“Brothers
and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.” When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said, “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today.
Acts 22:1-3
Acts 21 [40.] When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
Acts 22 [1.] “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”
Acts 22 [2.] When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said, “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished. As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky. I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’
Acts 22 [9.] “Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me. I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’ When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him. He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
Meaning:
Standing on the stairs of the Roman barracks, bound in chains, Paul turned to the crowd that had just tried to kill him and began his defence (Acts 21:39-40). His opening words do not attack his hearers; they seek common ground. Before telling how he met Jesus, Paul reminds them that he is one of them.
- “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you”
Paul addressed the crowd as family: “brothers” for his fellow Jews and “fathers” for the elders and leaders among them. Stephen had begun his defence before the council with the same words, “Brothers and fathers, listen” (Acts 7:2), and Paul had been present when Stephen was stoned (Acts 7:58). The word “defense” is a legal term for a reasoned reply to charges. The crowd had accused Paul of teaching against the people, the law and the temple (Acts 21:28). He answers with the story of his life.
- “he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet”
The commander had been surprised that Paul spoke Greek (Acts 21:37). Now Paul addressed the crowd in their own tongue. Many scholars think “the Hebrew language” here means Aramaic, the everyday language of Jews in Judea, which was closely related to Hebrew; others take it to mean Hebrew itself. Either way, it told the crowd he was no foreigner. The noise died away and they listened.
- “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city”
Tarsus was a leading city of Cilicia and a centre of learning. Paul was born there; he later described himself as “of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee” (Philippians 3:5). Yet he was raised in Jerusalem, “this city,” the very place where the crowd stood. He was not an outsider who had picked up strange ideas abroad.
- “at the feet of Gamaliel”
To sit “at the feet” of a teacher meant to be his student. Gamaliel was one of the most honoured rabbis of the time, “a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people” (Acts 5:34). It was Gamaliel who had advised the council to leave the apostles alone (Acts 5:38-39). Paul had received the best training in the law that Judaism could offer, “instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers.”
- “being zealous for God, even as you all are today”
Paul generously credits the crowd with zeal for God, the same zeal he once had. He wrote of his own past, “I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers” (Galatians 1:14). Of his people he said, “I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). His own zeal had led him to persecute the followers of Jesus (Acts 22:4).
The Significance of Acts 22:1-3
- Finding common ground
Paul spoke to an angry crowd with respect. He called them brothers and fathers, used their language, and acknowledged their zeal. Christians who share their faith with those who oppose them can learn from this: begin where people are, honour what is good in them, and tell the story of what God has done.
- Sincerity is not enough
The crowd was sincere, and so was Saul of Tarsus when he persecuted the church. Paul’s testimony shows that a person can be devoted, educated and religious, and still need to meet Jesus. True zeal for God must be joined to knowledge of the truth God has revealed in his Son.
Cross-References:
Acts 7:2: “Brothers and fathers, listen.” Stephen’s opening words before the council.
Acts 5:34: “A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people.” Paul’s teacher.
Galatians 1:14: “Being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” Paul’s zeal before his conversion.
Romans 10:2: “They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” Paul’s view of his people’s zeal.
Conclusion: Paul began his defence by calling the crowd brothers and fathers and speaking in their own language, and they fell silent. He reminded them that he was a Jew, raised in Jerusalem, trained by Gamaliel in the strict law of their fathers, and once as zealous for God as they were. His opening shows respect and common ground, preparing them to hear how that zeal was turned by an encounter with Jesus.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible