Acts 22:21 kjv
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
Acts 22:21 nkjv
Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' "
Acts 22:21 niv
"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "
Acts 22:21 esv
And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"
Acts 22:21 nlt
"But the Lord said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!'"
Acts 22 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gal 1:16 | "to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles;" | Paul's apostleship |
| Rom 1:5 | "through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations for the sake of his name," | Gentile mission |
| 1 Cor 1:17 | "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." | Purpose of his apostleship |
| Eph 3:8 | "To me, though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," | Grace to preach Gentiles |
| Acts 9:15 | "But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.'" | God's designation of Paul |
| Acts 20:24 | "But I do not account my life of any value nor as dear to myself, so that I may finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." | Finish ministry received |
| Acts 13:47 | "For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the farthest reaches of the earth.'" | Prophetic commission |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will make you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." | Old Testament prophecy |
| Rom 11:13 | "Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry" | Paul magnifying ministry |
| 2 Tim 1:11 | "for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, of the Gentiles." | His appointed roles |
| 1 Tim 2:7 | "and for this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth, I am not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." | Teacher of Gentiles |
| Acts 22:15 | "for you will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard." | Witness for Christ |
| Acts 22:20 | "and when Stephen your witness had shed his blood, I too stood by consenting to his death and keeping guard over the garments of those who were killing him." | Context of rejection |
| Luke 24:47 | "and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning with Jerusalem." | Jesus' commission |
| John 1:12 | "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God," | Becoming children of God |
| John 15:16 | "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give it to you." | Jesus choosing apostles |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." | Spirit empowered witness |
| Deut 18:15 | "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet from among you, from your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him." | Prophet like Moses |
| Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." | Prophet appointed to nations |
| Acts 22:14 | "And he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear his voice,'" | Chosen by God |
| Acts 22:17 | "and I was in a trance and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'" | Warning to leave Jerusalem |
| Acts 26:17 | "and I will deliver you from the people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you" | Sending to Gentiles |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 21 Meaning
The core meaning of Acts 22:21 is Paul's dramatic declaration to the Jerusalem crowd about God's specific divine commission to him: to be an apostle to the Gentiles. This divine appointment came directly from Jesus Himself and carried with it a clear mandate to proclaim the Gospel to those outside the Jewish nation. The verse highlights Paul's understanding of his unique calling and his obedient response, even when facing rejection from his own people.
Acts 22 21 Context
This verse occurs in Jerusalem, within the temple courts, after Paul has been rescued from a violent mob. The crowd, composed mainly of Jewish people, is enraged by the false accusation that Paul had brought Gentiles into the temple. In response to their outcry and the request of the Roman commander to explain himself, Paul begins his defense speech, recounting his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus. He details his commission from Jesus Christ, emphasizing his specific mandate to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. This is stated precisely at the moment the crowd’s anger escalates once more when Paul mentions his commission to the Gentiles, revealing the deep-seated religious and ethnic division at play.
Acts 22 21 Word Analysis
- "and": Connects Paul's affirmation to the preceding declaration of being taken to heaven.
- "He": Refers to Jesus Christ, emphasizing His active role.
- "said": Indicates a direct communication or commission.
- "to": Denotes the recipient of the action or message.
- "me": Refers to Paul, the speaker.
- "Go": A direct imperative, a command to depart and fulfill his mission.
- "for": Introduces the reason or purpose for going.
- "I": Refers to Jesus.
- "will": Expresses future action and certainty.
- "send": Implies being dispatched with authority.
- "you": Refers to Paul.
- "far": Denotes distance, emphasizing the scope of the mission.
- "away": Indicates separation or departure from the current location.
- "to": Introduces the destination or recipients.
- "the": Specifies the group.
- "Gentiles": Non-Jewish people. This is the crucial point that incites further anger from the Jewish crowd.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles": This phrase encapsulates the essence of Paul's apostolic calling. Jesus personally commissioned Paul for a mission that transcended national and ethnic boundaries, extending the Gospel invitation to those outside of Israel. This was a direct appointment from the risen Christ, a mandate from divine authority. The concept of "Gentiles" (ethnikoi) represented a major theological shift for some within Judaism, making Paul's ministry both groundbreaking and controversial.
Acts 22 21 Bonus Section
This verse directly connects to Old Testament prophecies that foretold a light for the nations and salvation extending to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). Paul’s understanding of his Gentile mission was deeply rooted in scriptural fulfillment. The controversy Paul faced regarding Gentiles also relates to broader discussions within Judaism concerning inclusion and separation. The reluctance of the Jerusalem crowd to accept Paul's mission to the Gentiles foreshadows ongoing debates within the early church documented in Acts, such as the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), where the terms of Gentile inclusion were clarified. Paul's statement is a powerful reminder of the inclusiveness of God's grace, a theme woven throughout Scripture.
Acts 22 21 Commentary
Acts 22:21 serves as a pivotal moment in Paul's defense before the Jewish people. It starkly reveals the source of their animosity towards him – his divinely appointed mission to the Gentiles. Paul does not shy away from this truth; instead, he reiterates Jesus' direct command. This highlights the tension between Jewish national identity and the universal salvific plan of God as revealed in Christ. Paul's ministry was not a personal ambition but a divine mandate that placed him at odds with many of his own people who found the inclusion of Gentiles challenging. The verse underscores that obedience to Christ's commission sometimes requires standing against popular opinion and facing rejection, a testament to the radical nature of the early Christian message.