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22  My brothers anēr and kai fathers patēr, listen akouō now nyni to me egō · ho as I make my defense apologia to pros you hymeis.” And de when they heard akouō that hoti he was addressing prosphōneō them autos in the ho Hebrew Hebrais language dialektos, they became parechō even more mallon quiet hēsychia. And kai he said phēmi: I egō am eimi a Jewish Ioudaios man anēr, born gennaō in en Tarsus Tarsos of ho Cilicia Kilikia, but de brought anatrephō up in en · ho this houtos city polis at para the ho feet pous of Gamaliel Gamaliēl, educated paideuō according kata to the strictness akribeia of the ho ancestral patrōos law nomos, being hyparchō zealous zēlōtēs for ho God theos just kathōs as you hymeis all pas are eimi today sēmeron. I persecuted diōkō the followers of this houtos · ho Way hodos even to achri their death thanatos, putting desmeuō in chains both te men anēr and kai women gynē and kai delivering paradidōmi them to eis prison phylakē, as hōs also kai the ho high archiereus priest and kai the whole pas · ho council of elders presbyterion can bear martyreō me egō witness martyreō. From para them hos · kai I received dechomai letters epistolē to pros the ho brothers adelphos, and I went poreuō toward eis Damascus Damaskos to take agō those ho also kai who were eimi there ekeise and bring deō them in bonds to eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm to hina be punished timōreō. · de As I egō journeyed poreuō and kai came engizō near to ho Damascus Damaskos, about peri noon mesēmbria suddenly exaiphnēs out ek of · ho heaven ouranos flashed periastraptō a brilliant hikanos light phōs all around peri me egō. I fell piptō to eis the ho ground edaphos and kai heard akouō a voice phōnē saying legō to me egō, ‘ Saul Saoul, Saul Saoul, why tis are you persecuting diōkō me egō?’ And de I egō answered apokrinomai, ‘ Who tis are eimi you , Lord kyrios?’ And te he said legō to pros me egō, ‘ I egō am eimi Jesus Iēsous of ho Nazareth Nazōraios, whom hos you sy are persecuting diōkō.’ Now de those ho who were eimi with syn me egō saw theaomai the ho light phōs but de did akouō not ou understand akouō the ho voice phōnē of the ho one who was speaking laleō to me egō. 10 And de I said legō, ‘ What tis shall I do poieō, Lord kyrios?’ And de the ho Lord kyrios said legō to pros me egō, ‘ Get anistēmi up and go poreuō on into eis Damascus Damaskos, and there kakei it will be told laleō you sy about peri all pas that hos has been assigned tassō to you sy to do poieō.’ 11 Since hōs · de I could not ou see emblepō due apo to the ho brilliance doxa of ho that ekeinos light phōs, being led cheiragōgeō by the hand by hypo those ho who were with syneimi me egō, I went erchomai to eis Damascus Damaskos.

12  Then de a certain tis Ananias Hananias, a devout eulabēs man anēr according kata to the ho law nomos, well martyreō spoken of by hypo all pas the ho Jews Ioudaios who lived katoikeō there, 13 came erchomai to pros me egō, and kai standing ephistēmi there said legō to me egō, ‘ Brother adelphos Saul Saoul, recover anablepō your sight .’ And kagō at that ho very autos hour hōra I recovered my sight and saw anablepō eis him autos. 14 And de he ho said legō, ‘ The ho God theos of ho our hēmeis fathers patēr has chosen procheirizō you sy to know ginōskō · ho his autos will thelēma, · kai to see the ho Righteous dikaios One and kai to hear akouō a voice phōnē from ek · ho his autos mouth stoma. 15 For hoti you will be eimi a witness martys for him autos to pros everyone pas anthrōpos of what hos you have seen horaō and kai heard akouō. 16 And kai now nyn why tis are you waiting mellō? Rise anistēmi and be baptized baptizō and kai wash apolouō away · ho your sy sins hamartia, calling epikaleō on · ho his autos name onoma.’ 17 · de When I egō had returned hypostrephō to eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm and kai I egō was praying proseuchomai in en the ho temple hieron, I egō fell ginomai into en a trance ekstasis 18 and kai I saw him autos saying legō to me egō, ‘ Make speudō haste and kai get exerchomai out of ek Jerusalem Ierousalēm quickly en tachos, because dioti they will not ou accept paradechomai your sy testimony martyria about peri me egō.’ 19 And kagō I said legō, ‘ Lord kyrios, they themselves autos know epistamai that hoti I egō used eimi to go from one synagogue to another kata imprisoning phylakizō and kai flogging derō · ho those ho who believed pisteuō in epi you sy. 20 And kai when hote the ho blood haima of Stephen Stephanos, · ho your sy witness martys, was being shed ekchunnomai, · kai I myself autos was eimi standing ephistēmi by · kai approving syneudokeō and kai guarding phylassō the ho cloaks himation of those ho who were killing anaireō him autos.’ 21 And kai he said legō to pros me egō, ‘ Go poreuō, for hoti I egō will send exapostellō you sy far away makran to eis the Gentiles ethnos.’”

