Acts 22:1
What does Acts 22:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 22:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 22:1 means
Paul opens with respectful address, calling the hostile crowd “Brethren and fathers” and asking them to hear his defense. He signals that what follows is not a counterattack but a reasoned explanation. By appealing to shared kinship and to the elders’ dignity, he lowers the temperature and shows himself a faithful Jew seeking understanding, not a renegade. The term “defence” suggests a formal apologia—he intends to account for his life and message under God. His aim is not merely to escape danger but to bear truthful witness, trusting that a calm, honest account may pierce hardened hearts and clarify the real issue at stake: who Jesus is and what God has done through Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949My brothers and fathers, give ear to the story of my life which I now put before you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Men, brethren, and fathers, hear my defence now unto you;' --
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Men, brethren and fathers, hear ye the account which I now give unto you.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Brethren and fathers, hear my defence which I now make to you.
Context
After being seized in the temple and rescued by Roman soldiers (end of Acts 21), Paul is granted a chance to speak from the barracks’ steps. Verse 1 is his courteous opening, important for winning a hearing from a volatile crowd. Next, he will address them in Hebrew, further disarming suspicion and showing solidarity. The flow moves from respectful introduction, to establishing common ground, to recounting his past zeal and persecution, preparing for the turning point—his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road.
v.1This passage
v.2And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Timothy 4:16
At my first defence no one took my part, but all forsook me: may it not be laid to their account.
- Romans 2:15
in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them);
- 2 Corinthians 7:11
For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.
- Acts 25:8
while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all.
- Acts 24:10
And when the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, Paul answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I cheerfully make my defence:
- Luke 12:11
And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
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