Acts 22:20 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul confesses that when the blood of Stephen was shed he stood by, consenting to his death and guarding the clothes of the men who killed him.
What Does Acts 22:20 Mean?
Paul reaches the darkest memory he owns. Stephen, the first to die for the name of Jesus, was stoned while Saul kept the coats and gave the deed his full approval (Acts 7:58; 8:1). The word rendered 'martyr' is the word for witness: Stephen testified, and the testimony cost his life.
Paul never hid this guilt, for grace had gone deeper than the shame (1 Corinthians 15:9-10). Stephen died praying, 'Lord, lay not this sin to their charge' (Acts 7:60), and that prayer found its answer in the young man who watched him fall. No confessed sin lies beyond the mercy of Christ, and God can make a persecutor finish the course his victim began.
Acts 22:20 in the Original Language
syneudokeo (συνευδοκέω), 'consenting' -- to approve along with others, to give full agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 22:20
What does Acts 22:20 mean?
Paul confesses that when the blood of Stephen was shed he stood by, consenting to his death and guarding the clothes of the men who killed him.