Acts 22:23

Acts 22:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
• New International Version (NIV)As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,

Context of Acts 22:23

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!” They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air. 24The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious. 25When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”

Acts 22:23 word by word

κραυγαζόντων τε αὐτῶν καὶ ῥιπτούντων τὰ ἱμάτια καὶ κονιορτὸν βαλλόντων εἰς τὸν ἀέραRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• as theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• cried outκραυγάζωkraugazō · to shoutG2905
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• cast offῥιπτέωrhipteō · to throw offG4495
• clothesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• clothesἱμάτιονhimation · clothingG2440
• threwβάλλωballō · to throw: throwG906
• dustκονιορτόςkoniortos · dustG2868
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the airἀήρaēr · airG109

Cross-references for Acts 22:23

• Acts 7:53You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”
• Acts 26:11Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.
• Ecclesiastes 10:3You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street!

Commentaries on Acts 22:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Cast off their clothes - Bishop Pearce supposes that shaking their upper garments is all that is meant here; and that it was an ancient custom for men to do so when highly pleased or greatly irritated; but it is likely that some of them were now actually throwing off their clothes, in order to prepare to stone Paul. Threw dust into the air - In sign of contempt, and by way of execration. Shimei acted so, in order to express his contempt of David, 2 Samuel…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Cast off their clothes - Their outer garments. Probably they did it now intending to stone him, Acts 7:58. And threw dust into the air - As expressive of them abhorrence and indignation. This was a striking exhibition of rage and malice. Paul was guarded by Roman soldiers so that they could not injure him; and their only way of expressing their wrath was by menaces and threats, and by these tokens of furious indignation. Thus, Shimei expressed his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-30Verses 22-30 The Jews listened to Paul's account of his conversion, but the mention of his being sent to the Gentiles, was so contrary to all their national prejudices, that they would hear no more. Their frantic conduct astonished the Roman officer, who supposed that Paul must have committed some great crime. Paul pleaded his privilege as a Roman citizen, by which he was exempted from all trials and punishments which might force him to confess himself…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23The crowd shouted, threw off their coats, and tossed dust into the air. These actions were likely ritual responses to what they thought was blasphemy (speech that dishonors God). They strongly opposed Paul’s message, especially his claim that Gentiles were included among God's people (22:21). Compare with Luke 4:16–30.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2322-23. gave him audience to this word ... then ... Away with such a fellow from the earth, &c.--Their national prejudices lashed into fury at the mention of a mission to the Gentiles, they would speedily have done to him as they did to Stephen, but for the presence and protection of the Roman officer.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 22:23

• Claudius Lysius
• Intolerance, Religious
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Dress
• Dust
• Hence
• James
• Persecute
• Scourge
• Uncondemned
• Acts of the Apostles
• Cry, Crying
• 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