Net English TranslationActs 22 =
Paul’s Defense
22

1 “Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense1 that I now2 make to you.” 2 (When they heard3 that he was addressing4 them in Aramaic,5 they became even6 quieter.)7 Then8 Paul said, 3 “I am a Jew,9 born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up10 in this city, educated with strictness11 under12 Gamaliel13 according to the law of our ancestors,14 and was15 zealous16 for God just as all of you are today. 4 I17 persecuted this Way18 even to the point of death,19 tying up20 both men and women and putting21 them in prison, 5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders22 can testify about me. From them23 I also received24 letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way25 to make arrests there and bring26 the prisoners27 to Jerusalem28 to be punished. 6 As29 I was en route and near Damascus,30 about noon a very bright31 light from heaven32 suddenly flashed33 around me. 7 Then I34 fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand35 the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 So I asked,36 ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up37 and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything38 that you have been designated39 to do.’ 11 Since I could not see because of40 the brilliance41 of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of42 those who were with me. 12 A man named Ananias,43 a devout man according to the law,44 well spoken of by all the Jews who live there,45 13 came46 to me and stood beside me47 and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’48 And at that very moment49 I looked up and saw him.50 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors51 has already chosen52 you to know his will, to see53 the Righteous One,54 and to hear a command55 from his mouth, 15 because you will be his witness56 to all people57 of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for?58 Get up,59 be baptized, and have your sins washed away,60 calling on his name.’61 17 When62 I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance63 18 and saw the Lord64 saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 I replied,65 ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues66 who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of your witness67 Stephen was shed,68 I myself was standing nearby, approving,69 and guarding the cloaks70 of those who were killing him.’71 21 Then72 he said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

The Roman Commander Questions Paul

22 The crowd73 was listening to him until he said this.74 Then75 they raised their voices and shouted,76 “Away with this man77 from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!”78 23 While they were screaming79 and throwing off their cloaks80 and tossing dust81 in the air, 24 the commanding officer82 ordered Paul83 to be brought back into the barracks.84 He told them85 to interrogate Paul86 by beating him with a lash87 so that he could find out the reason the crowd88 was shouting at Paul89 in this way. 25 When they had stretched him out for the lash,90 Paul said to the centurion91 standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen92 without a proper trial?”93 26 When the centurion94 heard this,95 he went to the commanding officer96 and reported it,97 saying, “What are you about to do?98 For this man is a Roman citizen.”99 27 So the commanding officer100 came and asked101 Paul,102 “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”103 He replied,104 “Yes.” 28 The commanding officer105 answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”106 “But I was even107 born a citizen,”108 Paul replied.109 29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away110 from him, and the commanding officer111 was frightened when he realized that Paul112 was113 a Roman citizen114 and that he had had him tied up.115

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

30 The next day, because the commanding officer116 wanted to know the true reason117 Paul118 was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council119 to assemble. He then brought120 Paul down and had him stand before them.

