The Meaning of Acts 22:22 Explained

Acts 22:22

KJV: And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

YLT: And they were hearing him unto this word, and they lifted up their voice, saying, 'Away from the earth with such an one; for it is not fit for him to live.'

Darby: And they heard him until this word, and lifted up their voice, saying, Away with such a one as that from the earth, for it was not fit he should live.

ASV: And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  they gave  him  audience  unto  this  word,  and  [then] lifted up  their  voices,  and said,  Away with  such  a [fellow] from  the earth:  for  it is  not  fit  that he  should live. 

What does Acts 22:22 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jews had taken messages from God to Gentiles many times in Israel"s past (e.g, Jonah; the Pharisees, Matthew 23:15; et al.). That revelation could not have been what infuriated Paul"s audience. What upset them was that Paul was approaching Gentiles directly about the Messiah without first introducing them to Judaism and its institutions. This was equivalent to placing Gentiles on the same footing before God as Jews, and this was the height of apostasy to the traditional Jewish mind. This is why Paul"s hearers reacted so violently and allowed him to say no more.
"The bulk of Jerusalem has reacted now against Jesus, Peter, John , Stephen, and Paul. For Acts , this is a final, key rejection of the gospel ..." [1]

Context Summary

Acts 22:17-30 - Saved For Further Service
To the story of his conversion, as given in Acts 9:1-43, the Apostle here adds a detailed account of that memorable interview in the Temple, when he questioned the advisability of the Lord's command that he should leave Jerusalem, and received his final and irrevocable commission to go to the Gentiles. It is a great privilege to be permitted to overhear this dialogue! How close and intimate is the disciple's relationship with his Lord! God allowed Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah to reason with Him. He does not crush down our intelligence. It is His own word, "Come, let us reason together." But there is a point beyond which we may not go, when we must accept without question the final instructions of our Captain.
A free-born Roman was Paul. More than once he had asserted his rights as a Roman citizen, as at Philippi. There are various social and political advantages which we can turn to account in our service of the gospel, but they cannot carry us very far, and ultimately we are better off if we step out upon the unwonted waters, simply because Jesus says, Come! [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 22

1  Paul declares how he was converted to the faith,
17  and called to his apostleship
22  At the very mentioning of the Gentiles the people exclaim on him
24  He would have been scourged;
25  but claiming the privilege of a Roman, he escapes

Greek Commentary for Acts 22:22

They gave him audience [ηκουον]
Imperfect active, they kept on listening, at least with respectful attention. [source]
Unto this word [αχρι τουτου του λογου]
But “this word” was like a spark in a powder magazine or a torch to an oil tank. The explosion of pent-up indignation broke out instantly worse than at first (Acts 21:30). Away with such a fellow from the earth (Αιρε απο της γης τον τοιουτον — Aire apo tēs gēs ton toiouton). They renew the cry with the very words in Acts 21:36, but with “from the earth” for vehemence. For it is not fit Imperfect active of κατηκω — kathēkō old verb to come down to, to become, to fit. In the N.T. only here and Romans 1:28. The imperfect is a neat Greek idiom for impatience about an obligation: It was not fitting, he ought to have been put to death long ago. The obligation is conceived as not lived up to like our “ought” (past of owe). See Robertson, Grammar, p. 886. [source]
Away with such a fellow from the earth [Αιρε απο της γης τον τοιουτον]
They renew the cry with the very words in Acts 21:36, but with “from the earth” for vehemence. [source]
For it is not fit [ου γαρ κατηκεν]
Imperfect active of κατηκω — kathēkō old verb to come down to, to become, to fit. In the N.T. only here and Romans 1:28. The imperfect is a neat Greek idiom for impatience about an obligation: It was not fitting, he ought to have been put to death long ago. The obligation is conceived as not lived up to like our “ought” (past of owe). See Robertson, Grammar, p. 886. [source]
They gave him audience [ἤκουον]
The imperfect. Up to this word they were listening. [source]
Lifted up their voice, etc []
“Then began one of the most odious and despicable spectacles which the world can witness, the spectacle of an oriental mob, hideous with impotent rage, howling, yelling, cursing, gnashing their teeth, flinging about their arms, waving and tossing their blue and red robes, casting dust into the air by handfuls, with all the furious gesticulations of an uncontrolled fanaticism” (Farrar). Hackett cites Sir John Chardin (“Travels into Persia and the East Indies”) as saying that it is common for the peasants in Persia, when they have a complaint to lay before their governors, to repair to them by hundreds or a thousand at once. They place themselves near the gate of the palace, where they suppose they are most likely to be seen and heard, and there set up a horrid outcry, rend their garments, and throw dust into the air, at the same time demanding justice. Compare 2 Samuel 16:13. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 22:22

