Acts · chapter 22 of 28
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Acts 22 records Paul's defense before the Jerusalem crowd, in Hebrew: he says he was raised at the feet of Gamaliel, that he persecuted followers of Jesus, and how the Lord met him on the road to Damascus and sent him to the Gentiles. The crowd interrupts and calls for his death; the tribune orders him flogged, but Paul declares he is a Roman citizen and avoids the punishment.
From the steps of the Antonia fortress, Paul has the opportunity to speak to the crowd that had just tried to kill him. His defense is a personal testimony: he tells his story as a bridge to the gospel. This chapter shows how Paul uses his identity, his story and even his Roman citizenship in the service of the mission.
Paul, standing on the steps, addresses the crowd in Hebrew, and they grow even quieter. He says he is a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, raised in Jerusalem and educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the law of the fathers, zealous for God as they are. He persecuted this Way to the death, binding men and women, as the high priest and the council can testify, who gave him letters for Damascus.
He tells how, near Damascus, a great light from heaven shone around him, he fell to the ground and heard a voice asking why he was persecuting it. It was Jesus of Nazareth. He was told to go to Damascus, where he would be told what to do. Blinded by the brightness, he came led by the hand. Ananias, a devout man according to the law and well spoken of, told him that the God of the fathers had appointed him to see the Righteous One and be a witness for him to everyone, and told him to rise, be baptized and wash away his sins, calling on his name.
Back in Jerusalem, while praying in the temple, in a trance he saw Jesus telling him to get out quickly because they would not accept his testimony. Paul objected that they knew how he had imprisoned believers and approved of Stephen's death, but the Lord said: Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.
The crowd listened until that word. Then they cry out that he should be removed from the earth, throw off their cloaks and throw dust in the air. The tribune orders him brought into the barracks and examined by flogging. When they stretch him out, Paul asks the centurion whether it is lawful to flog a Roman citizen uncondemned. The tribune asks if he is a Roman; Paul says yes, and that he was born one, while the tribune bought his citizenship for a large sum. The next day, wishing to know the cause, the tribune releases him and commands the council to meet.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Paul presents himself as a Jew, raised in Jerusalem and educated at the feet of Gamaliel, zealous for God as they are. He begins with what he has in common with his audience, to win their attention before telling of the change.
Ananias tells him the God of the fathers appointed him to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to be a witness to everyone of what he has seen and heard. Paul's calling is to bear witness, not only to believe.
Ananias tells him to rise, be baptized and wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Baptism expresses the faith and the cleansing God gives to those who call on the name of Jesus.
The Lord says to Paul: Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles. This word provokes the crowd's fury, but it sums up the meaning of Paul's whole mission.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: In Hebrew, the language of the people. — Acts 22:2
Answer: Gamaliel's. — Acts 22:3
Answer: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?, and it identified itself as Jesus of Nazareth. — Acts 22:7-8
Answer: To get out of Jerusalem quickly, and that he would send him far away to the Gentiles. — Acts 22:17-21
Answer: When Paul said the Lord was sending him to the Gentiles. — Acts 22:21-22
Answer: He asked whether it was lawful to flog a Roman citizen uncondemned, and declared he was one by birth. — Acts 22:25-28
Paul's testimony is simple: who he was, how he met Jesus and what changed. In your group you can write your own testimony in three parts and share it with someone this week. A personal story can open doors that an argument cannot.
It also teaches that grace offends those who want to keep it for themselves. The crowd listens until it hears about the Gentiles. Ask whether there are people we do not really want God to reach.
Acts 22 ends with Paul released and the council summoned. Acts 23 tells of his appearance before the Sanhedrin, the division between Pharisees and Sadducees and the Lord's promise that he will testify in Rome too.
Acts tells Paul's conversion three times (chapters 9, 22 and 26), each with different nuances depending on the audience. Here he stresses his Jewish origin and the approval of Ananias, a devout Jew, to win the crowd's attention.
Acts 9 says they heard the voice but saw no one; Acts 22 says they saw the light but did not understand the voice. Many understand that they heard a sound without distinguishing the words. The accounts are compatible and stress that the message was for Paul.
The text says he was one by birth, which implies his family held that status in Tarsus. That citizenship gave him rights, such as not being flogged without trial, which Paul later uses to appeal to Caesar.