122:1sn Listen to my defense. This is the first of several speeches Paul would make in his own defense: Acts 24:10ff.; 25:8, 16; and 26:1ff. For the use of such a speech (“apologia”) in Greek, see Josephus, Ag. Ap. 2.15 [2.147]; Wis 6:10. 222:1tn The adverb νυνί (nuni, “now”) is connected with the phrase τῆς πρὸς ὑμᾶς νυνὶ ἀπολογίας (th" pro" Juma" nuni apologia") rather than the verb ἀκούσατε (akousate), and the entire construction (prepositional phrase plus adverb) is in first attributive position and thus translated into English by a relative clause. 322:2tn ἀκούσαντες (akousante") has been taken temporally. 422:2tn Or “spoke out to.” L&N 33.27 has “to address an audience, with possible emphasis upon loudness – ‘to address, to speak out to.’ πολλῆς δέ σιγῆς γενομένης προσεφώνησεν τῇ ᾿Εβραίδι διαλέκτῳ ‘when they were quiet, he addressed them in Hebrew’ Ac 21:40.” 522:2tn Grk “in the Hebrew language.” See the note on “Aramaic” in 21:40. 622:2tn BDAG 613-14 s.v. μᾶλλον 1 “Abs. μ. can mean to a greater degree (than before), even more, now more than ever Lk 5:15; Jn 5:18; 19:8; Ac 5:14; 22:2; 2 Cor 7:7.” 722:2tn BDAG 440 s.v. ἡσυχία 2 has “παρέχειν ἡσυχίαν quiet down, give a hearing…Ac 22:2.”sn This is best taken as a parenthetical note by the author. 822:2tn Grk “and.” Since this represents a continuation of the speech begun in v. 1, καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the logical sequence. 922:3tn Grk “a Jewish man.” 1022:3tn BDAG 74 s.v. ἀνατρέφω b has “of mental and spiritual nurture bring up, rear, train…ἀνατεθραμμένος ἐν τ. πόλει ταύτῃ 22:3.” 1122:3tn Or “with precision.” Although often translated “strictly” this can be misunderstood for “solely” in English. BDAG 39 s.v. ἀκρίβεια gives the meaning as “exactness, precision.” To avoid the potential misunderstanding the translation “with strictness” is used, although it is slightly more awkward than “strictly.” 1222:3tn Grk “strictly at the feet of” (an idiom). 1322:3tn Or “brought up in this city under Gamaliel, educated with strictness…” The phrase παρὰ τοὺς πόδας Γαμαλιὴλ (para tou" poda" Gamalihl) could be understood with what precedes or with what follows. The punctuation of NA27 and UBS4, which place a comma after ταύτῃ (tauth), has been followed in the translation.sn Gamaliel was a famous Jewish scholar and teacher mentioned here and in Acts 5:34. He had a grandson of the same name and is referred to as “Gamaliel the Elder” to avoid confusion. He is quoted a number of times in the Mishnah, was given the highest possible title for Jewish teachers, Rabba (cf. John 20:16), and was highly regarded in later rabbinic tradition. 1422:3tn Or “our forefathers.” 1522:3tn Grk “ancestors, being.” The participle ὑπάρχων (Juparcwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 1622:3tn BDAG 427 s.v. ζηλωτής 1.a.α has “of pers. …ζ. τοῦ θεοῦ one who is loyal to God Ac 22:3.” 1722:4tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) was translated by the first person pronoun (“I”) and a new sentence begun in the translation. 1822:4sn That is, persecuted the Christian movement (Christianity). The Way is also used as a description of the Christian faith in Acts 9:2; 18:25-26; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22). 1922:4tn BDAG 442-43 s.v. θάνατος 1.a has “διώκειν ἄχρι θανάτου persecute even to death Ac 22:4.” 2022:4tn Grk “binding.” See Acts 8:3. 2122:4tn BDAG 762 s.v. παραδίδωμι 1.b has “W. local εἰς…εἰς φυλακήν put in prison Ac 8:3; cp. 22:4.” 2222:5tn That is, the whole Sanhedrin. BDAG 861 s.v. πρεσβυτέριον has “an administrative group concerned with the interests of a specific community, council of elders – a. of the highest Judean council in Jerusalem, in our lit. usu. called συνέδριον…ὁ ἀρχιερεύς καὶ πᾶν τὸ πρ. Ac 22:5.” 2322:5tn Grk “from whom.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was translated by the third person plural pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun in the translation. 2422:5tn Grk “receiving.” The participle δεξάμενος (dexameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 2522:5tn Grk “letters to the brothers, [and] I was going to Damascus.” Such a translation, however, might be confusing since the term “brother” is frequently used of a fellow Christian. In this context, Paul is speaking about fellow Jews. 2622:5tn Grk “even there and bring…” or “there and even bring…” The ascensive καί (kai) shows that Paul was fervent in his zeal against Christians, but it is difficult to translate for it really belongs with the entire idea of arresting and bringing back the prisoners. 