Acts 22 4

Acts 22:4 kjv

And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

Acts 22:4 nkjv

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,

Acts 22:4 niv

I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,

Acts 22:4 esv

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

Acts 22:4 nlt

And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.

Acts 22 verses

Acts 22 4 Meaning

Paul vividly describes his past life as a relentless persecutor of early Christians, often referred to as "the Way." His actions were extreme, involving the arrest, physical restraint, and imprisonment of both men and women, with the intent of crushing the burgeoning Christian movement even to the point of death for believers. This statement highlights the intensity of his former zeal for traditional Judaism and underscores the radical transformation brought about by his encounter with Christ.

Acts 22 4 Context

Paul, having been arrested in Jerusalem after a riot provoked by false accusations, stands before an angry Jewish crowd on the stairs of the barracks (Acts 21:27-40). The Roman commander has given him permission to speak to the people. Paul chooses to address them in Aramaic (Acts 22:2), instantly gaining their attention and demonstrating his shared heritage. His speech is an apologia, a defense and explanation of his life and conversion. In Acts 22:4, Paul begins by emphasizing his Jewish zeal and his extreme commitment to persecuting "the Way" (Christianity) before his Damascus Road experience. This is crucial for his audience, many of whom were likewise zealous for the Law and likely held similar views towards Christians. He intends to build a common ground of shared Jewish identity and religious fervor before narrating his radical transformation by Jesus.

Acts 22 4 Word analysis

• I (ἐγὼ - egō):

  • Meaning: An emphatic personal pronoun, "I myself."
  • Significance: Paul takes full, undeniable responsibility for his past actions, asserting direct involvement rather than passively observing or being a minor participant. It underlines his profound change from the very subject of his pre-conversion life.

• persecuted (ἐδίωξα - edioxa):

  • Meaning: From diōkō, meaning to pursue, chase, drive away, persecute. Often implies aggressive, hostile action to harm or make one suffer.
  • Significance: Denotes Paul's active and relentless pursuit of Christians, not merely passive disapproval. This was a sustained, hostile campaign aimed at suppressing "the Way." It speaks to his intense passion and zeal directed against early believers.

• this Way (τὴν Ὁδὸν ταύτην - tēn Hodon tautēn):

  • Meaning: "The Way" (hodos) was an early and distinct self-designation for the Christian movement (cf. Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22). It implied following a particular path, discipline, or lifestyle dictated by Christ.
  • Significance: Shows that early Christianity was recognized as a distinct movement from traditional Judaism, not just a sect. Paul specifically targeted this particular group, indicating an organized opposition to its unique tenets. His aim was to eradicate a perceived rival religious path.

• to the death (ἄχρι θανάτου - achri thanatou):

  • Meaning: "Up to death" or "unto death." Denotes the extreme limit or outcome of his persecution.
  • Significance: Paul's actions, if not directly leading to executions, certainly contributed to circumstances where Christians suffered capital punishment (like Stephen, Acts 7:58). His zeal was lethal, suggesting he pursued Christians with an intent to destroy the movement by any means, including facilitating their deaths or enduring ultimate suffering.

• binding (δεσμεύων - desmeuōn):

  • Meaning: From desmeuō, to tie up, bind with cords or chains, to fetter.
  • Significance: Implies physical restraint and public humiliation. This was a standard method for arrest and transport of criminals. It highlights the degradation and loss of freedom inflicted upon early believers, treating them as common criminals.

• and delivering (παραδιδούς - paradidous):

  • Meaning: From paradidōmi, to hand over, give up, betray, commit, or surrender.
  • Significance: Indicates that Paul personally oversaw the handing over of apprehended Christians to the authorities for formal judgment, imprisonment, or punishment. This was an active participation in the legal process against them, implying legal authorization for his actions (Acts 9:1-2).

• to prison (εἰς φυλακὰς - eis phylakas):

  • Meaning: To guard houses, jails, places of custody. Plural form signifies multiple acts or various prisons.
  • Significance: Confirms his goal was not just to intimidate but to incapacitate and punish Christians through incarceration. Prisons were places of confinement prior to trial or execution, symbolizing complete control and suppression.

• both men and women (ἄνδρας τε καὶ γυναῖκας - andras te kai gunaikas):

  • Meaning: Indicates indiscriminate persecution against all followers, regardless of gender.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the thoroughness and extreme nature of his persecution. Paul’s zeal was so absolute that it recognized no exceptions, hunting down all members of the movement without discrimination, a fact highly unusual for religious persecution in that period (targeting women specifically for religious dissent). It portrays the sheer scale of his oppressive activities.

Acts 22 4 Bonus section

• Paul's fervent opposition was rooted in his conviction that "the Way" was a heretical distortion of Judaism, challenging the sacred Law and ancestral traditions, especially its claim of a crucified Messiah. His actions were, in his own mind, a service to God (Jn 16:2).
• The detail of persecuting "women" specifically highlights the shocking thoroughness of Paul's actions. While men might typically be arrested for public dissent, the targeting of women underscores the zeal with which Saul pursued any who identified with Jesus, regardless of their role in society. It shows how profoundly dangerous he perceived Christianity to be.
• The phrase "the Way" (hodos) for early Christianity possibly carries an echo of Jewish theological concepts, like "the way of the LORD" (Isa 40:3; Mal 2:2; Acts 18:25-26). By identifying with "the Way," believers understood they were following a lifestyle and teaching consistent with God's ultimate plan, revealed through Jesus Christ.

Acts 22 4 Commentary

Acts 22:4 serves as a stark and self-incriminating admission by Paul regarding his pre-conversion identity. This verse is pivotal in Paul's defense before the Jerusalem crowd, establishing his impeccable credentials as a zealous Jew. His description of persecuting "this Way" to the death, by binding and delivering to prison both men and women, paints a picture of intense, systematic, and brutal opposition to early Christianity. He meticulously outlines the methods of his persecution: apprehension, physical restraint, official transfer to legal custody, and incarceration, all done without regard for gender, signifying the profound depth of his zeal and determination to eradicate the new movement. This statement serves to impress upon his listeners his profound commitment to their shared Jewish tradition, thereby enhancing the dramatic impact and credibility of his subsequent conversion testimony. It is also a poignant reflection on his transformation, underscoring the boundless grace he later received despite his former hostility.