Devine Scripture

Acts 22:23

What does Acts 22:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 22:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 22:23 means

The crowd’s outrage manifests physically: they cry out, fling off their garments, and toss dust into the air—gestures of fury and perhaps symbolic outrage. The scene threatens to spiral into violence again. These actions display not reasoned disagreement but blind passion. Their response confirms the Lord’s assessment that Paul’s testimony would not be received in Jerusalem. The moment illustrates how the gospel can expose the heart: where humility is absent, zeal devolves into rage. Paul, having done what he could to explain, must now be protected by the civil authority from the mob’s wrath.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And while they were crying out, and pulling off their clothing, and sending dust into the air,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And they crying out and casting up their garments, and throwing dust into the air,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And as they cried out and threw off their garments and cast dust into the air,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And as they were crying, and throwing away their clothes, and casting dust into the air,

Context

Coming immediately after the explosive rejection in verse 22, verse 23 heightens the sense of chaos. The Roman commander, responsible for order, must act decisively. Accordingly, verse 24 will describe his decision to bring Paul into the barracks and examine him by scourging to learn the real reason for the uproar. This transition shifts the scene from public riot to Roman procedure, where Paul will assert his rights as a citizen.

v.22And 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.

v.23This passage

v.24the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:3

    Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

  • 2 Samuel 16:13

    So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

  • Acts 7:53

    ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.

  • Acts 7:58

    and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

  • Acts 26:11

    And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.

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