Acts 22 22

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 verses

Acts 22 22 Meaning

Acts 22:22 captures the precise moment when the Jewish crowd, previously listening attentively to Paul's testimony of his conversion and call, erupted into violent rage. Their calm reception instantly shifted to a ferocious outcry for his immediate execution. This seismic change occurred the instant Paul declared his divine commission to preach the Gospel "far away to the Gentiles," an idea that challenged their exclusive understanding of God's covenant and identity, causing them to deem him unworthy of continued life on earth.

Acts 22 22 Context

Acts chapter 22 details Paul's defense before the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, following his arrest in the temple area on charges of defiling it by bringing Gentiles into forbidden courts (a false accusation). Paul recounts his upbringing as a zealous Pharisee, his intense persecution of Christians, his dramatic conversion on the Damascus road, and his subsequent commissioning by Christ. The crowd listens intently, often holding their peace, as he shares his personal journey and unwavering Jewish credentials. However, Paul then quotes the Lord's instruction from Acts 22:21: "Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles." It is this specific declaration, challenging their deeply entrenched nationalistic and exclusive view of God's people and covenant, that triggers the sudden and violent shift in their disposition. Historically, Jerusalem was a hotbed of Jewish zealotry against Roman occupation and any perceived dilution of their religious purity or national identity, making Paul's statement about Gentile inclusion utterly incendiary.

Acts 22 22 Word analysis

• And they listened (ἤκουον - ēkouon): The imperfect tense of the Greek verb signifies a continuous, ongoing action. They had been listening for some time, paying close attention. It indicates a period of sustained hearing.
• to him (αὐτοῦ - autou): Refers to Paul.
• up to this word (ἄχρι τούτου τοῦ λόγου - achri toutou tou logou): This phrase acts as a precise chronological and thematic marker. Achri means "up to" or "until," indicating the specific boundary of their tolerance. Logos refers to a particular utterance or message. The word specifically being referenced is Paul's statement in the preceding verse (Acts 22:21), "Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles." This concept served as the critical trigger for their outrage.
• and then they raised their voices (καὶ ἐπῆραν τὴν φωνήν - kai epēran tēn phōnēn): This denotes an immediate and emphatic outburst. "Raised their voices" signifies a loud, collective cry, transforming from attentive listeners to an enraged mob.
• and said, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth!' (λέγοντες, 'Ἄρον ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς τὸν τοιοῦτον' - legontes, 'Aron apo tēs gēs ton toiouton!'): This is a direct command, expressing intense loathing and a demand for judicial action, likely capital punishment. Aron (from airō) means "take away" or "lift up," often used in the context of removal, sometimes violent or permanent. "From the earth" emphasizes total elimination. "Such a fellow" (ton toiouton) indicates their disdain, categorizing Paul as a reprobate, an affront to God and Israel.
• For he should not be allowed to live (οὐ γὰρ καθῆκεν αὐτὸν ζῆν - ou gar kathēken auton zēn): This clause functions as an emphatic justification for their demand. Kathēken (impersonal verb from kathēkō) implies "it is proper, right, or fitting." By using ou (not), they assert that it is "not right" or "unfitting" for him to continue living. Their hatred was not merely an emotional outburst but was framed within a perceived religious obligation to eradicate one whom they considered a betrayer of their heritage and defiler of their faith.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
• "And they listened to him up to this word": Highlights the surprising level of patience the crowd initially afforded Paul. His identity as a Pharisee, his personal testimony, and perhaps his shared Aramaic language, kept them engaged, even hopeful, until he crossed an unbearable line. This sets up the dramatic reversal, emphasizing that it was not Paul himself but a specific message that provoked their ire.
• "and then they raised their voices and said, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.'": This sudden transition from quiet listening to violent demand is the crux of the verse. It's a spontaneous yet unified call for summary execution, revealing the depth of their prejudice. The dual commands ("Away with... For he should not...") reinforce their conviction that Paul’s perceived offense merited death. Their cry echoes similar demands against Jesus, illustrating the severe penalty they associated with perceived blasphemy or treason against their Mosaic traditions and national identity.

Acts 22 22 Bonus section

This incident strongly echoes the rejection and demand for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Lk 23:18, 21), highlighting a consistent pattern of righteous messengers of God being rejected by their own people when their message challenges established religious or cultural norms. The phrase "Away with such a fellow from the earth!" (or "take him away!") directly parallels the shouts during Jesus' trial. Furthermore, there's a poignant irony in Paul's situation. Before his conversion, Paul himself harbored similar murderous zeal against Christians, whom he viewed as a threat to Jewish purity (Acts 8:3, Gal 1:13). Now, he finds himself on the receiving end of such rage, demonstrating how true conversion often places believers in direct opposition to their former selves and a world unwilling to embrace God's full truth. The Roman cohort's presence, though adversarial to Paul in one sense (holding him captive), paradoxically protected him from immediate lynching by the furious mob, showing God's sovereign hand at work even amidst intense persecution.

Acts 22 22 Commentary

Acts 22:22 starkly illustrates the profound clash between the narrow, exclusive understanding of God's covenant by a significant segment of Judaism, and the universal, inclusive nature of the Gospel message. Paul, a highly credentialed Pharisee, masterfully builds a case for his bona fides before his Jewish countrymen, tracing his journey from persecutor to persecuted, all by divine revelation. Yet, his careful testimony unravels at the precise point he announces his divine commission to the "Gentiles." For the zealous Jewish crowd, the notion of God extending His covenant favor equally to uncircumcised, 'unclean' Gentiles—and through one of their own—was an unbearable defilement, a betrayal of their heritage, and a blasphemous rejection of their distinct status as God's chosen. Their immediate, vociferous demand for Paul's death stemmed from a misguided, though intense, zeal for what they believed was God's honor. This verse epitomizes the ongoing conflict within the early Church concerning Jewish identity and the radical universality of salvation in Christ. It also serves as a chilling example of religious fervor untempered by God's true redemptive plan.