Acts 22 · Verse 1

Acts 22:1

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
Acts 22:1, King James Version

Acts 22:1 in other translations

BSB“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
WEB“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”
ASVBrethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.
YLT‘Men, brethren, and fathers, hear my defence now unto you;' --
DARBYBrethren and fathers, hear my defence which I now make to you.
BBEMy brothers and fathers, give ear to the story of my life which I now put before you.
WebsterMen, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense which I make now to you.

What does Acts 22:1 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Chapter 22

Verse 1. Men, brethren, and fathers. This defence was addressed to the Jews; and Paul commenced it with an expression of sincere respect for them. Stephen began his defence with the same form of address. Acts 7:2.

My defence. Against the charges brought against me. Those charges were, that he had endeavoured to prejudice men everywhere against the Jews, and the law, and the temple, Acts 21:28. In order to meet this charge, Paul stated,

(1.) that he had been born a Jew, and had enjoyed all the advantages of a Jewish education, Acts 22:3;

(2.) he recounted the circumstances of his conversion, and the reason why he believed that he was called to preach the gospel, Acts 22:4-16;

(3.) he proceeded to state the reasons why he went among the Gentiles, and evidently designed to vindicate his conduct there, Acts 22:17-21; but at this point, at the name Gentiles, his defence was interrupted by the enraged multitude, and he was not permitted to proceed. What would have been his defence, therefore, had he been suffered to finish it, it is impossible to know with certainty. On another occasion, however, he was permitted to make a similar defence, and perhaps to complete the train of thought which he had purposed to pursue here. See Acts 26.

(b) "Men" Acts 7:2 (c) "defence" 1Pet 3:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Paul, in his address to the people, gives an account of his birth and education, Act 21:1-3. His prejudices against Christianity, Act 21:4, Act 21:5. And of his miraculous conversion, and call to the apostleship, vv. 6-21. The Jews, hearing him say that God had sent him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, become exceedingly outrageous, and clamor for his life, Act 21:22, Act 21:23. The chief captain orders him to be examined by scourging; but he, pleading his privilege as a Roman citizen, escapes the torture, Act 21:24-29. The next day the chief captain brings Paul before the chief priests and their council, Act 21:30. Verse 1 Men, brethren, and fathers - A Hebrew form of expression for brethren and fathers: for two classes only are addressed. See the note on Act 7:2. Hear ye my defense - Μου της απολογιας, 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 an abuse of the term requires no proof.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 22:1-11
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 lasting blindness, like that of the unbelieving Jews. Convinced sinners are struck blind as Paul was, not by darkness, but by light. They are for a time brought to be at a loss within themselves, but it is in order to their being enlightened. A simple relation of the Lord's dealings with us, in bringing us, from opposing, to profess and promote his gospel, when delivered in a right spirit and manner, will sometimes make more impression that laboured speeches, even though it amounts not to the full proof of the truth, such as was shown in the change wrought in the apostle.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 22:1 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἌνδρεςAndresMenG435
ἀδελφοὶadelphoibrothersG80
καὶkaiandG2532
πατέρες,pateresfathers,G3962
ἀκούσατέakousatedo hearG191
μουmouof meG3165
τῆςtēstheG3588
πρὸςprostoG4314
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
νυνὶnuninowG3570
ἀπολογίας.apologiasdefense.G627

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 22:1

  • Acts 7:2

    And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

  • 2 Timothy 4:16

    At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

  • Acts 13:26

    Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

  • Acts 23:6

    But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

  • Acts 23:1

    And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

  • Acts 28:17

    And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

  • Acts 25:16

    To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:19

    Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

  • Luke 12:11

    And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

  • Acts 19:33

    And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

  • Philippians 1:7

    Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

  • Acts 26:24

    And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Paul declares at large how he was converted to the faith,
17 and called to his apostleship.
22 At the very mentioning of the Gentiles the people exclaim on him.
24 He would have been scourged;
25 but claiming the privilege of a Roman, he escapes.

brethren.
7:2; 13:26; 23:1,6; 28:17
my. Greek all.
19:33; 24:10; 25:8,16; 26:1,2,24; Lu 12:11; 21:14; Ro 2:15; 1Co 9:3
2Co 7:11; 12:19; Php 1:7,17; 2Ti 4:16; 1Pe 3:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 22:1

    Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

  • Acts 22:2

    (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

Read all of Acts 22

Acts 22:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		VARONES hermanos y padres, oid la razón que ahora os doy.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Hommes frères et pères, écoutez maintenant mon apologie auprès de vous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Brüder und Väter, höret jetzt meine Verantwortung an euch!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Viri fratres, et patres, audite quam ad vos nunc reddo rationem.