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Acts 22:3

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Acts 22:3

Verse 3 of 30

Scripture focus

I 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.

Acts 22:3 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 22:3

Theological / Devotional

I am verity. The word “I” is emphatic. See on ch. 21:39.

Tarsus. See on chs. 6:9; 9:11; 21:39.

Brought up. Probably not as a child, but as a young man. Although born abroad, Paul reached maturity in the conservative atmosphere of the citadel of Judaism.

At the feet. In Paul’s day both teacher and pupils sat, the former at a higher level than the latter.

Gamaliel. See on ch. 5:34.

Perfect. Gr. akribeia, “exactness,” “strictness.” Paul assures the crowd that his background is thoroughly Jewish. He fully understands their point of view. See on chs. 23:6; 24:14; 26:3-5.

The law. That is, the Jewish system of religious belief and practice.

Zealous. See on ch. 21:20. Paul knew from personal experience what it meant to be “zealous” for “the law.”

As ye all are. Paul assures the listening Jews that they and he have a common ground for reaching an understanding. In a sense, he commends them for their desire to preserve the Temple sacred and inviolate.

By SdaBc