Acts 22:3 Meaning and Explanation
“I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul gives his credentials: a Jew born in Tarsus, raised in Jerusalem, trained under Gamaliel in the strict way of the fathers' law, and zealous toward God just as his hearers are.
What Does Acts 22:3 Mean?
Paul answers the charge that he despises the law and the temple (Acts 21:28) with his own story. Gamaliel was the most honored teacher of that generation (Acts 5:34), and Paul had sat at his feet, schooled in the exact observance of the ancestral law.
'As ye all are this day' is a gracious word: Paul credits the crowd's zeal because he once burned with the same fire and understands them from within. Yet zeal toward God is not the same as knowledge of his Son (Romans 10:2), and Paul's life shows that the most learned and devout still need to meet Jesus. Christ does not despise such training; he redeems it and turns it to his service.
Acts 22:3 in the Original Language
akribeia (ἀκρίβεια), 'perfect manner' -- strict exactness, careful precision in keeping the law.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 22:3
What does Acts 22:3 mean?
Paul gives his credentials: a Jew born in Tarsus, raised in Jerusalem, trained under Gamaliel in the strict way of the fathers' law, and zealous toward God just as his hearers are.