2722:5tn BDAG 221 s.v. δέω 1.b has “δεδεμένον ἄγειν τινά bring someone as prisoner…Ac 9:2, 21; 22:5.” 2822:5tn Grk “I was going…to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners that they might be punished.”map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 2922:6tn Grk “It happened that as.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. 3022:6tn Grk “going and nearing Damascus.”sn En route and near Damascus. This is the first retelling of Paul’s Damascus Road experience in Acts (cf. Acts 9:1-9; the second retelling is in Acts 26:9-20). 3122:6tn BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 3.b has “φῶς a very bright light Ac 22:6.” 3222:6tn Or “from the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). 3322:6tn Or “shone.” 3422:7tn This is a continuation of the same sentence in Greek using the connective τέ (te), but due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence a new sentence was begun in the translation here. To indicate the logical sequence for the modern English reader, τέ was translated as “then.” 3522:9tn Grk “did not hear” (but see Acts 9:7). BDAG 38 s.v. ἀκούω 7 has “W. acc. τὸν νόμον understand the law Gal 4:21; perh. Ac 22:9; 26:14…belong here.” If the word has this sense here, then a metonymy is present, since the lack of effect is put for a failure to appreciate what was heard. 3622:10tn Grk “So I said.” 3722:10tn Grk “Getting up.” The participle ἀναστάς (anasta") is an adverbial participle of attendant circumstance and has been translated as a finite verb. 3822:10tn Grk “about all things.” 3922:10tn Or “assigned,” “ordered.” BDAG 991 s.v. τάσσω 2.a has “act. and pass., foll. by acc. w. inf.…περὶ πάντων ὧν τέτακταί σοι ποιῆσαι concerning everything that you have been ordered to do 22:10.” There is an allusion to a divine call and commission here. 4022:11tn BDAG 106 s.v. ἀπό 5.a has “οὐκ ἐνέβλεπον ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τοῦ φωτός I could not see because of the brilliance of the light Ac 22:11.” 4122:11tn Or “brightness”; Grk “glory.” 4222:11tn Grk “by” (ὑπό, Jupo), but this would be too awkward in English following the previous “by.” 4322:12tn Grk “a certain Ananias.” 4422:12sn The law refers to the law of Moses. 4522:12tn BDAG 534 s.v. κατοικέω 1.a translates this present participle “ὑπὸ πάντων τῶν (sc. ἐκεῖ) κατοικούντων ᾿Ιουδαίων by all the Jews who live there Ac 22:12.” 4622:13tn Grk “coming.” The participle ἐλθών (elqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 4722:13tn Grk “coming to me and standing beside [me] said to me.” The participle ἐπιστάς (epistas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 4822:13tn Grk “Brother Saul, look up” (here an idiom for regaining one’s sight). BDAG 59 s.v. ἀναβλέπω places this usage under 1, “look up Ac 22:13a. W. εἰς αὐτόν to show the direction of the glance…22:13b; but perh. this vs. belongs under 2a.” BDAG 59 s.v. 2.a.α states, “of blind persons, who were formerly able to see, regain sight.” The problem for the translator is deciding between the literal and the idiomatic usage and at the same time attempting to retain the wordplay in Acts 22:13: “[Ananias] said to me, ‘Look up!’ and at that very moment I looked up to him.” The assumption of the command is that the effort to look up will be worth it (through the regaining of sight). 4922:13tn Grk “hour,” but ὥρα (Jwra) is often used for indefinite short periods of time (so BDAG 1102-3 s.v. ὥρα 2.c: “αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ at that very time, at once, instantly…Lk 2:38, 24:33; Ac 16:18; 22:13”). A comparison with the account in Acts 9:18 indicates that this is clearly the meaning here. 5022:13tn Grk “I looked up to him.” 5122:14tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”sn The expression God of our ancestors is a description of the God of Israel. The God of promise was at work again. 5222:14tn L&N 30.89 has “‘to choose in advance, to select beforehand, to designate in advance’…‘the God of our ancestors has already chosen you to know his will’ Ac 22:14.” 5322:14tn Grk “and to see.” This καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more. 5422:14sn The Righteous One is a reference to Jesus Christ (Acts 3:14). 5522:14tn Or “a solemn declaration”; Grk “a voice.” BDAG 1071-72 s.v. φωνή 2.c states, “that which the voice gives expression to: call, cry, outcry, loud or solemn declaration (… = order, command)…Cp. 22:14; 24:21.” 