Acts 22:1

Acts 22:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
• New International Version (NIV)“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you."
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”

Context of Acts 22:1

“Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.” 2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said, 3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.

Acts 22:1 word by word

Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατέρες, ἀκούσατέ μου τῆς πρὸς ὑμᾶς νυνὶ ἀπολογίας.Read the interlinear

• Brothersἀνήρanēr · manG435
• Brothersἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• and fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• hearἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• my defenseἀπολογίαapologia · defenceG627
• nowνυνίnuni · nowG3570

Cross-references for Acts 22:1

• Acts 7:2And Stephen said, “Listen to me, brothers and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
• Acts 13:26“Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.
• Acts 23:1Now looking intently at the Council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.”
• Acts 28:17After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.
• Acts 19:33Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
• Acts 24:10And when the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,
• Acts 25:8while Paul said in his own defense, “I have not done anything wrong either against the Law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar.”
• Acts 26:1Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make his defense:
• Luke 12:11Now when they bring you before the synagogues and the officials and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say;
• Luke 21:14So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;
• Romans 2:15in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
• 1 Corinthians 9:3My defense to those who examine me is this:
• 2 Corinthians 7:11For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
• 2 Corinthians 12:19All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for building you up, beloved.
• Philippians 1:7For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.
• 2 Timothy 4:16At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.

Commentaries on Acts 22:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Men, brethren, and fathers - A Hebrew form of expression for brethren and fathers: for two classes only are addressed. See the note on Acts 7:2. Hear ye my defense - , This apology of mine; in this sense the word apology was anciently understood: hence the Apologies of the primitive fathers, i.e. their defenses of the Christian religion. And this is as proper literal meaning; but it is now used only as implying an excuse for improper conduct. That this is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Men, brethren, and fathers - This defense was addressed to the Jews, and Paul commenced it with an expression of sincere respect for them. Stephen began his defense with the same form of address. See the notes on Acts 7:2. My defence - Against the charges brought against me. Those charges were, that he had endeavored to prejudice people everywhere against the Jews, the Law, and the temple, Acts 21:28. In order to meet this charge, Paul stated: (1)That he…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Paul's account of his conversion. (1-11) Paul directed to preach to the Gentiles. (12-21) The rage of the Jews Paul pleads that he is a Roman citizen. (22-30) Verses 1-11 The apostle addressed the enraged multitude, in the customary style of respect and good-will. Paul relates the history of his early life very particularly; he notices that his conversion was wholly the act of God. Condemned sinners are struck blind by the power of darkness, and it is a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-21Paul gives his most complete defense of his life and faith before his own people in Jerusalem. This speech shows his flexibility as a missionary, just as his message to the Greek philosophers in Athens also did (17:22–31; see 1 Corinthians 9:20–23). He begins by showing his close connection with his audience. He explains his Jewish background and his training under Gamaliel the Elder (a respected Jewish teacher). He also describes his strong desire to…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-302. when they heard ... the Hebrew tongue--(See on Ac 21:40). they kept the more silence--They could have understood him in Greek, and doubtless fully expected the renegade to address them in that language, but the sound of their holy mother tongue awed them into deeper silence.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 22:1

• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Antonia
• Hence
• James
• Persecute
• Scourge
• Uncondemned
• Acts of the Apostles
• Felix; Antonius
• Paul, the Apostle
• Father

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