Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 22

Paul opens his defense with the formal Jewish address “Men, brothers” (cf. 7:2). Many commentators have objected that this speech does not fit the occasion, for it makes no mention of the people’s charge that Paul had defiled the temple by taking Trophimus, a Gentile, into its inner courts (cf. 21:28b–29). In reality, however, this speech deals eloquently with the major charge against him—that of being a Jewish apostate (cf. 21:28a)—by setting in a Jewish context all that had happened in his Christian life and by insisting that what others might consider apostasy really came to him as a revelation from heaven. Indeed, the speech parallels much of what Luke has already given us about Paul’s conversion in 9:1–19 and what he will give us again in 26:2–23. Such repetition impresses something of exceptional importance indelibly on his readers’ minds (cf. introductory comment on 9:1–30). Yet the variations in each of these three accounts correspond to their respective contexts and purposes.

Paul opens his defense with the formal Jewish address “Men, brothers” (cf. 7:2). Many commentators have objected that this speech does not fit the occasion, for it makes no mention of the people’s charge that Paul had defiled the temple by taking Trophimus, a Gentile, into its inner courts (cf. 21:28b–29). In reality, however, this speech deals eloquently with the major charge against him—that of being a Jewish apostate (cf. 21:28a)—by setting in a Jewish context all that had happened in his Christian life and by insisting that what others might consider apostasy really came to him as a revelation from heaven. Indeed, the speech parallels much of what Luke has already given us about Paul’s conversion in 9:1–19 and what he will give us again in 26:2–23. Such repetition impresses something of exceptional importance indelibly on his readers’ minds (cf. introductory comment on 9:1–30). Yet the variations in each of these three accounts correspond to their respective contexts and purposes.

The triad of birth, upbringing, and training was a conventional way in antiquity of describing a man’s youth. What Paul is here saying is, “I am a Jew, ‘born’ in Tarsus of Cilicia, ‘brought up’ in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and ‘instructed’ in the strict manner of the law of our fathers.” That is, his Jewishness cannot be disputed (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:22), and he insists that with such a background he was as zealous for all that Judaism stands for as any of those in the crowd before him (cf. Galatians 1:14).

As evidence of his zeal for God and the Jewish religion, Paul cites his earlier persecution of Christians (cf. comments on 9:1–2). The ascription “this way” picks up what was the earliest self-designation of the first believers in Jesus at Jerusalem—namely, “those of the Way” (cf. comment on 9:2).

As evidence of his zeal for God and the Jewish religion, Paul cites his earlier persecution of Christians (cf. comments on 9:1–2). The ascription “this way” picks up what was the earliest self-designation of the first believers in Jesus at Jerusalem—namely, “those of the Way” (cf. comment on 9:2).