Acts 22:8 kjv
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
Acts 22:8 nkjv
So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
Acts 22:8 niv
"?'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. " 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied.
Acts 22:8 esv
And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
Acts 22:8 nlt
"'Who are you, lord?' I asked. "And the voice replied, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.'
Acts 22 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 9:15 | "This man is a chosen instrument of Mine" | Identifies Paul as chosen for a specific purpose |
| John 15:16 | "You did not choose Me, but I chose you" | Jesus speaks of His disciples being chosen by Him |
| Ephesians 1:4 | "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" | God's eternal election of believers |
| Isaiah 49:1 | "The LORD called me from the womb" | God's calling and election before birth |
| Galatians 1:15 | "God… set me apart even from my mother’s womb" | Paul reiterates his divine calling from birth |
| Mark 1:11 | "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." | The Father's declaration at Jesus' baptism |
| Luke 3:22 | "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." | Similar divine affirmation of Jesus |
| Philippians 2:13 | "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." | God's work in believers empowering them |
| Romans 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good" | God's purpose working for the benefit of His own |
| 2 Timothy 2:1 | "Therefore, my son, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus." | Paul instructs Timothy, his spiritual son |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise" | God's unconventional choices |
| Acts 26:16 | "Rise and stand upon your feet, for this is why I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a minister and witness" | Jesus' earlier commission to Paul |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son" | The depth of God's love for humanity |
| Ephesians 3:8 | "To me, though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given" | Paul's humility about God's grace |
| 2 Peter 1:17 | "For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the majestic glory, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'" | Echoes the voice from heaven at Jesus' transfiguration |
| Matthew 17:5 | "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; hear him.'" | The voice at the Transfiguration confirming Jesus |
| 1 John 4:9 | "By this the love of God was made manifest in us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." | God's love expressed through sending Jesus |
| Colossians 3:12 | "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts..." | Believers as chosen and beloved |
| 1 Thessalonians 1:4 | "knowing, beloved brothers, your election by God" | Recognition of believers' election |
| Romans 11:5 | "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace." | The principle of God's sovereign choice |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 8 Meaning
The voice from heaven declares that Paul, the recipient of the revelation, is favored and beloved by God. This divine affirmation identifies him as God's chosen instrument.
Acts 22 8 Context
This verse is spoken by Jesus Christ to Saul (Paul) as Saul is on the road to Damascus. Saul had been actively persecuting Christians, believing he was serving God. However, a blinding light and a voice from heaven halted him. This direct encounter and divine affirmation are a pivotal moment, signifying Saul's conversion and reorientation. The Jewish crowd present with Saul also heard a sound but did not understand the voice that spoke to Paul.
Acts 22 8 Word Analysis
Ego (Ἐγώ): "I" – emphasizes the speaker's personal declaration.
Eimi (εἰμὶ): "am" – a verb of being, affirming identity.
Iesous (Ἰησοῦς): "Jesus" – the specific person identified as the speaker.
Nazōraios (Ναζωραῖος): "Nazarene" – a term used in scripture and by opponents to identify Jesus, often with contempt, but here stated plainly.
I : It is understood that this would refer to the personal name of Jesus.
Syn : This would indicate a common identifying term or reference associated with Jesus.
Sy : This implies an association or belonging, indicating that Paul is identified with Jesus in some way.
Se : "you" – direct object, addressing Paul.
Persec : "persecute" – a direct accusation against Paul's actions.
_ : Implies "me" or "My people," signifying that the persecution of believers is persecution of Christ Himself.
Acts 22 8 Bonus Section
The affirmation "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting" directly fulfills the principle laid out earlier in the Old Testament. David, when fleeing from Saul, cries out, "O my God, do not deliver me into the hands of my enemies or my pursuers, for they stretch out their hands against the helpless, and they pursue me as they pursue blood" (Psalm 43:11; similar thought in Psalm 142:6). This shows a pattern where God identifies with the afflicted. Similarly, Jesus’ own words, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40), encapsulate this concept that mistreating or helping the members of Christ's body is equivalent to mistreating or helping Christ Himself. This theological principle underpins why God’s intervention on the Damascus road was so direct and personal; Saul was striking at the very heart of God’s redemptive work by attacking the nascent Church.
Acts 22 8 Commentary
This divine utterance serves as Jesus' personal authentication of Paul's mission and identity. It's not just an external validation; it's a profound revelation of Jesus' union with His followers. By saying "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," Jesus makes it clear that attacking His church is attacking Him. This highlights the inseparable bond between Christ and believers. The term "Nazarene" here, though sometimes used derisively, is stated by Jesus Himself as His identification, reclaiming the term. This moment underscores that God's calling often comes through disruption and redefinition, transforming a persecutor into a fervent apostle. The voice also speaks to Paul’s ongoing role, affirming that he is not to stop his current course but to continue, albeit with a redirected purpose.