22 They listened akouō to · de him autos until achri this houtos · ho word logos, but kai then they raised epairō · ho their autos voices phōnē saying legō, “ Away airō with such a fellow toioutos from apo the ho earth , · ho for gar it is not ou right kathēkō for him autos to live zaō!” 23 While they autos were crying kraugazō out and kai throwing rhipteō off their ho cloaks himation and kai flinging ballō dust koniortos in eis the ho air aēr, 24 the ho commanding officer chiliarchos ordered keleuō Paul autos to be brought eisagō back into eis the ho barracks parembolē, saying legō that he autos should be examined anetazō with whips mastix so hina that he might know epiginōskō the hos reason aitia why dia they were shouting epiphōneō at him autos that way houtōs. 25 But de when hōs they had stretched proteinō him autos out for the ho lash himas, Paul Paulos said legō to pros the ho centurion hekatontarchēs standing histēmi by , · ho “Is it lawful for you hymeis to flog mastizō a man anthrōpos who is a Roman Rhōmaios citizen and kai uncondemned akatakritos?” 26 When the ho centurion hekatontarchēs heard akouō · de this, he went proserchomai and reported apangellō to the ho commanding chiliarchos officer , saying legō, “ What tis are you about mellō to do poieō? · ho For gar this houtos man anthrōpos is eimi a Roman Rhōmaios citizen .” 27 The ho commanding officer chiliarchos came proserchomai to · de him autos and said legō, “ Tell legō me egō, are eimi you sy a Roman Rhōmaios citizen ?” He ho · de replied phēmi, “ Yes nai.” 28 The ho commanding officer chiliarchos answered apokrinomai, · de I egō obtained ktaomai this houtos citizenship politeia with a large polys sum kephalaion of money .” · ho · ho · de Paul Paulos answered phēmi, “ But de I egō was even kai born gennaō one.” 29 Immediately eutheōs those ho who were about mellō to examine anetazō him autos drew back aphistēmi from apo him autos; and kai the ho commanding chiliarchos officer · de was afraid phobeomai, realizing epiginōskō that hoti Paul was eimi a Roman Rhōmaios citizen and kai that hoti he had eimi bound deō him autos.

30 But de on the ho next epaurion day , wanting boulomai to know ginōskō · ho for sure asphalēs · ho what tis was the accusation katēgoreō being made against him by hypo the ho Jews Ioudaios, he released lyō him autos and kai ordered keleuō the ho chief archiereus priests and kai all pas the ho council synedrion to meet synerchomai, and kai he brought katagō · ho Paul Paulos down and set histēmi him before eis them autos.

