1:13 | "For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how..." | Paul's zealousness |
| Phil 3:6 | "...as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever..." | Paul's past legal standing |
| Deut 13:10 | "You shall stone it to death with stones, because he tried..." | Dealing with false prophets |
| Exod 23:7 | "Decline a dishonest charge. Do not kill the innocent..." | Upholding justice |
| Isa 53:8 | "By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and of his..." | Messiah's suffering |
| Mark 1:24 | "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you..." | Demonic recognition of Jesus |
| Luke 10:16 | "The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who..." | Authority of apostles |
| Acts 20:24 | "But I do not account my life of any value nor as dear to myself..." | Paul's dedication |
| Acts 20:22 | "And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by..." | Spirit's guidance |
| Acts 18:15 | "But if they are disputes about words and names and your..." | Judean jurisdiction |
| Ps 119:111 | "Your testimonies are my inheritance forever, for they are..." | Value of God's commands |
| Acts 9:1 | "But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against..." | Saul's early persecution |
| Acts 9:2 | "...asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that..." | Authority from leaders |
| Acts 22:4 | "I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering..." | Paul's strong conviction |
| 1 Tim 1:13 | "...though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and..." | Paul's testimony of grace |
| 2 Cor 11:23 | "Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I..." | Paul's credentials |
| John 3:30 | "He must increase, but I must decrease." | John the Baptist's humility |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 19 Meaning
Paul, recounting his experience to the crowd in Jerusalem, states his actions as directed by a heavenly voice. He understood this voice as from the Lord and his intention was to compel followers of this Way to accept their faith.
Acts 22 19 Context
This verse is spoken by Paul in Jerusalem to a hostile Jewish crowd. He is defending his ministry and his acceptance of Gentiles into the Christian faith, a controversial act. He recounts his conversion experience on the road to Damascus to show that his call was divine. His intent in persecuting the early Christians, as explained here, was based on his understanding of Jewish law and his belief that Jesus' followers were deviating from it. He sees his past actions not as personal malice but as zeal for God's perceived truth.
Acts 22 19 Word Analysis
- "I": The pronoun "I" (ἐγώ, egō) emphasizes Paul's personal experience and responsibility.
- "was not aware": "was not aware" (οὐκ εἰδὼς, ouk eidōs) implies ignorance, not malicious intent, regarding the identity of the voice and the nature of Jesus. It highlights a state of unenlightenment.
- "that I was doing": This phrase (ὅτι ἔπρασσον, hoti eprasson) points to the active nature of his pursuit and his conviction in his actions.
- "with my own hand": "with my own hand" (αὐτόχειρ, autocheir) suggests direct personal involvement in apprehending believers, underscoring his active role in their persecution.
- "in Jerusalem": This specifies the location of his intensified persecution, a significant center of both Judaism and the early church.
- "and many of the saints": "saints" (ἁγίων, hagiōn) refers to set-apart believers in Christ. This highlights the widespread nature of his persecution, affecting numerous individuals within the early community.
- "I myself": The emphatic repetition of "I myself" (κἀγὼ αὐτός, kagō autos) underscores his direct, personal involvement and authorization.
- "bound and delivered": "bound and delivered" (συνδεῖν τε καὶ παραδοῦναι, syndein te kai paradounai) describes the act of arresting and handing over believers to the authorities, detailing the process of his persecution.
- "chief priests": This identifies the high religious authorities who provided Paul with the legal and religious mandate for his actions.
- "from the beginning": "from the beginning" (ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς, ap' archēs) implies his active role and authorization began early in the persecution of the Way.
Acts 22 19 Bonus Section
Paul's description here aligns with his apologetic style found in other epistles. He is establishing his credentials as a genuine apostle, not by worldly standards, but by the undeniable call of God. His reference to the "saints" whom he persecuted in Jerusalem underscores the severity of his former actions and makes his subsequent ministry even more remarkable. The authority he claimed came from the chief priests, a testament to how deeply ingrained and religiously sanctioned his opposition to Christianity was in his early life. This verse is crucial for understanding the depth of his transformation and the validity of his mission as seen by his new understanding of God's will in Christ.
Acts 22 19 Commentary
Paul presents his past actions with a nuanced perspective. He acknowledges his direct involvement in arresting and imprisoning believers in Jerusalem. However, he frames these actions within the context of his previous ignorance about Jesus and his zeal for the traditions he held. The key is that his motivation was based on his understanding of God's law, believing he was acting righteously. He is not seeking to excuse his cruelty but to explain the state of his heart and mind before his divine encounter. This reveals his profound transformation from persecutor to apostle, emphasizing that his change was divinely orchestrated and based on new revelation.