Acts 22:3

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, in Cilicia, but raised [here] in this city [i.e., Jerusalem]. [I was] instructed by Gamaliel [i.e., a renowned Jewish rabbi of the time] according to the strictest methods of observing the law of our forefathers. [I was very] eager to serve God, just as all of you are here today.

Cross References

Acts 26:5

They know of my early background; if they were willing to, they could testify that I lived as a [faithful] Pharisee, [which is] the strictest sect of our religion.

Acts 9:11

The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to Straight Street and ask for a person named Saul, from Tarsus, at the home of Judas; you will find him [there] praying.”

Acts 5:34

But [then] Gamaliel, a Council member, who was a Pharisee [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion], and an expert in the Law of Moses and highly regarded by all the people, stood up and ordered the apostles to step outside [of the Council meeting] briefly.

Acts 21:39

Paul answered, “[No], I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city, and I beg you to allow me to speak to these people.”

Acts 21:20

And when they heard [all] this, they gave honor to God, then said to Paul, “Brother, you can see how many thousands of Jewish believers [in Christ] there are [everywhere] and all of them are eager to observe the [requirements of the] Law of Moses.

2 Corinthians 11:22

Are they [i.e., Paul’s opponents there in Corinth] Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

Luke 10:39

And she had a sister named Mary who was also sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He said.

Romans 11:1

Then I ask, “Did God reject His [own] people [i.e., the Jews]?” Certainly not! For I am an Israelite too, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

Acts 23:6

When Paul realized that part [of the Sanhedrin] were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he lifted up his voice before the Council and said, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee. And it is concerning our hope that the dead will be raised that I have been brought to trial.”

Acts 6:9

But several men from the synagogue, made up of freed slaves from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia, began arguing with Stephen.

Galatians 1:21

[Then after that] I went to the territories of Syria and Cilicia. [Note: Cilicia was where Paul’s home town of Tarsus was located. See Acts 9:30].

Galatians 1:14

I advanced in the Jewish religion beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen. I have been extremely more zealous in advocating the traditions [taught] by my forefathers.

Acts 23:34

And when the governor read the letter, he asked what province Paul was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia,

Acts 15:41

traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches [along the way].

Acts 15:23

This is what they wrote [in the letter]: “[This is] from your brothers, the apostles and elders [of the Jerusalem church]: Greetings to [our] Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.

Acts 11:25

Then he went on to Tarsus to look for Saul [Note: Tarsus was the home town of Saul, who was later called Paul],

Acts 9:30

And when the brothers [in the Jerusalem church] learned about this, they brought him down to Caesarea and then sent him on to Tarsus, [his home town].

Luke 8:35

People went out to see [i.e., to find out] what had happened. And [when] they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the evil spirits had been driven out sitting down at Jesus’ feet with his clothes on and perfectly sane, they were afraid.

Luke 2:46

And it happened after three days that they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the middle of the [Jewish] teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

Acts 9:1

With every breath [it seemed], Saul [expressed his desire to] threaten and murder the Lord’s disciples and [even] went to the head priest

Acts 26:9

I truly thought within myself [that it was right] to do many things which were opposed to the name of Jesus from Nazareth.