Acts 22:1 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)1 “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense I want to make to you.” See the chapterMore versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 17691 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. See the chapterAmplified Bible - Classic Edition1 BRETHREN AND fathers, listen to the defense which I now make in your presence. See the chapterAmerican Standard Version (1901)1 Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you. See the chapterCommon English Bible1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” See the chapterCatholic Public Domain Version1 "Noble brothers and fathers, listen to the explanation that I now give to you." See the chapter |
It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart [i.e., you are dear to me], for you people are sharing in God’s unearned favor with me [Note: Paul here refers to his ministry], both in my imprisonment and in my defense and confirmation of the Gospel [i.e., in my efforts to give proof of the Gospel’s truth].
See how the very fact that you were made sorry from a godly motive has produced earnestness in you! [It produced] a desire to vindicate yourselves [i.e., by making amends for your wrongdoing]; an attitude of just anger [i.e., toward the wrongdoers]; a sense of fear [i.e., a fear of God for doing wrong]; an eager desire [i.e., to do the right thing]; a zeal [i.e., to correct problems]; and an attitude of avenging [i.e., that punished the wrongdoer]. You demonstrated in everything [you did] that you were pure [i.e., innocent] in this matter. [Note: This whole description of their conduct appears to be a reference to the incident mentioned in 2:1- 11].
And it happened after three days that Paul called together those who were the leading Jews, and when they assembled he said to them, “Brothers, although I had done nothing against the [Jewish] people or the customs of our forefathers, yet I was made a prisoner at Jerusalem, being placed in the custody of the Romans [while there].