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

18I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’ 19“‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 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.’ 21“But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’” 22The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit 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 that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.
• Revelation 17:6I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.
• Acts 7:58and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.
• Acts 8:1Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
• Luke 11:48But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments!
• Romans 1:32They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

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