Acts 22:23 kjv
And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
Acts 22:23 nkjv
Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,
Acts 22:23 niv
As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
Acts 22:23 esv
And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
Acts 22:23 nlt
They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.
Acts 22 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 22:22 | "...Away with such a fellow from the earth!" | Jewish reaction to Stephen |
| Acts 7:54 | "When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him." | Stephen's audience reaction |
| John 16:2 | "They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God." | Jesus' prediction about persecution |
| Romans 10:2 | "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." | Paul's description of Jewish zeal |
| Philippians 3:6 | "as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless." | Paul's own former zeal |
| 1 Corinthians 15:9 | "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." | Paul's persecution of the church |
| Galatians 1:13 | "For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it." | Paul's violent persecution |
| Matthew 27:25 | "And all the people answered, 'His blood be on us and on our children!'" | Crowd's cry against Jesus |
| John 11:50 | "...It is better for you that one man should die for the people, than that the whole nation should perish." | Caiaphas's reasoning for Jesus' death |
| Isaiah 53:8 | "By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living...?" | Messianic prophecy of suffering |
| Acts 5:33 | "But when they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them." | Jewish council's reaction to apostles |
| Acts 13:45 | "But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict Stephen’s words." | Jewish opposition to gospel |
| Acts 14:19 | "But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the crowds, and they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead." | Stoning of Paul |
| 2 Corinthians 11:24 | "Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one." | Paul's suffering from Jews |
| Romans 11:20 | "...But they were broken off because of unbelief." | Branches broken off |
| Galatians 5:12 | "I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!" | Paul's strong denunciation |
| Ephesians 4:31 | "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice." | Exhortation against such attitudes |
| 1 Peter 2:1 | "So put away all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander." | Putting away evil |
| Colossians 3:8 | "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth." | Putting away bad qualities |
| Revelation 12:10 | "And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have been exercised...'" | Heavenly praise after victory |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 23 Meaning
This verse describes the Jews' intense emotional reaction to Paul's account of his conversion, specifically their cry to remove him from the earth. Their fervor stems from their deeply held beliefs and zealous adherence to their traditions and law, making them perceive Paul as an enemy of all they hold sacred.
Acts 22 23 Context
In Acts chapter 22, Paul is recounting his testimony to the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. After being arrested, he requests permission to speak to them, hoping to pacify their anger. He details his zealous life as a Pharisee, his persecution of Christians, and his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus. He emphasizes his commission from Jesus to preach to the Gentiles. When he reveals that Jesus specifically commanded him to depart to the Gentiles, the crowd’s previous attention turns into violent fury. They are incensed by the implication that they, the chosen people, are being bypassed in favor of the Gentiles. Their shouting and agitation reach a peak where they demand Paul’s death. The Roman commander intervenes, saving Paul from the mob and taking him into protective custody.
Acts 22 23 Word analysis
- And (Greek: kai) - Connects clauses, showing sequence and addition.
- they (Greek: autos) - Refers to the Jews previously addressed by Paul.
- cried out (Greek: ekravgan) - A loud, forceful shout, indicating strong emotion.
- with (Greek: apo) - Denotes separation or removal from.
- a loud (Greek: mega) - Emphasizes the intensity and volume of their outcry.
- voice (Greek: phone) - The sound of their shouting.
- and (Greek: kai) - Another connecting conjunction.
- casting (Greek: rhiptontōn) - Suggests a forceful and possibly violent action of throwing or discarding.
- off (Greek: ex) - Indicates removal from a place or position.
- theirements (Greek: estenai) - Referring to Paul's presence or being there.
- saying (Greek: legontes) - Introducing their verbal demand.
- away (Greek: martōn) - The core of their cry, meaning to remove or destroy.
- with (Greek: apo) - Again signifying removal.
- such (Greek: toioytou) - Denoting a person of that kind or nature, referring to Paul as an apostate and enemy.
- a fellow (Greek: anthrōpou) - A person, a man.
- from (Greek: apo) - Emphasizes separation from.
- the (Greek: tes) - Definite article.
- earth (Greek: gēs) - The ground, the physical world.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "cried out with a loud voice": This combined phrase depicts an unrestrained, overwhelming expression of anger and dissent. It's not a calm debate but a passionate outburst of collective fury.
- "casting away of this fellow": This illustrates their extreme rejection of Paul. They don't just want him silenced; they want him gone entirely, removed from their presence and, in their heightened state, from existence.
- "Away with such a fellow from the earth!": This entire exclamation is a powerful indictment from their perspective. It signifies utter repudiation, wishing for his complete annihilation as a blight upon their people and their divinely appointed order. It echoes a desire for judgment and removal, not of reasoned argument.
Acts 22 23 Bonus section
This verse illustrates a key theme in Acts: the Gospel's advance is often met with fierce opposition, particularly from those who feel their religious or cultural identity is threatened. Paul's testimony, meant to appease, instead inflames their prejudice against Gentiles and his apostleship. The "earth" they wish him removed from signifies their perceived world order, which he is now challenging by God's new mandate. This outburst showcases the tragic irony of religious zeal misdirected, where the very people meant to embrace God's plan violently reject its messenger. Their action is not simply a political disagreement but a spiritual battle, expressed through extreme passion and a desire for elimination.
Acts 22 23 Commentary
The Jews' reaction is fueled by a zealous, albeit misguided, defense of their traditions and religious law. Paul, once one of them, is now seen as a traitor for embracing Jesus as the Messiah and advocating for Gentiles to join the covenant. Their cry, "Away with him from the earth," reveals the depth of their animosity and their absolute rejection of his message. It reflects a mindset that prioritizes national and religious exclusivity over universal salvation. This scene highlights the intense conflict between the nascent Christian movement and its Jewish detractors, illustrating how perceived threats to deeply ingrained beliefs can provoke extreme emotional and physical responses. The phrase echoes the crowd's rejection of Jesus himself.