Acts 22 · Verse 23

Acts 22:23

And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
Acts 22:23, King James Version

Acts 22:23 in other translations

BSBAs they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,
WEBAs they cried out, threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,
ASVAnd as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,
YLTAnd they crying out and casting up their garments, and throwing dust into the air,
DARBYAnd as they were crying, and throwing away their clothes, and casting dust into the air,
BBEAnd while they were crying out, and pulling off their clothing, and sending dust into the air,
WebsterAnd as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

What does Acts 22:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 22:22-23

22-23. 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 full comment on Acts 22:22-23 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. Cast 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 their abhorrence and indignation. This was a striking exhibition of rage and vindictive 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 indignation against David by cursing him, and throwing stones at him, and casting dust, 2Sam 16:13.

(++) "clothes" "mantles"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Cast 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, 2Sam 16:13, where it is said, he cursed him as he went, and threw stones at him; or, as the margin, he dusted him with dust. Their throwing dust in the air was also expressive of extraordinary rage and vindictive malice. The apostle, being guarded by the Roman soldiers, was out of the power of the mob; and their throwing dust in the air not only showed their rage, but also their vexation that they could not get the apostle into their power. It is still used as a token of hostility and defiance. M. Denon, (Travels in Egypt, vol. iii. p. 98), on coming down the Nile to Cairo, stopped at the ancient city of Antinoe, to examine its ruins. "Being desirous of obtaining a view of the whole of these ruins, we ascended a little hill, and soon perceived the inhabitants of the modern village assembling behind an opposite eminence: scarcely had we come over against them than, supposing our intentions to be hostile, they called out for assistance, and threw dust into the air, in token of defiance. The alarm spread, and they began firing upon us."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 22:22-30

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…

Read the full comment on Acts 22:22-30 →

Acts 22:23 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.

κραυγαζόντωνkraugazontōnWhile shouting outG2905
τεtethenG5037
αὐτῶνautōntheyG846
καὶkaiandG2532
ῥιπτούντωνrhiptountōncasting offG4496
τὰtatheG3588
ἱμάτιαhimatiagarmentsG2440
καὶkaiandG2532
κονιορτὸνkoniortondustG2868
βαλλόντωνballontōnthrowingG906
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
ἀέραaeraairG109

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

Cross references for Acts 22:23

  • 2 Samuel 16:13

    And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:3

    Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

  • Acts 7:58

    And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

  • Acts 26:11

    And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

  • Acts 7:53

    Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
cast.
7:53; 26:11; Ec 10:3

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

Context

  • Acts 22:22

    And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

  • Acts 22:23

    And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

  • Acts 22:24

    The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

Read all of Acts 22

Acts 22:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dando ellos voces, y arrojando sus ropas y echando polvo al aire,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme ils poussaient des cris et jetaient leurs vêtements et lançaient de la poussière en l’air,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als sie aber schrieen und die Kleider wegschleuderten und Staub in die Luft warfen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vociferantibus autem eis, et projicientibus vestimenta sua, et pulverem jactantibus in aërem,