Acts 22 explained: Paul Tells His Story to a Mob

One of you (vv. 1-5)

Paul speaks in Aramaic, the everyday language of Jews in the region, and stresses that he is one of them, raised in Jerusalem and trained by Gamaliel, a famous teacher of Jewish law. He admits he once arrested and helped kill followers of "the Way" (an early name for the Jesus movement), so his change cannot be blamed on ignorance of his own faith.

The light near Damascus (vv. 6-11)

He retells the meeting first described in chapter 9, where a blinding light and the voice of Jesus stopped him on his way to make arrests. His companions saw the light but did not make out the words, and Paul was led into the city blind.

Ananias and baptism (vv. 12-16)

Paul describes Ananias as a devout, law-keeping Jew respected by everyone, likely to show his listeners that his new path came through someone they would trust. Ananias tells him he will be a witness to all people and urges him to be baptized, a ritual washing in water pictured here as washing away sins.

Sent far away (vv. 17-21)

Later, while praying in the temple, which shows he kept worshipping there, Paul has a vision telling him to leave Jerusalem. He protests that his violent past should make people listen, but he is told he will be sent to the Gentiles, meaning non-Jewish peoples.

The crowd explodes (vv. 22-23)

The mention of a mission to non-Jews sets the crowd off, likely because the riot began over a rumor that Paul had brought a non-Jew into the temple (21:28). Throwing off cloaks and tossing dust were public signs of outrage, and they demand his death.

A Roman citizen (vv. 24-30)

The Roman commander, probably unable to follow the Aramaic speech, orders Paul whipped to force out the truth, which was routine for non-citizens but illegal for an uncondemned Roman citizen. Paul was born a citizen, while the commander had bought his citizenship, so the officer backs off and summons the Jewish ruling council to sort out the charges.

Key verse: Acts 22:15

Something to think about

Paul's main argument is his own changed life; how much weight do you give a person's story of being transformed when you weigh what they claim is true?