Acts 22:3
What does Acts 22:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 22:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 22:3 means
Paul roots himself firmly within Judaism: a Jew by birth, from Tarsus, yet raised in Jerusalem and trained at the feet of Gamaliel, a respected teacher. He was instructed in the strict manner of the law and was zealously devoted to God, just as his hearers are. This is not boasting but connection: he wants them to see that his present faith in Jesus did not arise from ignorance of the law or disdain for Israel’s traditions. Rather, the God he serves now is the God he served then. Paul’s journey starts not outside but inside Israel’s piety, making his later change all the more striking and credible.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:
KJV
King James Version · 1611I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia by birth, but I had my education in this town at the feet of Gamaliel, being trained in the keeping of every detail of the law of our fathers; given up to the cause of God with all my heart, as you are today.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`I, indeed, am a man, a Jew, having been born in Tarsus of Cilicia, and brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, having been taught according to the exactitude of a law of the fathers, being zealous of God, as all ye are to-day.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he saith: I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth of the law of the fathers, zealous for the law, as also all you are this day:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to [the] exactness of the law of [our] fathers, being zealous forGod, as ye are all this day;
Context
Having gained a hearing, Paul now establishes common ground with his audience by emphasizing his Jewish pedigree and rabbinic training. Verse 3 bridges into verses 4–5, where he confesses his fierce persecution of the church, proving his former zeal. This sequence is crucial: it shows he did not lightly abandon ancestral ways but was confronted by divine revelation. The story’s arc will lead from zeal, to persecution, to the Damascus encounter where the risen Jesus redirects his zeal to God’s true purpose.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 8:35
And they went out to see what had come to pass; and they came to Jesus, and found the man, from whom the demons were gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus: and they were afraid.
- Luke 2:46
And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:
- Deuteronomy 33:3
Yea, he loveth the people; All his saints are in thy hand: And they sat down at thy feet; Every oneshall receive of thy words.
- Acts 6:9
But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue calledthe synagogueof the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
- Philippians 3:5
circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
- Acts 9:30
And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
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