The Meaning of Acts 22:23 Explained

Acts 22:23

KJV: And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

YLT: And they crying out and casting up their garments, and throwing dust into the air,

Darby: And as they were crying, and throwing away their clothes, and casting dust into the air,

ASV: And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  as they  cried out,  and  cast off  [their] clothes,  and  threw  dust  into  the air, 

What does Acts 22:23 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 22:23

As they cried out [κραυγαζοντων αυτων]
Genitive absolute with present active participle of κραυγαζω — kraugazō a rare word in the old Greek from κραυγη — kraugē (a cry). See Matthew 12:19. Two other genitive absolutes here, ριπτουντων — rhiptountōn (throwing off, present active participle, frequent active variation of ριπτω — rhiptō) and βαλλοντων — ballontōn (present active participle of βαλλω — ballō flinging). These present participles give a lively picture of the uncontrolled excitement of the mob in their spasm of wild rage. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 22:23

Ephesians 2:2 The air []
According to Paul's usage, in the simple physical sense. See Acts 22:23; 1 Corinthians 9:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 16:17. The air is regarded as the region of the demons' might. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 22:23 mean?

Were crying out then they and casting off the garments dust throwing into the air
Κραυγαζόντων τε αὐτῶν καὶ ῥιπτούντων τὰ ἱμάτια κονιορτὸν βαλλόντων εἰς τὸν ἀέρα

Κραυγαζόντων  Were  crying  out 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: κραυγάζω  
Sense: to cry out, cry aloud, to shout, to cry out to one.
ῥιπτούντων  casting  off 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ῥιπτέω  
Sense: to cast, throw.
ἱμάτια  garments 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἱμάτιον  
Sense: a garment (of any sort).
κονιορτὸν  dust 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: κονιορτός  
Sense: raised dust, flying dust.
βαλλόντων  throwing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: βάλλω 
Sense: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ἀέρα  air 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀήρ  
Sense: the air, particularly the lower and denser air as distinguished from the higher and rarer air.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 22:23?

Loading Information...