Acts 22:22 kjv
And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
Acts 22:22 nkjv
And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!"
Acts 22:22 niv
The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!"
Acts 22:22 esv
Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live."
Acts 22:22 nlt
The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, "Away with such a fellow! He isn't fit to live!"
Acts 22 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 22:23 | But when they cried out thus, and threw dust into the air, | Halt in verbal defense |
| Acts 14:19 | Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and having persuaded the crowds, stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead— | Persecution by Jews |
| Acts 17:13 | But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul also at Berea, they came there too, agitating the crowds and disturbing them. | Continued opposition from Jews |
| Acts 18:12 | But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, | Legal challenges |
| Acts 20:3 | where he stayed three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he went on by way of Macedonia. | Plots against Paul |
| Acts 23:10 | When the disagreement became vigorous, the commander was afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces and ordered the soldiers to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. | Physical threat to Paul |
| Acts 25:24 | and Festus said, "King Agrippa and all the men who are here with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people are crying out to me, both here in Jerusalem and now here in Caesarea, | Public outcry against Paul |
| Romans 11:28 | As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. | Jewish rejection |
| 1 Corinthians 1:23 | but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and a foolishness to Gentiles, | Jewish offense |
| Galatians 3:1 | O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before whose eyes Jesus Christ was explicitly portrayed as crucified? | Rejection of true doctrine |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:15 | for you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, | Shared suffering with Jewish community |
| Deuteronomy 1:37 | The LORD was angry with me also on your account and said, ‘You shall not go in there. | Divine prohibition |
| Isaiah 6:10 | Make the heart of this people dull, and of their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn and be healed.” | Spiritual blindness |
| Matthew 13:14-15 | Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has become dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”’" | Fulfillment of prophecy |
| Luke 4:18-19 | “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, | Anointing for ministry |
| John 12:40 | He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.” | Further prophecy of hardening |
| Acts 28:26-27 | saying, ‘Go and tell this people: “‘“Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.” For this people's heart has become dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’” | Quoted by Paul |
| Ephesians 4:11 | And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, | Divine appointments |
| 2 Timothy 2:24 | And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, | Pastoral qualifications |
| 1 Peter 3:15 | but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, | Defense of the faith |
| Jeremiah 1:7 | But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you you shall speak. | Divine command to speak |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 22 Meaning
This verse signifies a turning point in Saul's (later Paul's) ministry. His defense before the Jewish crowd is abruptly halted by their escalating hostility, compelling him to adopt a new strategy to reach them with the Gospel.
Acts 22 22 Context
This verse occurs within Paul's testimony to the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. He has been recounting his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus and his subsequent commission from Christ. His speech has evoked strong emotions among the listeners, leading to an outcry that the Jews were seeking his death. In this moment, before he can complete his personal testimony, the commander intervenes to protect Paul from the escalating mob. The commander, hearing the Jews' shouts and seeing their fury, realizes that a different approach is needed. He recognizes that the emotional fervor of the crowd is hindering any rational hearing of Paul's message and, by extension, God's message. Thus, he decides to have Paul brought into Roman custody to await a more orderly proceeding, effectively shifting the battleground for the Gospel from a volatile public forum to a legal and governmental one.
Acts 22 22 Word Analysis
- "And when they cried out thus":
- "cried out" (Gk: ἐβόησαν, eboēsan) - Denotes a loud, passionate, and often angry shout.
- "thus" (Gk: οὕτως, houtōs) - Indicates in this manner, in this way, referring to the nature of their uproar.
- "and threw dust into the air":
- "threw" (Gk: ἐρριψαν, errhipsan) - To cast or fling forcefully.
- "dust" (Gk: κονιορτόν, koniorton) - Fine particles of earth or matter.
- "into the air" (Gk: εἰς τὸν ἀέρα, eis ton aera) - Signifies raising it upwards, a gesture of intense grief, rage, or utter rejection and contempt, showing they considered Paul as "dirt" or nothing, and their intention to do away with him. This action is characteristic of violent opposition and repudiation.
- "the chief captain perceived":
- "chief captain" (Gk: χιλίαρχος, chiliarchos) - The commander of a Roman cohort, roughly a thousand men.
- "perceived" (Gk: κατενόησε, katenoese) - Understood, grasped, comprehended by observation and consideration of the situation. He recognized the gravity and implications of the crowd's behavior.
- "that all Israel is in commotion":
- "all Israel" (Gk: πᾶς Ἰσραήλ, pas Israēl) - While literally referring to all Israelites present, it represents the entirety of the Jewish people and their passionate religious sentiments, indicating the profound and widespread agitation within their community.
- "is in commotion" (Gk: σαλεύεσθαι, saleuuesthai) - To be shaken, agitated, disturbed. This signifies a profound unrest and turmoil.
- "And turning to Paul said":
- "turning" (Gk: ἐπιστρέψας, epistrephas) - A decisive movement, signifying a shift in focus and strategy by the captain.
- "to Paul" (Gk: πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον, pros ton Paulon) - Directing his attention to the central figure of the disturbance.
- "said" (Gk: εἶπεν, eipen) - Spoke.
Group Analysis: The combined action of crying out and throwing dust signifies extreme emotional upheaval and violent dissent. The chief captain's perception of "all Israel" being in commotion highlights the magnitude of the Jewish nationalistic and religious fervor that Paul's testimony ignited. The turning towards Paul and addressing him indicates the captain's decision to isolate Paul from the inflamed populace for his own safety and for a more controlled assessment of the situation.
Acts 22 22 Bonus Section
The actions of the crowd ("cried out thus, and threw dust into the air") were typical expressions of extreme disapproval and rage in the ancient world. This was a primal expression of their indignation and a signal that Paul's words were not only rejected but anathema to them. The captain's perception of "all Israel" being in commotion emphasizes that the issues raised by Paul’s ministry were deeply national and religious, resonating with a broader identity. This situation directly connects to prophecies regarding Israel’s spiritual blindness and their rejection of the Messiah, as Paul himself later articulates (Acts 28:25-27), quoting Isaiah 6:9-10 and Jeremiah 5:21. This verse serves as a crucial nexus, showing Paul’s unwavering commitment despite intense opposition and God’s protection through human agency, ultimately directing his path towards a wider audience as foretold in his calling (Acts 26:17-18).
Acts 22 22 Commentary
The verse powerfully illustrates the immediate danger Paul faced from his own countrymen due to his Gospel message. Their furious reaction—shouting and throwing dust—was a visible manifestation of their complete rejection and hatred. The chief captain's astute observation recognized that this was not a localized incident but a reflection of deeper, widespread discontent, "all Israel," which was profoundly agitated. This realization led him to a strategic shift: removing Paul from the immediate threat. It’s a poignant moment showing the contrast between divine commission and human resistance, and the practical measures needed to preserve God’s servants amidst such opposition. The captain’s action foreshadows Paul’s eventual appeal to Caesar, a legal recourse necessitated by such insurmountable popular fury, shifting his ministry towards Gentile nations and Roman jurisdiction.