God’s Word Translation
Acts 22:3
3“I’m a Jew. I was born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia and received my education from Gamaliel here in Jerusalem. My education was in the strict laws handed down by our ancestors. I was as devoted to God as all of you are today.
Acts 22:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
Context of Acts 22:3
1“Brothers and fathers, listen as I now present my case to you.” 2When the mob heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul continued, “I’m a Jew. I was born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia and received my education from Gamaliel here in Jerusalem. My education was in the strict laws handed down by our ancestors. I was as devoted to God as all of you are today. 4I persecuted people who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟: I tied up men and women and put them into prison until they were executed. 5The chief priest and the entire council of our leaders can prove that I did this. In fact, they even gave me letters to take to the Jewish community in the city of Damascus. I was going there to tie up believers and bring them back to Jerusalem to punish them.
Read all of Acts 22Acts 22:3 word by word
ἐγώ εἰμι ἀνὴρ Ἰουδαῖος γεγεννημένος ἐν Ταρσῷ τῆς Κιλικίας, ἀνατεθραμμένος δὲ ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ, παρὰ τοὺς πόδας Γαμαλιὴλ πεπαιδευμένος κατὰ ἀκρίβειαν τοῦ πατρῴου νόμου, ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τοῦ θεοῦ καθὼς πάντες ὑμεῖς ἐστε σήμερον,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- verilyμένmen · on the other handG3303
- a manἀνήρanēr · manG435
- a JewἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- bornγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- TarsusΤαρσόςTarsos · TarsusG5019
- in CiliciaΚιλικία, ΚιλικίαKilikia · CiliciaG2791
- yetδέde · thenG1161
- brought upἀνατρέφωanatrephō · to bring upG397
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
- atπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- the feetπούςpous · footG4228
- of GamalielΓαμαλιήλGamaliēl · GamalielG1059
- taughtπαιδεύωpaideuō · to instructG3811
- according toκατάkata · according toG2596
- the perfect mannerἀκρίβειαakribeia · strictnessG195
- of the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- of the fathersπατρῷοςpatrōos · ancestralG3971
- and wasὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
- zealousζηλωτήςzēlōtēs · zealotG2207
- toward Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- this dayσήμερονsēmeron · todayG4594
Cross-references for Acts 22:3
- Acts 21:39Paul answered, “I’m a Jew, a citizen from the well-known city of Tarsus in Cilicia. I’m asking you to let me talk to the people.”
- Romans 11:1So I ask, “Has God rejected his people Israel?” That’s unthinkable! Consider this. I’m an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin.
- 2 Corinthians 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.
- Philippians 3:5I was circumcised on the eighth day. I’m a descendant of Israel. I’m from the tribe of Benjamin. I’m a pure-blooded Hebrew. When it comes to following Jewish laws, I was a Pharisee.
- Acts 9:11The Lord told him, “Get up! Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He’s praying.
- Acts 11:25Then Barnabas left Antioch to go to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul.
- Acts 6:9⌞One day⌟ some men from the cities of Cyrene and Alexandria and the provinces of Cilicia and Asia started an argument with Stephen. They belonged to a synagogue called Freedmen’s Synagogue.
- Acts 15:23They wrote this letter for them to deliver: From the apostles and the spiritual leaders, your brothers. To their non-Jewish brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Dear brothers and sisters,
- Acts 23:34After the governor had read the letter, he asked Paul which province he was from. When he found out that Paul was from the province of Cilicia,
- Galatians 1:21Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
- Deuteronomy 33:3You certainly love your people. All your holy ones are in your hands. They bow at your feet to receive your instructions.
- 2 Kings 4:38When Elisha went back to Gilgal, there was a famine in the country. ⌞One day,⌟ while the disciples of the prophets were meeting with him, he told his servant, “Put a large pot on the fire, and cook some stew for the disciples of the prophets.”
- Luke 2:46Three days later, they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions.
- Luke 8:35The people went to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out. Dressed and in his right mind, he was sitting at Jesus’ feet. The people were frightened.
- Luke 10:39She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him talk.
- Acts 5:34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up. He was a highly respected expert in Moses’ Teachings. He ordered that the apostles should be taken outside for a little while.
Commentaries on Acts 22:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3I am verily a man which am a Jew - A periphrasis for, I am really a Jew: and his mentioning this adds weight to the conjecture in the preceding note. He shows that he could not be ignorant of the Jewish religion, as he had had the best instructer in it which Jerusalem could produce. Yet brought up, etc. - Bp. Pearce proposes that this verse should be thus read and translated: but brought up in this city; instructed at the feet of Gamaliel, according to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Born in Tarsus - See the notes on Acts 9:11. Brought up in this city - In Jerusalem, sent there for the advantage of more perfect instruction in the Law. At the feet of Gamaliel - As a scholar or disciple of Gamaliel. The phrase to sit at the feet of one is expressive of the condition of a disciple or learner. Compare Deuteronomy 33:3; Luke 10:39. It is probable that the expression arose from the fact that the learners occupied a lower place or seat than…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3at the feet of Gamaliel: See study note on 5:34.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. a Jew of Tarsus, brought up in this city, at the feet--(See on Lu 10:39). of Gamaliel--(See on Ac 5:34); a fact of great importance in the apostle's history, standing in the same relation to his future career as Moses' education in the Egyptian court to the work for which he was destined. the perfect manner of the law of the fathers--the strictest form of traditional Judaism. zealous--"a zealot." toward God as ye all are this day--his own former…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 22:3
In the dictionaries
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
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