Acts 22:1-21
Paul Tells His Story
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1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
2When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul declared,
3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
4I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,
5as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.
6About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
8‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.
9My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.
10Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’
11Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.
12There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
13came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.
14Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice.
15You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
17Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
18and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’
19‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
20And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’
21Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Paul begins with what he shares with the crowd: Jewish birth, education in Jerusalem, and zeal for God. He also admits what that zeal led him to do. He imprisoned believers and persecuted them to death. Sincerity had not made his actions right.
On the way to Damascus, Jesus confronted him: “Why do you persecute Me?” Paul had been attacking Jesus' followers, but the risen Lord identified himself with them. Jesus was alive, and Paul's violence against his people was an attack on him.
Blinded, Paul had to be led into Damascus. Ananias came to restore his sight and explain God's appointment: Paul would know his will and witness to what he had seen and heard. Ananias called him to baptism and the washing away of sins, calling on the Lord's name. The persecutor needed forgiveness before he could speak as a witness of grace.
Later, in Jerusalem, Paul reminded the Lord that people knew his record of persecution. He even recalled his approval of Stephen's death. But the Lord told him to leave and sent him to the Gentiles. Paul's mission arose from Jesus' command, not from a decision to reject his own people or improve his reputation.
Questions
1 Where was Paul educated?
AnswerHe was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in Jerusalem and trained carefully in the law of the fathers.
2 What had Paul done to followers of the Way?
AnswerHe had persecuted followers of the Way to death, binding and imprisoning both men and women and seeking authority to punish them.
3 What happened on the road to Damascus?
AnswerA great light from heaven shone around him, and Jesus of Nazareth spoke to Paul, identifying Himself as the One Paul was persecuting.
4 To whom was Paul sent?
AnswerThe Lord told him to leave Jerusalem because the people would not accept his testimony, and sent him far away to the Gentiles.
What This Means for Us
Being sure we are right does not mean we cannot be wrong. Paul's account makes room for an honest admission of harm without despair: Jesus confronted him, forgave him, and gave him work to do. We can tell the truth about our own wrongs and seek forgiveness without turning the story into either an excuse for the past or a display of how impressive we have become.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for meeting people in their confusion and sin. Help us tell the truth about your mercy with humility and hope. Amen.