New Living Translation
Acts 22:5
5The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.
Acts 22:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
- New International Version (NIV)as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
- English Standard Version (ESV)as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
- New King James Version (NKJV)as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
Context of Acts 22:5
3Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. 4And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished. 6“As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
Read all of Acts 22Acts 22:5 word by word
ὡς καὶ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς μαρτυρεῖ μοι καὶ πᾶν τὸ πρεσβυτέριον, παρ᾽ ὧν καὶ ἐπιστολὰς δεξάμενος πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς εἰς Δαμασκὸν ἐπορευόμην, ἄξων καὶ τοὺς ἐκεῖσε ὄντας δεδεμένους εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἵνα τιμωρηθῶσιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
- the high priestὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the high priestἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
- doth bearμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- the estate of the eldersπρεσβυτέριονpresbuterion · council of eldersG4244
- fromπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- I receivedδέχομαιdechomai · to receiveG1209
- lettersἐπιστολήepistolē · epistleG1992
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- and wentπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- DamascusΔαμασκόςDamaskos · DamascusG1154
- to bringἄγωagō · to bringG71
- which wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- thereἐκεῖσεekeise · thereG1566
- boundδέωdeō · to bindG1210
- JerusalemἹερουσαλήμHierousalēm · JerusalemG2419
- forἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- to be punishedτιμωρέωtimōreō · to punishG5097
Cross-references for Acts 22:5
- Acts 9:1Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.
- Acts 26:10Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.
- Acts 4:5The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem.
- Acts 5:21So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial.
- Luke 22:66At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council,
- Acts 22:1“Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.”
- Romans 9:3for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.
Commentaries on Acts 22:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5The high priest doth bear me witness, etc. - He probably referred to the letters of authority which he had received from the high priest, and the whole estate of the elders, , the whole of the presbytery, that is, the sanhedrin; and it is likely, that he had those letters to produce. This zeal of his against Christianity was an ample proof of his sincerity as a Pharisaical Jew.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5As also the high priest - See the notes on Acts 9:2. All the estate of the elders - Greek: all the presbytery; that is, the whole body of the Sanhedrin, or Great Council of the nation. Unto the brethren - The Jewish brethren who were at Damascus. Paul here speaks as a Jew, and regards his countrymen as his brethren.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. 55. the high priest--still alive. doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders--the whole Sanhedrim.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 22:5
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
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