Acts 22:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,

NIV: As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,

NASB: And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,

CSB: As they were yelling and flinging aside their garments and throwing dust into the air,

NLT: They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.

KJV: And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

NKJV: Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,

Jews, many from modern-day Turkey, have come to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. A rumor has been circulating about a certain man named Paul, who teaches that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. The rumor claims Paul has been teaching Jews from Turkey, Macedonia, and Greece that they should no longer circumcise their sons (Acts 21:20–21). He's even been seen in Jerusalem with a Gentile (Acts 21:29).

When this Paul arrives at the temple, the worshipers assume he has brought the Gentile with him, thus desecrating their most sacred place (Acts 21:27–29). The worshipers become a crowd and the crowd becomes a mob who attack Paul and drag him from the temple. The Roman army tribune rescues Paul by arresting him and lets him give his defense (Acts 21:30–40). The crowd listens respectfully until Paul says this Jesus commissioned him to teach Gentiles. This is too far past the line, and the mob shouts for Paul's arrest and execution (Acts 22:1–22).

The Greek word for "throwing off" may be translated "waving" or "shaking." Jesus told the disciples to "shake off the dust" from their feet when leaving a town that refused to listen to their message about Him (Matthew 10:14). Paul shook the dust from his garments in Corinth after the Jews rejected His teaching (Acts 18:6). Though the specific Greek terms are different, there may be a common message implied. By metaphorically shaking the dust off their cloaks, the mob is rejecting every bit of what Paul is saying and represents.

The tribune still needs to learn why the Jews are so upset, however, so he tries to flog the information from Paul. Fortunately for Paul, he is a Roman citizen and therefore may not be tortured without a court conviction. In addition, he may not be chained. When the young commander discovers Paul's status and looks down at the chains he had ordered his men to wrap around Paul's wrists (Acts 21:33), he realizes how badly he's messed up (Acts 22:24–29).

Acts 22:23–30 describes how the Roman army tribune continues to seek understanding. A mob of Jews on the temple mount want Paul dead (Acts 21:27–40). The officer let Paul speak, hoping to uncover the cause, but Paul only managed to agitate the crowd more (Acts 22:1–22). Now, the tribune tries the traditional Roman way of uncovering the truth: flogging. Unfortunately, he missed the part where Paul is a Roman citizen. Even the chains on Paul's wrists are illegal. The next morning, the tribune will try one last tactic: the Sanhedrin. It doesn't end well (Acts 23:1–10).

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.