Acts 22:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

NIV: And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

NASB: And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’

CSB: And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’

NLT: And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’

KJV: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

NKJV: And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

Paul continues an argument which covers three different timeframes. He is in Jerusalem where the temple courtyard meets the Roman outpost, trying to explain to a homicidal crowd why he had walked through the city with a Gentile (Acts 21:27–40).

His defense includes the story of how he came to follow Jesus on the road to Damascus decades before (Acts 9:1–19). After several years learning more about Jesus and evangelizing in and around Damascus, Paul returned to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26–30; Galatians 1:15–24). During his time there, he prayed in the temple and Jesus told him to leave the city. Jesus said the Jews would not listen to him; they'd rather kill him (Acts 22:17–18).

Paul argued that he had hunted and beaten Jesus-followers (Acts 22:19). In fact, he had been present at the murder of Stephen, the first martyr (Acts 7:54–60). Surely his history leant credibility to his current identity as Jesus' follower.

Paul's change of heart meant nothing to the Jews except that he was apostate. Jesus reaffirmed His command for Paul to leave Jerusalem and take the message of reconciliation with God to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21).

The mob doesn't let Paul finish his story. The instant he mentions preaching to Gentiles, they renew their rage and demand the Roman tribune arrest him. The young officer has no idea what is going on but is inclined to acquiesce to their request (Acts 22:22–24).

Acts 22:17–22 comes after a mob has accused Paul of bringing a Gentile into the temple. He did not, but he has traveled to Jerusalem with them. He's trying to explain how years ago, Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus and not only saved him but selected him. Paul's new role was to bring that same message of forgiveness to the Gentiles, including the man seen with Paul in the city. The crowd rejects Paul's explanation, the Romans arrest him, and he stays under house arrest for five years. Paul's conversion experience is described in Acts 9:1–19 and he repeats his story in Acts 26:12–18.

In Acts 22, a young Roman military officer realizes he cannot control Jews who do not wish to be controlled. He has just rescued Paul from a crowd that largely doesn't know why they want to kill Paul. In hopes of gathering information, the tribune allows Paul to speak to the crowd. The crowd listens only briefly, then explodes again. The tribune tries flogging but is foiled by Paul's Roman citizenship. Finally, the tribune schedules a meeting with the Sanhedrin. It does not go well (Acts 23:1–10).

Paul came to Jerusalem to tell the church of his ministry's success with Gentiles. The leaders are more worried about a rumor that Paul no longer respects the Jewish law. Paul agrees to perform a very Jewish ritual, but in the process is falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. A mob assaults him, and the Roman tribune arrests him (Acts 21:17–36). The tribune tries to uncover the truth by letting Paul speak to the crowd, then almost flogging him (Acts 21:37—22). Next, he will bring Paul to the Sanhedrin, to no avail (Acts 23:1–10).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.