The Meaning of Acts 22:18 Explained

Acts 22:18

KJV: And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

YLT: and I saw him saying to me, Haste and go forth in haste out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive thy testimony concerning me;

Darby: and saw him saying to me, Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

ASV: and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of thee testimony concerning me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  saw  him  saying  unto me,  Make haste,  and  get thee  quickly  out of  Jerusalem:  for  they will  not  receive  thy  testimony  concerning  me. 

What does Acts 22:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 22:17-30 - Saved For Further Service
To the story of his conversion, as given in Acts 9:1-43, the Apostle here adds a detailed account of that memorable interview in the Temple, when he questioned the advisability of the Lord's command that he should leave Jerusalem, and received his final and irrevocable commission to go to the Gentiles. It is a great privilege to be permitted to overhear this dialogue! How close and intimate is the disciple's relationship with his Lord! God allowed Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah to reason with Him. He does not crush down our intelligence. It is His own word, "Come, let us reason together." But there is a point beyond which we may not go, when we must accept without question the final instructions of our Captain.
A free-born Roman was Paul. More than once he had asserted his rights as a Roman citizen, as at Philippi. There are various social and political advantages which we can turn to account in our service of the gospel, but they cannot carry us very far, and ultimately we are better off if we step out upon the unwonted waters, simply because Jesus says, Come! [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 22

1  Paul declares how he was converted to the faith,
17  and called to his apostleship
22  At the very mentioning of the Gentiles the people exclaim on him
24  He would have been scourged;
25  but claiming the privilege of a Roman, he escapes

Greek Commentary for Acts 22:18

Saw him saying [ιδειν αυτον λεγοντα]
The first visit after his conversion when they tried to kill him in Jerusalem (Acts 9:29). [source]
Because [διοτι δια]
(διοτι δια — diotiοτι — dia and hoti), for that. [source]
for that []
. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 22:18

Acts 23:11 The Lord [ο κυριος]
Jesus. Paul never needed Jesus more than now. On a previous occasion the whole church prayed for Peter‘s release (Acts 12:5), but Paul clearly had no such grip on the church as that, though he had been kindly welcomed (Acts 21:18). In every crisis Jesus appears to him (cf. Acts 18:9). It looked dark for Paul till Jesus spoke. Once before in Jerusalem Jesus spoke words of cheer (Acts 22:18). Then he was told to leave Jerusalem. Now he is to have “cheer” or “courage” Jesus used this very word to others (Matthew 9:2, Matthew 9:22; Mark 10:49). It is a brave word. Thou hast testified (διεμαρτυρω — diemarturō). First aorist middle indicative second person singular of διαμαρτυρομαι — diamarturomai strong word (See note on Acts 22:18). Must thou That is the needed word and on this Paul leans. His hopes (Acts 19:21) of going to Rome will not be in vain. He can bide Christ‘s time now. And Jesus has approved his witness in Jerusalem. [source]
Acts 23:11 Thou hast testified [διεμαρτυρω]
First aorist middle indicative second person singular of διαμαρτυρομαι — diamarturomai strong word (See note on Acts 22:18). [source]
Acts 25:4 Was kept in charge [τηρεισται]
Present passive infinitive of τηρεω — tēreō in indirect assertion. οτι — Hoti with finite verb is more common after αποκρινομαι — apokrinomai but the infinitive with the accusative of general reference is proper as here (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1036). Shortly (εν ταχει — en tachei). In quickness, in speed. Old and common usage, seen already in Luke 18:8; Acts 12:7; Acts 22:18. Festus is clearly within his rights again since his stay in Caesarea had been so brief. He did go down in “eight or ten days” (Acts 25:6). Luke did not consider the matter important enough to be precise. [source]
Acts 25:4 Shortly [εν ταχει]
In quickness, in speed. Old and common usage, seen already in Luke 18:8; Acts 12:7; Acts 22:18. Festus is clearly within his rights again since his stay in Caesarea had been so brief. He did go down in “eight or ten days” (Acts 25:6). Luke did not consider the matter important enough to be precise. [source]
1 Corinthians 9:1 Seen Jesus []
See 1 Corinthians 15:8; Acts 9:17; Acts 18:9; Acts 22:17, Acts 22:18; 2 Corinthians 12:1sqq. Compare Acts 22:14. [source]
1 Timothy 5:19 Receive not [μη παραδεχου]
Present middle imperative with μη — mē (prohibition) of παραδεχομαι — paradechomai to receive, to entertain. Old verb. See Acts 22:18. Accusation (κατηγοριαν — katēgorian). Old word (from κατηγορος — katēgoros). In N.T. only here, Titus 1:6; John 18:29 in critical text. Except For this double construction see note on 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 15:2. At the mouth of (επι — epi). Idiomatic use of επι — epi (upon the basis of) as in 2 Corinthians 13:1. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 22:18 mean?

and saw Him saying to me Make haste go away with speed out of Jerusalem because not they will receive your testimony about Me
καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτὸν λέγοντά μοι Σπεῦσον ἔξελθε ἐν τάχει ἐξ Ἰερουσαλήμ διότι οὐ παραδέξονταί σου μαρτυρίαν περὶ ἐμοῦ

ἰδεῖν  saw 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
λέγοντά  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
μοι  to  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Σπεῦσον  Make  haste 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: σπεύδω  
Sense: to haste, make haste.
ἔξελθε  go  away 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἐξέρχομαι 
Sense: to go or come forth of.
τάχει  speed 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: τάχος  
Sense: quickness, speed.
ἐξ  out  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
Ἰερουσαλήμ  Jerusalem 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: Ἰερουσαλήμ  
Sense: denotes either the city itself or the inhabitants.
διότι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: διότι  
Sense: on this account that, because.
παραδέξονταί  they  will  receive 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Plural
Root: παραδέχομαι  
Sense: to receive, take up, take upon one’s self.
σου  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
μαρτυρίαν  testimony 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: μαρτυρία  
Sense: a testifying.
περὶ  about 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
ἐμοῦ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.