Luke 23:18 Away [αἶρε]
Lit., take away. Compare Acts 21:36; Acts 22:22. [source]
Luke 23:18 Away [αιρε]
Present active imperative, Take him on away and keep him away as in Acts 21:36; Acts 22:22, of Paul. But release (απολυσον — apoluson) is first aorist active imperative, do it now and at once. [source]
Acts 2:14 Lifted up his voice [επηρεν την πωνην αυτου]
This phrase only in Luke in the N.T. (Luke 11:29; Acts 2:14; Acts 14:11; Acts 22:22), but is common in the old writers. First aorist active indicative of επαιρω — epairō The large crowd and the confusion of tongues demanded loud speaking. “This most solemn, earnest, yet sober speech” (Bengel). Codex Bezae adds “first” after “voice.” Peter did it to win and hold attention. Give ear unto my words (ενωτισαστε τα ρηματα μου — enōtisasthe ta rhēmata mou). Late verb in lxx and only here in the N.T. First aorist middle from ενωτιζομαι — enōtizomai (εν ους — enous ear) to give ear to, receive into the ear. People‘s ears differ greatly, but in public speech they have to be reached through the ear. That puts an obligation on the speaker and also on the auditors who should sit where they can hear with the ears which they have, an obligation often overlooked. [source]
Acts 21:36 Crying out [κραζοντες]
Construction according to sense, plural masculine participle agreeing with neuter singular substantive πλητος — plēthos (Robertson, Grammar, p. 401). Away with him (Αιρε αυτον — Aire auton). The very words used by the mob to Pilate when they chose Barabbas in preference to Jesus (Luke 23:18, Αιρε τουτον — Aire touton). He will hear it again from this same crowd (Acts 22:22). It is the present imperative (αιρε — aire) as in Luke 23:18, but some may have used the urgent aorist active imperative as also in the case of Jesus John 19:15, αρον αρον — āronσταυρωσον — āron with staurōson added). Luke does not say that this mob demanded crucifixion for Paul. He was learning what it was to share the sufferings of Christ as the sullen roar of the mob‘s yells rolled on and on in his ears. [source]
Acts 21:36 Away with him [Αιρε αυτον]
The very words used by the mob to Pilate when they chose Barabbas in preference to Jesus (Luke 23:18, Αιρε τουτον — Aire touton). He will hear it again from this same crowd (Acts 22:22). It is the present imperative Luke does not say that this mob demanded crucifixion for Paul. He was learning what it was to share the sufferings of Christ as the sullen roar of the mob‘s yells rolled on and on in his ears. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 22:22 mean?

They were listening now to him until this - word and they lifted up the voice of them saying Away with from the earth the such Not for it is fit he to live
Ἤκουον δὲ αὐτοῦ ἄχρι τούτου τοῦ λόγου καὶ ἐπῆραν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν λέγοντες Αἶρε ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς τὸν τοιοῦτον οὐ γὰρ καθῆκεν αὐτὸν ζῆν

Ἤκουον  They  were  listening 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
αὐτοῦ  to  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἄχρι  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἄχρι  
Sense: until, unto, etc.
τούτου  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
λόγου  word 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
ἐπῆραν  they  lifted  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐπαίρω  
Sense: to lift up, raise up, raise on high.
φωνὴν  voice 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: φωνή  
Sense: a sound, a tone.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
λέγοντες  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Αἶρε  Away  with 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: αἴρω  
Sense: to raise up, elevate, lift up.
γῆς  earth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.
τοιοῦτον  such 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: τοιοῦτος  
Sense: such as this, of this kind or sort.
καθῆκεν  it  is  fit 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καθήκω  
Sense: to come down.
ζῆν  to  live 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).

What are the major concepts related to Acts 22:22?

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