5622:15tn Or “a witness to him.”sn You will be his witness. See Acts 1:8; 13:31. The following reference to all people stresses all nationalities (Eph 3:7-9; Acts 9:15). Note also v. 21. 5722:15tn Grk “all men,” but this is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"). 5822:16tn L&N 67.121 has “to extend time unduly, with the implication of lack of decision – ‘to wait, to delay.’ νῦν τί μέλλεις… ἀναστὰς βάπτισαι ‘what are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized’ Ac 22:16.” 5922:16tn Grk “getting up.” The participle ἀναστάς (anasta") is an adverbial participle of attendant circumstance and has been translated as a finite verb. 6022:16sn The expression have your sins washed away means “have your sins purified” (the washing is figurative). 6122:16sn The expression calling on his name describes the confession of the believer: Acts 2:17-38, esp. v. 38; Rom 10:12-13; 1 Cor 1:2. 6222:17tn Grk “It happened to me that.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. 6322:17tn BDAG 309 s.v. ἔκστασις 2 has “γενέσθαι ἐν ἐκστάσει fall into a trance Ac 22:17.” 6422:18tn Or “Jesus”; Grk “him.” The referent (the Lord, cf. v. 19) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 6522:19tn Grk “And I said.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai, in καγώ [kagw]) has not been translated here. 6622:19tn For the distributive sense of the expression κατὰ τὰς συναγωγάς (kata ta" sunagwga") BDAG 512 s.v. κατά B.1.d has “of places viewed serially, distributive use w. acc.…κατ᾿ οἶκαν from house to house…Ac 2:46b; 5:42…Likew. the pl.…κ. τὰς συναγωγάς 22:19.” See also L&N 37.114.sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9. 6722:20sn Now Paul referred to Stephen as your witness, and he himself had also become a witness. The reversal was now complete; the opponent had now become a proponent. 6822:20sn When the blood of your witness Stephen was shed means “when your witness Stephen was murdered.” 6922:20tn Grk “and approving.” This καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more. 7022:20tn Or “outer garments.”sn The cloaks. The outer garment, or cloak, was taken off and laid aside to leave the arms free (in this case for throwing stones). 7122:20tn Or “who were putting him to death.” For the translation of ἀναιρούντων (anairountwn) as “putting to death” see BDAG 64 s.v. ἀναιρέω 2. 7222:21tn Grk “And.” Since this represents a response to Paul’s reply in v. 19, καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the logical sequence. 7322:22tn Grk “They were listening”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 7422:22tn Grk “until this word.”sn Until he said this. Note it is the mention of Paul’s mission to the Gentiles with its implication of ethnic openness that is so disturbing to the audience. 7522:22tn Grk “And.” To indicate the logical sequence, καί (kai) has been translated as “then” here. 7622:22tn Grk “and said.” 7722:22tn Grk “this one.” 7822:22tn BDAG 491 s.v. καθήκω has “to be appropriate, come/reach to, be proper/fitting…Usu. impers. καθήκει it comes (to someone)…foll. by acc. and inf….οὐ καθῆκεν αὐτὸν ζῆν he should not be allowed to live Ac 22:22.” 7922:23tn The participle κραυγαζόντων (kraugazontwn) has been translated temporally. 8022:23tn Or “outer garments.”sn Their cloaks. The outer garment, or cloak, was taken off and laid aside to leave the arms free (perhaps in this case as preparation for throwing stones). 8122:23sn The crowd’s act of tossing dust in the air indicated they had heard something disturbing and offensive. This may have been a symbolic gesture, indicating Paul’s words deserved to be thrown to the wind, or it may have simply resulted from the fact they had nothing else to throw at him at the moment. 8222:24tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (ciliarco") literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men. 8322:24tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 8422:24tn Or “the headquarters.” BDAG 775 s.v. παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.” 8522:24tn Grk “into the barracks, saying.” This is a continuation of the same sentence in Greek using the participle εἴπας (eipas), but due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence a new sentence was begun in the translation here. The direct object “them” has been supplied; it is understood in Greek. 