Paul’s Defense

22 “Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense[a] that I now[b] make to you.” (When they heard[c] that he was addressing[d] them in Aramaic,[e] they became even[f] quieter.)[g] Then[h] Paul said, “I am a Jew,[i] born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up[j] in this city, educated with strictness[k] under[l] Gamaliel[m] according to the law of our ancestors,[n] and was[o] zealous[p] for God just as all of you are today. I[q] persecuted this Way[r] even to the point of death,[s] tying up[t] both men and women and putting[u] them in prison, as both the high priest and the whole council of elders[v] can testify about me. From them[w] I also received[x] letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way[y] to make arrests there and bring[z] the prisoners[aa] to Jerusalem[ab] to be punished. As[ac] I was en route and near Damascus,[ad] about noon a very bright[ae] light from heaven[af] suddenly flashed[ag] around me. Then I[ah] fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand[ai] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 So I asked,[aj] ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up[ak] and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything[al] that you have been designated[am] to do.’ 11 Since I could not see because of[an] the brilliance[ao] of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of[ap] those who were with me. 12 A man named Ananias,[aq] a devout man according to the law,[ar] well spoken of by all the Jews who live there,[as] 13 came[at] to me and stood beside me[au] and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’[av] And at that very moment[aw] I looked up and saw him.[ax] 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors[ay] has already chosen[az] you to know his will, to see[ba] the Righteous One,[bb] and to hear a command[bc] from his mouth, 15 because you will be his witness[bd] to all people[be] of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for?[bf] Get up,[bg] be baptized, and have your sins washed away,[bh] calling on his name.’[bi] 17 When[bj] I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance[bk] 18 and saw the Lord[bl] saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 I replied,[bm] ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues[bn] who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of your witness[bo] Stephen was shed,[bp] I myself was standing nearby, approving,[bq] and guarding the cloaks[br] of those who were killing him.’[bs] 21 Then[bt] he said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

The Roman Commander Questions Paul

22 The crowd[bu] was listening to him until he said this.[bv] Then[bw] they raised their voices and shouted,[bx] “Away with this man[by] from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!”[bz] 23 While they were screaming[ca] and throwing off their cloaks[cb] and tossing dust[cc] in the air, 24 the commanding officer[cd] ordered Paul[ce] to be brought back into the barracks.[cf] He told them[cg] to interrogate Paul[ch] by beating him with a lash[ci] so that he could find out the reason the crowd[cj] was shouting at Paul[ck] in this way. 25 When they had stretched him out for the lash,[cl] Paul said to the centurion[cm] standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen[cn] without a proper trial?”[co] 26 When the centurion[cp] heard this,[cq] he went to the commanding officer[cr] and reported it,[cs] saying, “What are you about to do?[ct] For this man is a Roman citizen.”[cu] 27 So the commanding officer[cv] came and asked[cw] Paul,[cx] “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”[cy] He replied,[cz] “Yes.” 28 The commanding officer[da] answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”[db] “But I was even[dc] born a citizen,”[dd] Paul replied.[de] 29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away[df] from him, and the commanding officer[dg] was frightened when he realized that Paul[dh] was[di] a Roman citizen[dj] and that he had had him tied up.[dk]

