Acts 22 23

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 verses

Acts 22 23 Meaning

Acts 22:23 vividly depicts the enraged and visceral reaction of the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem to Paul's testimony, specifically to his divinely appointed mission to the Gentiles. This verse captures a moment of intense public outrage and rejection, expressed through culturally significant symbolic actions, as the crowd utterly refused to accept the notion of salvation extending beyond the boundaries of their ethnic identity.

Acts 22 23 Context

This verse is set in Jerusalem, after Paul's return from his third missionary journey. He is fulfilling a vow in the temple when he is falsely accused by Jews from Asia of defiling the temple by bringing Gentiles into forbidden areas. This leads to his arrest by the Roman commander (Acts 21:27-36). As Paul is about to be brought into the barracks, he requests and is granted permission to speak to the assembled, agitated crowd. Chapters 22:1-21 record Paul's defense: he recounts his Jewish credentials, his persecution of Christians, his dramatic conversion experience on the Damascus road, and his commission by the Lord to go to the Gentiles. The crowd listens intently until Paul utters the phrase in Acts 22:21, "Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles." It is this specific mention of Gentiles, framed as a divine mandate given to one of their own, that provokes the violent outburst described in Acts 22:23. The historical context includes the fervent Jewish nationalism and ethnocentrism of the era, coupled with a deep-seated antagonism towards Gentiles, viewing them as unclean and outside God's direct covenant.

Acts 22 23 Word analysis

• As they cried out (NIV: While they were shouting):
  • Original Greek: ἀναβοάω (anaboao) – meaning "to cry aloud, shout up." This denotes a loud, often violent and passionate outburst. It is not just talking, but vociferating with intensity.
  • Significance: It highlights the collective and uncontrolled nature of the crowd's anger. It indicates an immediate, unthinking reaction, showing how deeply Paul's statement struck a raw nerve. This word emphasizes public, unrestrained outcry.
• and tore off (NIV: tore off):
  • Original Greek: ῥήγνυμι (rhegnumi) – meaning "to break, burst, tear, rend." This is not a gentle removal but an act of ripping apart.
  • Significance: This action is a profound, ritualistic expression in ancient Jewish culture. It was done in situations of extreme grief, despair, horror, or, as here, intense outrage, often specifically related to blasphemy or perceived grave offenses against God or Israel. It physically embodies inner turmoil and extreme indignation.
• their cloaks (NIV: their cloaks):
  • Original Greek: ἱμάτιον (himation) – referring to an outer garment, typically a rectangular piece of cloth worn over a tunic, serving as a cloak, blanket, or even a bag.
  • Significance: The cloak was a primary article of clothing, integral to identity and dignity. Tearing it publicly was a sacrifice of one's dignity and an irreversible, highly visible sign of protest or anguish. It amplified the dramatic nature of their protest, demonstrating commitment to their anger.
• and threw dust (NIV: flung dust):
  • Original Greek: βαλλομένους (ballomenous, participle of βάλλω ballo - to cast, throw) and κόνις (konis - dust). The phrase "threw dust into the air" captures the action.
  • Significance: This act had multiple connotations. It could signify deep mourning (like throwing dust on one's head), or a vehement gesture of rejection and contempt, akin to symbolically casting aside what was being said or the speaker. In this context, it powerfully expresses revulsion, condemnation, and a desire to "erase" or dismiss Paul's words as utterly worthless and defiling. It's a symbolic appeal for heaven's judgment or a sign of absolute refusal.
• into the air (NIV: into the air):
  • Significance: Directs the action upwards, making it a visible, public spectacle. The dust rising symbolizes confusion, anger ascending, or an appeal to a higher power in their indignation, similar to the symbolic action of shaking off dust (as in Lk 10:11). It makes their protest expansive and visible to all.

Words-group analysis:

• "cried out and tore off their cloaks": This coupling emphasizes the immediate, passionate vocal outcry fused with a significant physical, symbolic act of extreme displeasure. The noise and the visual drama create an overwhelming sense of chaotic outrage, signaling a break from civil discourse.
• "tore off their cloaks and threw dust into the air": These two symbolic actions, performed consecutively and publicly, escalate the level of protest. They move from a display of internal anguish/outrage (tearing clothes) to an active, aggressive rejection and condemnation (throwing dust), making a powerful public declaration of utter contempt and revulsion against Paul's message and person.

Acts 22 23 Bonus section

The intensity of the crowd's reaction, triggered by the word "Gentiles" in verse 21, is amplified by their conviction that Paul was acting against Jewish law and the temple. Their actions—the clamor, the torn garments, the dust—were an appeal to their heritage and, implicitly, to God, expressing that Paul's words were a grave offense against the divine order they believed in. The tearing of garments here carries an implication similar to how it was done when blasphemy was perceived, suggesting that they viewed Paul's mission to Gentiles as an abomination or an affront to God's covenant with Israel. This immediate outburst bypasses any further reasoning, illustrating a deep-seated spiritual blindness rooted in pride and xenophobia that ultimately led to rejection of God's wider redemptive plan.

Acts 22 23 Commentary

Acts 22:23 is a profound depiction of religious zealotry transformed into violent rejection. The crowd's multi-layered response—loud cries, rending garments, and flinging dust—is a culturally steeped performance of extreme indignation, shock, and anathema. This reaction was not primarily a rational counter-argument, but an explosion of deeply ingrained ethnic and religious prejudice against the notion of God's favor extending unconditionally to Gentiles. For these Jews, the very idea of a shared inheritance with the uncircumcised was an unbearable assault on their identity, covenant, and understanding of messianic expectation. Paul's simple declaration of his Gentile commission shattered their exclusivist worldview, eliciting a reaction equivalent to accusing him of blasphemy or treason against their sacred traditions. This scene foreshadows the continued resistance to the gospel of grace that breaks down societal and religious barriers.

• Example 1: Resisting a new, unfamiliar truth when it challenges deeply held, inherited beliefs.
• Example 2: The visceral rejection often experienced by those who declare an inclusive message in an exclusive cultural or religious environment.