Acts 22:8
What does Acts 22:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 22:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 22:8 means
Paul asks, “Who art thou, Lord?” and receives the decisive answer: “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.” The risen Jesus speaks from heaven, identifying Himself by His earthly name and tying Paul’s hostility to persecution of Him personally. This revelation collapses Paul’s worldview. The One he deemed a false Messiah is alive, glorious, and united to His followers. Here the gospel’s center shines: Jesus is Lord. The persecutor meets the Person. Knowledge of the law cannot save him; only mercy from the living Christ can. From this moment, Paul’s life is reoriented under Jesus’ authority and grace.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I, answering, said, Who are you; Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are attacking.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? and he said unto me, I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou dost persecute--
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazaraean, whom thou persecutest.
Context
Following the probing question of verse 7, verse 8 provides the identity that upends Paul’s course. The crowd hears that the crucified Nazarene is alive and speaking from heaven, which validates the claims of “the Way.” The narrative now moves to Paul’s immediate submission and to instructions for the next steps (verses 9–11). Ananias will later confirm this encounter and unfold Paul’s calling (verses 12–15), grounding Paul’s mission in God’s revealed will.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 26:14
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad.
- Acts 26:9
I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
- Matthew 10:40
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
- Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.
- Acts 4:10
be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole.
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