Acts 22 Commentary

Acts 22:1-5 relates how Paul tells the Jerusalem crowd of his origins. He was trained as a Pharisee in Jerusalem, passionate for God and the Law, so much so that he led the persecution against believers in Jesus many years ago. The Sanhedrin sponsored his efforts and authorized him to travel to foreign cities and arrest believers there.

Acts 22:6-16 continues Paul’s testimony. He relays how the resurrected Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, blinding him and calling him to stop his persecution. In Damascus, a believer named Ananias healed Paul’s vision, baptized him, and told him that God had chosen Paul to preach the gospel.

After becoming a believer in Jesus, Paul returns to Jerusalem. While praying in the temple, Jesus appears to Paul in a vision and tells him to leave the city because people don’t trust him. Paul agrees; his ministry has not been effective in Jerusalem; the people remember how he persecuted the church and approved of Stephen the Deacon’s murder. Jesus commands Paul to go to the Gentiles far away and preach to them.

Acts 22:22-30 shows how the crowd of hostile Jews do not want to hear Paul’s testimony anymore. They interrupt him and threaten him, calling for his death. The Roman soldiers take Paul into the barracks. The Roman commander decides to scourge Paul to make him explain why he has enraged the crowds. Paul reveals his Roman citizenship to the soldiers. The scourging is cancelled and the soldiers are horrified that they almost tortured a Roman citizen. The Roman commander calls for the Jewish council of elders to gather to help figure out what offense Paul has committed.