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

30 The next day, because the commanding officer[dl] wanted to know the true reason[dm] Paul[dn] was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council[do] to assemble. He then brought[dp] Paul down and had him stand before them.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 22:1 sn 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.
  2. Acts 22:1 tn The adverb νυνί (nuni, “now”) is connected with the phrase τῆς πρὸς ὑμᾶς νυνὶ ἀπολογίας (tēs pros humas nuni apologias) 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.
  3. Acts 22:2 tn ἀκούσαντες (akousantes) has been taken temporally.
  4. Acts 22:2 tn 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.”
  5. Acts 22:2 tn Grk “in the Hebrew language.” See the note on “Aramaic” in 21:40.
  6. Acts 22:2 tn 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.”
  7. Acts 22:2 tn BDAG 440 s.v. ἡσυχία 2 has “παρέχειν ἡσυχίαν quiet down, give a hearingAc 22:2.”sn This is best taken as a parenthetical note by the author.
  8. Acts 22:2 tn 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.
  9. Acts 22:3 tn Grk “a Jewish man.”
  10. Acts 22:3 tn BDAG 74 s.v. ἀνατρέφω b has “of mental and spiritual nurture bring up, rear, trainἀνατεθραμμένος ἐν τ. πόλει ταύτῃ 22:3.”
  11. Acts 22:3 tn 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.”
  12. Acts 22:3 tn Grk “strictly at the feet of” (an idiom).
  13. Acts 22:3 tn Or “brought up in this city under Gamaliel, educated with strictness…” The phrase παρὰ τοὺς πόδας Γαμαλιὴλ (para tous podas Gamaliēl) could be understood with what precedes or with what follows. The punctuation of NA28 and UBS5, which place a comma after ταύτῃ (tautē), 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.
  14. Acts 22:3 tn Or “our forefathers.”
  15. Acts 22:3 tn Grk “ancestors, being.” The participle ὑπάρχων (huparchōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  16. Acts 22:3 tn BDAG 427 s.v. ζηλωτής 1.a.α has “of pers.…ζ. τοῦ θεοῦ one who is loyal to God Ac 22:3.”
  17. Acts 22:4 tn 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.
  18. Acts 22:4 sn 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).
  19. Acts 22:4 tn BDAG 442-43 s.v. θάνατος 1.a has “διώκειν ἄχρι θανάτου persecute even to death Ac 22:4.”
  20. Acts 22:4 tn Grk “binding.” See Acts 8:3.
  21. Acts 22:4 tn BDAG 762 s.v. παραδίδωμι 1.b has “W. local εἰςεἰς φυλακήν put in prison Ac 8:3; cp. 22:4.”
  22. Acts 22:5 tn 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 συνέδριονὁ ἀρχιερεύς καὶ πᾶν τὸ πρ. Ac 22:5.”
  23. Acts 22:5 tn 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.
  24. Acts 22:5 tn Grk “receiving.” The participle δεξάμενος (dexamenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  25. Acts 22:5 tn 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.
  26. Acts 22:5 tn 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.
  27. Acts 22:5 tn BDAG 221 s.v. δέω 1.b has “δεδεμένον ἄγειν τινά bring someone as prisonerAc 9:2, 21; 22:5.”
  28. Acts 22:5 tn Grk “I was going…to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners that they might be punished.”
  29. Acts 22:6 tn 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.
  30. Acts 22:6 tn 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).
  31. Acts 22:6 tn BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 3.b has “φῶς a very bright light Ac 22:6.”
  32. Acts 22:6 tn Or “from the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).
  33. Acts 22:6 tn Or “shone.”
  34. Acts 22:7 tn 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.”
  35. Acts 22:9 tn 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.
  36. Acts 22:10 tn Grk “So I said.”
  37. Acts 22:10 tn Grk “Getting up.” The participle ἀναστάς (anastas) is an adverbial participle of attendant circumstance and has been translated as a finite verb.
  38. Acts 22:10 tn Grk “about all things.”
  39. Acts 22:10 tn 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.
  40. Acts 22:11 tn 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.”
  41. Acts 22:11 tn Or “brightness”; Grk “glory.”
  42. Acts 22:11 tn Grk “by” (ὑπό, hupo), but this would be too awkward in English following the previous “by.”
  43. Acts 22:12 tn Grk “a certain Ananias.”
  44. Acts 22:12 sn The law refers to the law of Moses.
  45. Acts 22:12 tn 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.”
  46. Acts 22:13 tn Grk “coming.” The participle ἐλθών (elthōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  47. Acts 22:13 tn 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.
  48. Acts 22:13 tn 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).
  49. Acts 22:13 tn Grk “hour,” but ὥρα (hōra) 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, instantlyLk 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.
  50. Acts 22:13 tn Grk “I looked up to him.”
  51. Acts 22:14 tn 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.
  52. Acts 22:14 tn 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.”
  53. Acts 22:14 tn 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.
  54. Acts 22:14 sn The Righteous One is a reference to Jesus Christ (Acts 3:14).
  55. Acts 22:14 tn 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.”
  56. Acts 22:15 tn 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.
  57. Acts 22:15 tn Grk “all men,” but this is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos).
  58. Acts 22:16 tn 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.”
