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Easy-to-Read Version

Acts 22:20

The people also know that I was there when Stephen, your witness, was killed. I stood there and agreed that they should kill him. I even held the coats of the men who were killing him!'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Paul;   Stephen;   Temple;   Vision;   Thompson Chain Reference - Connivance;   Stephen;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Lysias;   Martyr;   Stephen;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Martyr;   Paul;   Witness;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Antonia;   Martyr;   Stephen;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Barnabas;   Stephen;   Trance;   Witnesses;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Flogging;   Paul;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Damascus;   Paul the Apostle;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Blood;   Libertines;   Martyr;   Paul;   Rapture Ecstasy;   Stoning;   Witness (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Martyr;   Stephen;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Washing;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Claudius;   Stephen;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Trance;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Martyr;   Stephen;   Witness;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’
King James Version (1611)
And when ye blood of thy martyr Steuen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting vnto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
King James Version
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
English Standard Version
And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.'
New American Standard Bible
'And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him.'
New Century Version
They also know I was there when Stephen, your witness, was killed. I stood there agreeing and holding the coats of those who were killing him!'
Amplified Bible
'And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby approving and consenting [to his death], and guarding the coats of those who were killing him.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.'
Legacy Standard Bible
And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and guarding the garments of those who were slaying him.'
Berean Standard Bible
And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.'
Contemporary English Version
Stephen was killed because he spoke for you, and I stood there and cheered them on. I even guarded the clothes of the men who murdered him."
Complete Jewish Bible
also that when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I was standing there too, in full agreement; I was even looking after the clothes of the ones who were killing him!'
Darby Translation
and when the blood of thy witness Stephen was shed, I also myself was standing by and consenting, and kept the clothes of them who killed him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when the blood of thy martyr Steuen was shed, I also stood by, and consented vnto his death, & kept the clothes of them that slew him.
George Lamsa Translation
And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and was in accord with his slayers, and was in charge of the garments of them who stoned him.
Good News Translation
And when your witness Stephen was put to death, I myself was there, approving of his murder and taking care of the cloaks of his murderers.'
Lexham English Bible
And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself also was standing near and was approving, and was guarding the cloaks of those who were killing him.'
Literal Translation
And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was poured out, I myself also was standing by and consenting to his execution, and holding the garments of those killing him.
American Standard Version
and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.
Bible in Basic English
And when Stephen your witness was put to death, I was there, giving approval, and looking after the clothing of those who put him to death.
Hebrew Names Version
When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'
International Standard Version
Even when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I was standing there approving it and guarding the coats of those who were killing him.'Luke 11:48; Acts 7:58; 8:1; Romans 1:32;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And when the blood of thy martyr Estephanos was shed, I also stood with them, and fulfilled the will of his murderers, and kept the garments of them who stoned him.
Murdock Translation
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing with them, and performed the pleasure of his slayers, and took charge of the garments of those that stoned him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when the blood of thy wytnesse Steuen was shedde, I also stoode by, and consented vnto his death, and kept the rayment of them that slue hym.
English Revised Version
and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.
World English Bible
When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting to his death, and kept the garments of them that slew him.
Weymouth's New Testament
and when they were shedding the blood of Stephen, Thy witness, I was standing by, fully approving of it, and I held the clothes of those who were killing him.'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne the blood of Steuene, thi witnesse, was sched out, Y stood niy, and consentide, and kept the clothis of men that slowen hym.
Update Bible Version
and when the blood of Stephen your witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of those that slew him.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
New English Translation
And when the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing nearby, approving, and guarding the cloaks of those who were killing him.'
New King James Version
And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, [fn] and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'
New Living Translation
And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.'
New Life Bible
Also when Stephen was killed, I stood there and watched them throw stones at him. Those who threw the stones had me watch their coats.'
New Revised Standard
And while the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing by, approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him.'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, when the blood of Stephen thy witness was being shed, even I myself, was standing by, and approving, and guarding the mantles of them who were slaying him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I stood by and consented: and kept the garments of them that killed him.
Revised Standard Version
And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by and approving, and keeping the garments of those who killed him.'
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And when the bloud of thy witnes Steven was sheed I also stode by and consented vnto his deeth and kept the rayment of them that slewe him.
Young's Literal Translation
and when the blood of thy witness Stephen was being poured forth, I also was standing by and assenting to his death, and keeping the garments of those putting him to death;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And wha the bloude of Steue thy witnesse was shed, I stode by also, & consented vnto his death, and kepte the clothes of them that slewe him.
Mace New Testament (1729)
that I was present, when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, that I abetted the slaughter, and watch'd the clothes of those who slew him.
Simplified Cowboy Version
And when your cowboy Steve was killed, I held the jackets of the assassins and cheered them on. When they see my turn around, won't they see the truth?'

Contextual Overview

3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in the country of Cilicia. I grew up in this city. I was a student of Gamaliel, who carefully taught me everything about the law of our fathers. I was very serious about serving God, the same as all of you here today. 4 I persecuted the people who followed the Way. Some of them were killed because of me. I arrested men and women and put them in jail. 5 "The high priest and the whole council of older Jewish leaders can tell you that this is true. One time these leaders gave me some letters. The letters were to the Jewish brothers in the city of Damascus. I was going there to arrest the followers of Jesus and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. 6 "But something happened to me on my way to Damascus. It was about noon when I came close to Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from heaven shined all around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 8 "I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?' The voice said, ‘I am Jesus from Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.' 9 The men who were with me did not understand the voice, but they saw the light. 10 "I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord answered, ‘Get up and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that I have planned for you to do.' 11 I could not see, because the bright light had made me blind. So the men led me into Damascus. 12 "In Damascus a man named Ananias came to me. He was a man who was devoted to God and obeyed the Law of Moses. All the Jews who lived there respected him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

martyr: Revelation 2:13, Revelation 17:6

Stephen: Acts 7:58, Acts 8:1

consenting: Luke 11:48, Romans 1:32

Reciprocal: Matthew 23:34 - ye Mark 13:9 - take Luke 11:49 - and some Acts 9:13 - how Acts 14:19 - having Acts 22:4 - I persecuted Acts 26:10 - I also

Cross-References

Genesis 11:26
After Terah was 70 years old, his sons Abram, Nahor, and Haran were born.
Genesis 11:29
Abram and Nahor both married. Abram's wife was named Sarai. Nahor's wife was named Milcah. Milcah was the daughter of Haran. Haran was the father of Milcah and Iscah.
Genesis 24:10
The servant took ten of Abraham's camels and left that place. The servant carried with him many different kinds of beautiful gifts. He went to Mesopotamia, to Nahor's city.
Genesis 24:15
Before the servant finished praying, a young woman named Rebekah came to the well. She was the daughter of Bethuel. (Bethuel was the son of Milcah and Nahor, Abraham's brother.) Rebekah came to the well with her water jar on her shoulder.
Genesis 24:24
Rebekah answered, "My father is Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor."
Genesis 31:53
May the God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their ancestors judge us guilty if we break this agreement." Jacob's father, Isaac, called God "Fear." So Jacob used that name to make the promise.
Proverbs 25:25
Good news from a faraway place is like a cool drink of water when you are hot and thirsty.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed,.... Stephen was a martyr for Christ, both by confession with his mouth, and by the effusion of his blood; he was the proto-martyr, or "the first martyr" that suffered for Christ; and there are copies, as one of Stephens's, and the Complutensian edition, which so read in this place; his blood was shed by stoning:

I also was standing by; to see the inhuman action performed; nor was he an idle and indifferent spectator:

and consenting unto his death; being pleased and delighted with it, and rejoicing at it; see Acts 8:1.

and kept the raiment of them that slew him; the accusers of him, and witnesses against him, whose hands were first on him, and cast the first stones at him, and continued to stone him, until they killed him: these laid their garments at the feet of Saul, who looked after them, that nobody stole them, and run away with them, whilst they were stoning Stephen; which shows how disposed he was to that fact, and how much he approved of it: and these things he mentions to suggest that surely the Jews would receive his testimony, since they knew what a bitter enemy he had been to this way: and therefore might conclude, that he must have some very good and strong reasons, which had prevailed upon him to embrace this religion against all his prejudices, and so might be willing to hear them; and it also shows what an affection the apostle had for the Jews, and how much he desired their spiritual welfare, for which reason he chose to have stayed, and preached among them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed - See Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1.

I also was standing by - Acts 7:58.

And consenting unto his death - Acts 8:1.

And kept the raiment - The outer robes or garments, which were usually laid aside when they engaged in running or labor. See Acts 7:58. All this showed that, though Paul was not engaged in stoning Stephen, yet he was with them in spirit, and fully accorded with what they did. These circumstances are mentioned here by him as reasons why he knew that he would not be received by Christians as one of their number, and why it was necessary, therefore, for him to turn to the Gentile world.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 22:20. When the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shedActs 7:58; Acts 7:58; and Acts 8:1; Acts 8:1. All these things Paul alleged as reasons why he could not expect to be received by the Christians; for how could they suppose that such a persecutor could be converted?


 
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