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.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.'
• 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.’

Context of Acts 22:20

18and saw the Lord. He told me, ‘Hurry! Get out of Jerusalem immediately. The people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’ 19“I said, ‘Lord, people here know that I went from synagogue to synagogue to imprison and whip those who believe in you. When Stephen, who witnessed about you, was being killed, I was standing there. I approved of his death and guarded the coats of those who were murdering him.’ 21“But the Lord told me, ‘Go! I’ll send you on a mission. You’ll go far away to people who aren’t Jewish.’ ” 22Up to that point the mob listened. Then they began to shout, “Kill him! The world doesn’t need a man like this. He shouldn’t have been allowed to live this long!”

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 2:13I know where you live. Satan’s throne is there. You hold on to my name and have not denied your belief in me, even in the days of Antipas. He was my faithful witness who was killed in your presence, where Satan lives.
• Revelation 17:6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people and of those who testify about Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her.
• Acts 7:58and after they had thrown him out of the city, they began to stone him to death. The witnesses left their coats with a young man named Saul.
• Acts 8:1Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. On that day widespread persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. Most believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
• Luke 11:48So you are witnesses and approve of what your ancestors did. They murdered the prophets for whom you build monuments.
• Romans 1:32Although they know God’s judgment that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do these things but also approve of others who do 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