Acts 21:37-22:16 Lesson 271

Acts 21:37-22:16
Lesson 271

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Rescued by the Romans, Paul now speaks to the mob.

Paul's address continues through verse 22:21 (lesson 272).

Gamaliel.
(Unknown artist)

Who was -

Gamaliel -
Gamaliel, meaning reward of God, was a distinguished rabbi and revered Pharisee noted for his wisdom, moderation, and virtue. He was a teacher of religious law and the president of the Sanhedrin (Jewish high council) during the reigns of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius. Gamaliel was one of only seven Rabbis to hold the lofty title of Rabban (our Rabbi). He warned the Sanhedrin to be careful with the apostles or risk fighting "against God" (Acts 5:34-39). We see in this passage that as a young man, Paul was one of Gamaliel's students before converting to Christianity (Acts 22:3). In fact, Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin before becoming a believer and was possibly there when the high council questioned the apostles and had them beaten. Christian tradition says Gamaliel became a believer with his son and fellow Pharisee Nicodemus and was baptized by Peter and Paul. By identifying himself with Gamaliel, Paul is telling the Jewish mob that he is one of them. Gamaliel died around AD 52.

Study Tip:

It helps to study more than one translation of the Bible. As you read each lesson, scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below.

Also, check the margin notes in blue and click on the links.

The Acts of the Apostles

The King James Bible

Acts 21:37-22:16
Paul speaks to the people

37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

Acts 22:1-16

1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

10 And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Margin notes:

"Canst thou speak Greek? (21:37) - When Paul spoke to him in Greek, the Roman officer (Claudius Lysias) began to think Paul might be an educated man and not just a rabble-rouser.

"Art not thou that Egyptian." (21:38) - Just a few years earlier, in AD 54, an Egyptian Jew led a group called the Sicarii in an ill-fated attempt to take Jerusalem back from the Romans. The Sicarii were zealous Jews who planned on overthrowing the Romans to establish a Jewish state. They assassinated any Jewish leader who collaborated with Rome. Their revolt failed, and while the Egyptian leader escaped, six hundred of his followers were killed or captured in a confrontation with the Roman army on the Mount of Olives. In AD 70, the Sicarii joined in another revolt against Rome. That one led to Jerusalem's total destruction. The Sicarii were finally surrounded and besieged at Masada by the Roman army. They committed mass suicide rather than surrender and submit to Rome.

"Tarsus." (21:39) - Paul's birthplace (Acts 9:11; 22:3), Tarsus, was a small but important city twelve miles north of the Mediterranean Sea on the banks of the Cydnus River in Cilicia (modern-day Turkey).  Tarsus was a wealthy commercial center that sat on the trade route from Syria to Asia Minor and was famous for its schools of philosophy.

"No mean city." (21:39) - Means "no insignificant city."

"I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people." (21:39) - "I beg you, let me speak to the people."

"When he had given him licence." (21:40) - "When he had given him permission."

"Hebrew tongue." (21:40) - The Hebrew language was Aramaic. By speaking Aramaic, Paul showed he was a Jew and wouldn't defile the Temple. Paul also spoke Greek (21:37).

"I am verily a man which am a Jew." (22:3) - "Truly, I am a Jewish man."

"I persecuted this way." (22:4) - "I persecuted Christians" (8:3; 9:2; 26:9-12). Christianity was often called "the Way."

"The estate of the elders." (22:5) - Means, "The council of the elders." Paul is referring to the Sanhedrin.

"I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus." (22:6) - "While on my journey, near Damascus."

"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (22:7) - This was Jesus talking to Paul (9:4-5; 22:8).

"They heard not the voice." (22:9) - "They couldn't understand the words."

"And I said, What shall I do, LORD?" (22:10) - See Acts 9:6.

"Of all the Jews which dwelt there." (22:12) - "Of all the Jews who live there."

"That Just One." (22:14) - Jesus, the Messiah.

"And now why tarriest thou?" (22:16) - "And now, why are you waiting?"

To read more about Paul's (Saul's) conversion to Christianity, see Acts 9:1-19 (lesson 238).

New Living Translation

Acts 21:37-22:16
Paul Speaks to the Crowd

37 As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, "May I have a word with you?"

  "Do you know Greek?" the commander asked, surprised.

38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert?"

39 "No," Paul replied, "I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people."

40 The commander agreed, so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic.

Acts 22:1-16

1 "Brothers and esteemed fathers," Paul said, "listen to me as I offer my defense."

2 When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater.

3 Then Paul said, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.

4 And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.

5 The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.

6 "As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.

7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'

8 "'Who are you, lord?' I asked.

  "And the voice replied, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.'

9 The people with me saw the light but didn't understand the voice speaking to me.

10 "I asked, 'What should I do, Lord?'

  "And the Lord told me, 'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.'

11 "I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions.

12 A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus.

13 He came and stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight.' And that very moment I could see him!

14 "Then he told me, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.

15 For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.

16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. Why a speech to the mob? (22:1-16)

At the heart of all conflict is a selfish heart.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. Paul rarely missed an opportunity to witness for Christ. Even here, after they tried to kill him, Paul wanted to speak to the mob (21:39). He began by giving his background as a devout, well-educated Jew (22:3) who once defended Judaism by persecuting Christians (22:4). Even the Jewish high priest could attest to Paul's war against Christ (22:5). Paul told the crowd about meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus and how he came to see the error of his ways (22:6-10). Paul believed that the miracle of his conversion was proof that Jesus was the Messiah. He felt that once the crowd heard he was not a traitor to Judaism, but was chosen by God (22:14) to spread the good news of Christ, they would convert also.

Application thought for the day:

What does this passage teach us about false righteousness?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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