  59. Acts 22:16 tn Grk “getting up.” The participle ἀναστάς (anastas) is an adverbial participle of attendant circumstance and has been translated as a finite verb.
  60. Acts 22:16 sn The expression have your sins washed away means “have your sins purified” (the washing is figurative).
  61. Acts 22:16 sn 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.
  62. Acts 22:17 tn 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.
  63. Acts 22:17 tn BDAG 309 s.v. ἔκστασις 2 has “γενέσθαι ἐν ἐκστάσει fall into a trance Ac 22:17.”
  64. Acts 22:18 tn Or “Jesus”; Grk “him.” The referent (the Lord, cf. v. 19) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  65. Acts 22:19 tn 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 [kagō]) has not been translated here.
  66. Acts 22:19 tn For the distributive sense of the expression κατὰ τὰς συναγωγάς (kata tas sunagōgas) BDAG 512 s.v. κατά B.1.d has “of places viewed serially, distributive use w. acc.…κατ᾿ οἶκαν from house to houseAc 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.
  67. Acts 22:20 sn 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.
  68. Acts 22:20 sn When the blood of your witness Stephen was shed means “when your witness Stephen was murdered.”
  69. Acts 22:20 tn 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.
  70. Acts 22:20 tn 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).
  71. Acts 22:20 tn Or “who were putting him to death.” For the translation of ἀναιρούντων (anairountōn) as “putting to death” see BDAG 64 s.v. ἀναιρέω 2.
  72. Acts 22:21 tn 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.
  73. Acts 22:22 tn Grk “They were listening”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  74. Acts 22:22 tn 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.
  75. Acts 22:22 tn Grk “And.” To indicate the logical sequence, καί (kai) has been translated as “then” here.
  76. Acts 22:22 tn Grk “and said.”
  77. Acts 22:22 tn Grk “such a one.”
  78. Acts 22:22 tn 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.”
  79. Acts 22:23 tn The participle κραυγαζόντων (kraugazontōn) has been translated temporally.
  80. Acts 22:23 tn 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).
  81. Acts 22:23 sn 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.
  82. Acts 22:24 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos) 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.
  83. Acts 22:24 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  84. Acts 22:24 tn 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.”
  85. Acts 22:24 tn 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.
  86. Acts 22:24 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  87. Acts 22:24 sn 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.
  88. Acts 22:24 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  89. Acts 22:24 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  90. Acts 22:25 tn 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).”
  91. Acts 22:25 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
  92. Acts 22:25 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
  93. Acts 22:25 tn 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.
  94. Acts 22:26 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
  95. Acts 22:26 tn 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.
  96. Acts 22:26 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.
  97. Acts 22:26 tn 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.
  98. Acts 22:26 tn 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 mindτί μέλλεις ποιεῖν; what do you intend to do?
  99. Acts 22:26 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
  100. Acts 22:27 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.
  101. Acts 22:27 tn Grk “and said to.”
  102. Acts 22:27 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  103. Acts 22:27 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
  104. Acts 22:27 tn Grk “He said.”
  105. Acts 22:28 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.
  106. Acts 22:28 sn Sometimes Roman citizenship was purchased through a bribe (Dio Cassius, Roman History 60.17.4-9). That may well have been the case here.
  107. Acts 22:28 tn BDAG 495-96 s.v. καί 2.b has “intensive: evenAc 5:39; 22:28.”
  108. Acts 22:28 tn 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.
  109. Acts 22:28 tn Grk “Paul said.” This phrase has been placed at the end of the sentence in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  110. Acts 22:29 tn BDAG 158 s.v. ἀφίστημι 2.b has “keep awayἀπό 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.
  111. Acts 22:29 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.
  112. Acts 22:29 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  113. Acts 22:29 tn This is a present tense (ἐστιν, estin) retained in indirect discourse. It must be translated as a past tense in contemporary English.
  114. Acts 22:29 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
  115. Acts 22:29 sn 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.
  116. Acts 22:30 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the commanding officer) has been supplied here in the translation for clarity.
  117. Acts 22:30 tn 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.”
  118. Acts 22:30 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  119. Acts 22:30 tn Grk “the whole Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
  120. Acts 22:30 tn Grk “and bringing.” The participle καταγαγών (katagagōn) 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.