Acts 22:3 kjv
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Acts 22:3 nkjv
"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
Acts 22:3 niv
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
Acts 22:3 esv
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
Acts 22:3 nlt
Then Paul said, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.
Acts 22 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 22:3 | "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city... " | Acts 21:39 |
| Philippians 3:5 | "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;" | Philippians 3:5 (Identity) |
| 2 Corinthians 11:22 | "Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I..." | 2 Corinthians 11:22 (Hebrew identity) |
| Galatians 1:14 | "And I advanced in Judaism beyond many my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers." | Galatians 1:14 (Zeal) |
| 1 Corinthians 7:19 | "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God." | 1 Corinthians 7:19 (Law focus) |
| Matthew 23:23 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness." | Matthew 23:23 (Pharisaic emphasis) |
| John 7:15 | "The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is this man in possession of learning, without having studied?" | John 7:15 (Jewish learning) |
| Acts 26:4-5 | "My manner of life from my youth, spent among my own people and at Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews, who know, if they are willing to testify, that from my earliest man I lived as a most strict Pharisee." | Acts 26:4-5 (Corroboration) |
| Acts 26:5 | "as to the law, a Pharisee" | Acts 26:5 (Pharisee status) |
| 1 Timothy 4:8 | "For bodily training is of some value, but godliness is profitable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the life to come." | 1 Timothy 4:8 (Holiness) |
| 1 Corinthians 9:20 | "To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law, I became as one under the law (though not myself under the law) that I might win those under the law." | 1 Corinthians 9:20 (Adaptation) |
| Romans 10:2 | "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." | Romans 10:2 (Zeal for God) |
| Romans 11:1 | "I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin." | Romans 11:1 (Israelite heritage) |
| 2 Timothy 3:10 | "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness," | 2 Timothy 3:10 (Paul's example) |
| Acts 23:6 | "But when Paul saw that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, 'Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.'" | Acts 23:6 (Pharisee affiliation) |
| Matthew 5:20 | "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." | Matthew 5:20 (Righteousness) |
| Deuteronomy 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." | Deuteronomy 18:15 (Prophetic fulfillment) |
| Luke 1:6 | "and they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord." | Luke 1:6 (Righteousness) |
| Acts 7:58 | "Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul." | Acts 7:58 (Paul's past actions) |
| Acts 8:1 | "And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church, which was in Jerusalem, and they all were scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." | Acts 8:1 (Paul's persecution) |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." | John 1:14 (Incarnation) |
| Acts 22:1 | "“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”" | Acts 22:1 (Introduction) |
| Acts 22:2 | "And when they heard that he had addressed them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet." | Acts 22:2 (Audience response) |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 3 Meaning
Paul declares his rigorous Jewish upbringing and adherence to the Law of Moses. He emphasizes his strict observance and passionate defense of Pharisaic tradition.
Acts 22 3 Context
Paul is addressing the crowd in Jerusalem after a riot erupted due to them thinking he had brought a Gentile into the Temple. To quell the anger and gain their attention, he speaks to them in their native Aramaic, the common tongue of that region, and then begins to recount his life story, emphasizing his impeccable Jewish heritage and upbringing as a Pharisee to establish credibility and find common ground. This chapter is a defense speech by Paul, presenting his testimony before the Jewish people and Roman soldiers.
Acts 22 3 Word analysis
I (Ego) - The first-person singular pronoun, emphasizing Paul's personal testimony.
am (Huparchō) - Denotes existence or status; my present state and background.
a Jew (Ioudaios) - One belonging to the people and faith of Judaism, descended from Jacob (Israel).
born (Gennēma) - To be brought into existence; refers to his lineage and birthplace.
in (En) - Preposition indicating location or sphere.
Tarsus (Tarsos) - A prominent city in Cilicia, known for its philosophical schools and as a center of culture.
of (Ek) - Denotes origin or source.
Cilicia (Kilikia) - A region in southeastern Asia Minor.
but (De) - A conjunction indicating contrast or addition, highlighting a subsequent point.
brought up (Trecphō) - To nourish, educate, and train; signifies his upbringing and education.
in (En) - Location.
this (Houtos) - Demonstrative pronoun pointing to the immediate context.
city (Polei) - Refers to Jerusalem, the central focus of Jewish religious and national life.
at (Para) - Indicates proximity or influence.
the feet (Poda) - A common idiom referring to the teaching of a rabbi or master.
of (Hupo) - Denotes agency or authority.
Gamaliel (Gamaliel) - A highly respected Pharisaic rabbi mentioned in the Mishnah, known for his wisdom and moderation. His teaching influenced Paul's early development.
strictly (Akribos) - Carefully, precisely, with great accuracy and diligence.
trained (Epaitheo) - To be instructed or nurtured according to.
in (Kata) - According to, in conformity with.
the law (Ton nomon) - Refers to the Mosaic Law, including the Torah.
of (Tou) - Genitive case indicating possession or association.
the fathers (Patrōn) - Refers to the traditions and teachings passed down from previous generations, specifically Jewish ancestral traditions.
Paul's Jewish identity: Emphasis on being a Jew, born in a significant but not capital city, Tarsus, highlighting his Hellenistic background, but raised in Jerusalem.
Rabbinic education: Being trained at the feet of Gamaliel signifies his deep immersion in Jewish law and rabbinic scholarship.
Pharisaic adherence: His strict training in the Law and ancestral traditions marks him as a committed Pharisee, representing a conservative and devout segment of Judaism at the time.
Cultural bridging: Born in a Hellenistic city but educated in Jerusalem suggests an individual conversant with both Jewish and Greco-Roman culture, an aspect of Paul's ministry that allowed him to reach diverse audiences.
Acts 22 3 Bonus section
Paul's careful presentation here serves a strategic purpose: to disarm his hostile audience by showing he is one of them, deeply rooted in their traditions. His thorough grounding in the Law and Pharisaic teachings means he wasn't a casual observer but a devoted insider, making his transformation under Christ a profound, not a superficial, change. This account in Acts 22 echoes details found in Acts 26:4-5, highlighting consistency in Paul's self-representation. His training by Gamaliel suggests a learned individual, skilled in Jewish law and argumentation, which he later masterfully employed in defense of the Gospel.
Acts 22 3 Commentary
Paul establishes his bona fides as a faithful Jew. His birth in Tarsus provided a Hellenistic background, but his upbringing in Jerusalem under the esteemed Rabbi Gamaliel signifies his rigorous Jewish education and adherence to the Law. Being trained "at the feet of Gamaliel" points to meticulous instruction in Pharisaic traditions. This establishes his deep roots and respect for Jewish heritage, making his later conversion and apostolic work appear all the more remarkable and, to his listeners, all the more bewildering. His emphasis on being a strict Pharisee underscores his previous zealous devotion to Judaism.