8622:24tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 8722:24sn To interrogate Paul by beating him with a lash. Under the Roman legal system it was customary to use physical torture to extract confessions or other information from prisoners who were not Roman citizens and who were charged with various crimes, especially treason or sedition. The lashing would be done with a whip of leather thongs with pieces of metal or bone attached to the ends. 8822:24tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 8922:24tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 9022:25tn Grk “for the thongs” (of which the lash was made). Although often translated as a dative of means (“with thongs”), referring to thongs used to tie the victim to the whipping post, BDAG 474-75 s.v. ἱμάς states that it “is better taken as a dat. of purpose for the thongs, in which case οἱ ἱμάντες = whips (Posidonius: 87 fgm. 5 Jac.; POxy. 1186, 2 τὴν διὰ τῶν ἱμάντων αἰκείαν. – Antiphanes 74, 8, Demosth. 19, 197 and Artem. 1, 70 use the sing. in this way).” 9122:25sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1. 9222:25tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity. 9322:25tn Or “a Roman citizen and uncondemned.” BDAG 35 s.v. ἀκατάκριτος has “uncondemned, without due process” for this usage.sn The fact that Paul was a Roman citizen protected him from being tortured to extract information; such protections were guaranteed by the Porcian and Julian law codes. In addition, the fact Paul had not been tried exempted him from punishment. 9422:26sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1. 9522:26tn The word “this” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader. 9622:26tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24. 9722:26tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader. 9822:26tn Or perhaps, “What do you intend to do?” Although BDAG 627 s.v. μέλλω 1.c.α lists this phrase under the category “be about to, be on the point of,” it is possible it belongs under 1.c.γ, “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind…τί μέλλεις ποιεῖν; what do you intend to do?” 9922:26tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity. 10022:27tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24. 10122:27tn Grk “and said to.” 10222:27tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 10322:27tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity. 10422:27tn Grk “He said.” 10522:28tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24. 10622:28sn Sometimes Roman citizenship was purchased through a bribe (Dio Cassius, Roman History 60.17.4-9). That may well have been the case here. 10722:28tn BDAG 495-96 s.v. καί 2.b has “intensive: even…Ac 5:39; 22:28.” 10822:28tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.sn Paul’s reference to being born a citizen suggests he inherited his Roman citizenship from his family. 10922:28tn Grk “Paul said.” This phrase has been placed at the end of the sentence in the translation for stylistic reasons. 11022:29tn BDAG 158 s.v. ἀφίστημι 2.b has “keep away…ἀπό τινος… Lk 4:13; Ac 5:38; 2 Cor 12:8…cp. Ac 22:29.” In context, the point would seem to be not that the interrogators departed or withdrew, but that they held back from continuing the flogging. 11122:29tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24. 11222:29tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 11322:29tn This is a present tense (ἐστιν, estin) retained in indirect discourse. It must be translated as a past tense in contemporary English. 11422:29tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity. 11522:29sn Had him tied up. Perhaps a reference to the chains in Acts 21:33, or the preparations for the lashing in Acts 22:25. A trial would now be needed to resolve the matter. The Roman authorities’ hesitation to render a judgment in the case occurs repeatedly: Acts 22:30; 23:28-29; 24:22; 25:20, 26-27. The legal process begun here would take the rest of Acts and will be unresolved at the end. The process itself took four years of Paul’s life. 11622:30tn Grk “he”; the referent (the commanding officer) has been supplied here in the translation for clarity. 11722:30tn Grk “the certainty, why.” BDAG 147 s.v. ἀσφαλής 2 has “τὸ ἀ. the certainty = the truth (in ref. to ferreting out the facts…ἵνα τὸ ἀ. ἐπιγνῶ) γνῶναι 21:34; 22:30.” 11822:30tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 11922:30tn Grk “the whole Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews). 12022:30tn Grk “and bringing.” The participle καταγαγών (katagagwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun in the translation, and καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to clarify the logical sequence.
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