Acts 22:20

Acts 22:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
• New International Version (NIV)And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
• New Living Translation (NLT)And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’

Context of Acts 22:20

18and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' 19And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.' 21And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'" 22Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live."

Acts 22:20 word by word

καὶ ὅτε ἐξεχύννετο τὸ αἷμα Στεφάνου τοῦ μάρτυρός σου, καὶ αὐτὸς ἤμην ἐφεστὼς καὶ συνευδοκῶν καὶ φυλάσσων τὰ ἱμάτια τῶν ἀναιρούντων αὐτόν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• the bloodὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
• of thyσύsu · youG4771
• martyrμάρτυςmartus · witnessG3144
• StephenΣτέφανοςStephanos · StephenG4736
• was shedἐκχέωekcheō ekchunō · to pour outG1632
• Iαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• standing byἐφίστημιephistēmi · to approachG2186
• consenting untoσυνευδοκέωsuneudokeō · to agree toG4909
• deathἀναίρεσιςanairesis · murderG336
• keptφυλάσσωphulassō · to keep/guard: protectG5442
• the raimentἱμάτιονhimation · clothingG2440
• that slewἀναιρέωanaireō · to killG337

Cross-references for Acts 22:20

• Revelation 2:13"'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
• Revelation 17:6And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
• Acts 7:58Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
• Acts 8:1And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
• Luke 11:48So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs.
• Romans 1:32Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Commentaries on Acts 22:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20When the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed - See on Acts 7:58; (note); Acts 8:1; (note). All these things Paul alleged as reasons why he could not expect to be received by the Christians; for how could they suppose that such a persecutor could be converted?Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20The blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed - See Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1. I also was standing by - Acts 7:58. And consenting unto his death - Acts 8:1. And kept the raiment - The outer robes or garments, which were usually laid aside when they engaged in running or labor. See Acts 7:58. All this showed that, though Paul was not engaged in stoning Stephen, yet he was with them in spirit, and fully accorded with what they did. These circumstances are mentioned…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 12-21 The apostle goes on to relate how he was confirmed in the change he had made. The Lord having chosen the sinner, that he should know his will, he is humbled, enlightened, and brought to the knowledge of Christ and his blessed gospel. Christ is here called that Just One; for he is Jesus Christ the righteous. Those whom God has chosen to know his will, must look to Jesus, for by him God has made known his good-will to us. The great gospel…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-22While Paul was praying in the temple, he saw a vision of Jesus. Jesus told him that the people of Jerusalem would not accept his message. The Lord then sent him to the Gentiles. The crowd’s reaction to this report confirmed this reality (22:22–23).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2117-21. it came to pass, &c.--This thrilling dialogue between the glorified Redeemer and his chosen vessel is nowhere else related. when I was come again to Jerusalem--on the occasion mentioned in Ac 9:26-29. while I prayed in the temple--He thus calls their attention to the fact that after his conversion he kept up his connection with the temple as before.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 22:20

• Paul
• Stephen
• Temple
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Stephen
• Antonia
• Hence
• James
• Martyr
• Persecute
• Scourge
• Uncondemned
• Acts of the Apostles
• Felix; Antonius

Commentaries on Acts 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings