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Friday, July 25th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Acts 22:4

"I went after anyone connected with this ‘Way,' went at them hammer and tongs, ready to kill for God. I rounded up men and women right and left and had them thrown in prison. You can ask the Chief Priest or anyone in the High Council to verify this; they all knew me well. Then I went off to our brothers in Damascus, armed with official documents authorizing me to hunt down the followers of Jesus there, arrest them, and bring them back to Jerusalem for sentencing.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bigotry;   Paul;   Way;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Martyrdom;   Persecution;   Zeal;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Damascus;   Lysias;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Way;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christians, Names of;   Faith;   Paul the Apostle;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Antonia;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Persecution in the Bible;   Prison, Prisoners;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Acts of the Apostles;   Damascus;   Paul the Apostle;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Damascus, Damascenes;   Martyr;   Paul;   Roman Law in the Nt;   Voice;   Way;   Way (2);   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Washing;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Claudius;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Paul;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Apostolic Age;   Persecution;   Way;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail,
King James Version (1611)
And I persecuted this way vnto the death, binding and deliuering into prisons both men and women,
King James Version
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
English Standard Version
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,
New American Standard Bible
"I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,
New Century Version
I persecuted the people who followed the Way of Jesus, and some of them were even killed. I arrested men and women and put them in jail.
Amplified Bible
"I persecuted and pursued the followers of this Way to the death, binding them with chains and putting [followers of Jesus] both men and women into prisons,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,
Legacy Standard Bible
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons,
Berean Standard Bible
I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,
Contemporary English Version
I made trouble for everyone who followed the Lord's Way, and I even had some of them killed. I had others arrested and put in jail. I didn't care if they were men or women.
Complete Jewish Bible
I persecuted to death the followers of this Way, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.
Darby Translation
who have persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women;
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And I persecuted this way vnto the death, binding and deliuering into prison both men and women.
George Lamsa Translation
And I persecuted this religion to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Good News Translation
I persecuted to the death the people who followed this Way. I arrested men and women and threw them into prison.
Lexham English Bible
I persecuted this Way to the death, tying up and delivering to prison both men and women,
Literal Translation
I persecuted this Way as far as death, binding and delivering up both men and women to prisons,
American Standard Version
and I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Bible in Basic English
And I made attacks on this Way, even to death, taking men and women and putting them in prison.
Hebrew Names Version
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
International Standard Version
I persecuted this Way even to the death and kept tying up both men and women and putting them in prison,Acts 8:3; 26:9-11; Philippians 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:13;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And this way I persecuted unto the death, while I bound and delivered to the house of the bound both men and women;
Murdock Translation
And I persecuted this way, even to death; for I bound, and delivered up to prison, [fn] men and women.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I persecuted this way vnto the death, byndyng & delyueryng into prison both men and women,
English Revised Version
and I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
World English Bible
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women: As likewise the high priest is my witness, and all the estate of the elders:
Weymouth's New Testament
I persecuted to death this new faith, continually binding both men and women and throwing them into prison;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y pursuede this weie til to the deth, byndynge and bitakinge `in to holdis men and wymmen,
Update Bible Version
and I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Webster's Bible Translation
And I persecuted this way even to death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
New English Translation
I persecuted this Way even to the point of death, tying up both men and women and putting them in prison,
New King James Version
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
New Living Translation
And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.
New Life Bible
"I worked hard and killed men and women who believed as I believe today. I put them in chains and sent them to prison.
New Revised Standard
I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, this way, I persecuted unto the death, binding and delivering up into prisons both men and women: -
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
Revised Standard Version
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and I persecuted this waye vnto the deeth byndynge and delyveringe into preson bothe men and wemen
Young's Literal Translation
`And this way I persecuted unto death, binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and I persecuted this waye vnto the death. I bounde them and delyuered them vnto preson, both men and wemen,
Mace New Testament (1729)
for I persecuted this sect even to death, throwing them into chains and prisons both men and women:
Simplified Cowboy Version
I even hunted down Jesus's followers and either killed 'em or locked 'em up. It didn't matter if they were men or women, I hounded them day and night.

Contextual Overview

3 The next day, determined to get to the root of the trouble and know for sure what was behind the Jewish accusation, the captain released Paul and ordered a meeting of the high priests and the High Council to see what they could make of it. Paul was led in and took his place before them. 4"I went after anyone connected with this ‘Way,' went at them hammer and tongs, ready to kill for God. I rounded up men and women right and left and had them thrown in prison. You can ask the Chief Priest or anyone in the High Council to verify this; they all knew me well. Then I went off to our brothers in Damascus, armed with official documents authorizing me to hunt down the followers of Jesus there, arrest them, and bring them back to Jerusalem for sentencing. 6"As I arrived on the outskirts of Damascus about noon, a blinding light blazed out of the skies and I fell to the ground, dazed. I heard a voice: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?' 8"‘Who are you, Master?' I asked. "He said, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the One you're hunting down.' My companions saw the light, but they didn't hear the conversation. 10"Then I said, ‘What do I do now, Master?' "He said, ‘Get to your feet and enter Damascus. There you'll be told everything that's been set out for you to do.' And so we entered Damascus, but nothing like the entrance I had planned—I was blind as a bat and my companions had to lead me in by the hand. 12"And that's when I met Ananias, a man with a sterling reputation in observing our laws—the Jewish community in Damascus is unanimous on that score. He came and put his arm on my shoulder. ‘Look up,' he said. I looked, and found myself looking right into his eyes—I could see again! 14"Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has handpicked you to be briefed on his plan of action. You've actually seen the Righteous Innocent and heard him speak. You are to be a key witness to everyone you meet of what you've seen and heard. So what are you waiting for? Get up and get yourself baptized, scrubbed clean of those sins and personally acquainted with God.' 17"Well, it happened just as Ananias said. After I was back in Jerusalem and praying one day in the Temple, lost in the presence of God, I saw him, saw God's Righteous Innocent, and heard him say to me, ‘Hurry up! Get out of here as quickly as you can. None of the Jews here in Jerusalem are going to accept what you say about me.' 19"At first I objected: ‘Who has better credentials? They all know how obsessed I was with hunting out those who believed in you, beating them up in the meeting places and throwing them in jail. And when your witness Stephen was murdered, I was right there, holding the coats of the murderers and cheering them on. And now they see me totally converted. What better qualification could I have?' 21 "But he said, ‘Don't argue. Go. I'm sending you on a long journey to outsider non-Jews.'"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I persecuted: Acts 22:19, Acts 22:20, Acts 7:58, Acts 8:1-4, Acts 9:1, Acts 9:2, Acts 9:13, Acts 9:14, Acts 9:21, Acts 26:9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:9, Philippians 3:6, 1 Timothy 1:13-15

this: Acts 16:17, Acts 18:26, Acts 19:9, Acts 19:23, Acts 24:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:29 - General Psalms 67:2 - thy way Luke 11:49 - and some John 16:2 - the time Acts 5:14 - multitudes Acts 8:3 - General Acts 26:10 - I also Galatians 1:13 - how

Cross-References

Exodus 5:3
They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can worship our God lest he strike us with either disease or death."
Exodus 15:22
Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. They got to Marah, but they couldn't drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That's why they called the place Marah (Bitter). And the people complained to Moses, "So what are we supposed to drink?"
Numbers 10:33
And so off they marched. From the Mountain of God they marched three days with the Chest of the Covenant of God in the lead to scout out a campsite. The Cloud of God was above them by day when they marched from the camp. With the Chest leading the way, Moses would say, Get up, God ! Put down your enemies! Chase those who hate you to the hills! And when the Chest was set down, he would say, Rest with us, God , Stay with the many, Many thousands of Israel.
Numbers 31:19
"Now here's what you are to do: Pitch tents outside the camp. All who have killed anyone or touched a corpse must stay outside the camp for seven days. Purify yourselves and your captives on the third and seventh days. Purify every piece of clothing and every utensil—everything made of leather, goat hair, or wood."
1 Samuel 26:13
Then David went across to the opposite hill and stood far away on the top of the mountain. With this safe distance between them, he shouted across to the army and Abner son of Ner, "Hey, Abner! How long do I have to wait for you to wake up and answer me?" Abner said, "Who's calling?"
Esther 5:1
Three days later Esther dressed in her royal robes and took up a position in the inner court of the palace in front of the king's throne room. The king was on his throne facing the entrance. When he noticed Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased to see her; the king extended the gold scepter in his hand. Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. The king asked, "And what's your desire, Queen Esther? What do you want? Ask and it's yours—even if it's half my kingdom!"
Luke 13:32
Jesus said, "Tell that fox that I've no time for him right now. Today and tomorrow I'm busy clearing out the demons and healing the sick; the third day I'm wrapping things up. Besides, it's not proper for a prophet to come to a bad end outside Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets, abuser of the messengers of God! How often I've longed to gather your children, gather your children like a hen, Her brood safe under her wings— but you refused and turned away! And now it's too late: You won't see me again until the day you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of God.'"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I persecuted this way unto the death,.... That is, the Christian religion, and the professors of it; whom the apostle breathed out threatenings and slaughter against, haled out of their houses, and committed to prison; consented to their death, as he did to Stephen's; and whenever it was put to the vote, whether they should die or not, he gave his voice against them; so that he was a most bitter enemy, and an implacable persecutor of them; which shows how very averse he was to this way, and how great his prejudices were against it; wherefore it must be a work of divine power, and there must be the singular hand of God in it, to reconcile him to it, and cause him to embrace and profess it:

binding and delivering into prisons, both men and women: see Acts 8:3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I persecuted - Acts 8:3.

This way - Those who were of this mode of worshipping God; that is, Christians. See the notes on Acts 9:2.

Unto the death - Intending to put them to death. He did not probably put any to death himself, but he committed them to prison; he sought their lives; he was the agent employed in arresting them; and when they were put to death, he tells us that he gave his voice against them Acts 26:10; that is, he joined in, and approved of their condemnation.

Delivering into prisons ... - Acts 8:3.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 22:4. I persecuted this way — Ταυτην την ὁδον; This doctrine, the way of worshipping God, and arriving at a state of blessedness. Acts 9:2.

Binding and delivering into prisonsActs 8:3; and Acts 9:2.


 
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