Acts 22:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Lord answers Paul simply: Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
What Does Acts 22:21 Mean?
The vision closes with the word that will define Paul's life and ignite this crowd. Jesus overrules Paul's reasoning with a commission: far from Jerusalem, out to the nations. It is the calling foretold to Ananias (Acts 9:15) and the hinge on which the book of Acts turns.
'I will send thee' makes Paul a sent one, an apostle in the plainest sense. The God of Israel had always purposed blessing for all families of the earth (Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 49:6), and in the risen Jesus that promise marches out. Countless believers across the nations are heirs of this one sentence and of the obedience that followed it.
Acts 22:21 in the Original Language
exapostello (ἐξαποστέλλω), 'send' -- to send out on a mission; kin to the word for apostle, a sent one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 22:21
What does Acts 22:21 mean?
The Lord answers Paul simply: Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.