Acts 22:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul confesses that he once persecuted the followers of this way even to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.
What Does Acts 22:4 Mean?
Before he can tell what changed him, Paul owns what he was. 'This way' was the earliest name for the company of Jesus' disciples (Acts 9:2), and Paul had hunted it relentlessly, sparing neither men nor women, pursuing believers to the death.
There is no varnish on this confession. Paul never forgot what he had been forgiven, calling himself the chief of sinners whom Christ came to save (1 Timothy 1:13-15). Honest testimony names the past plainly, because mercy shines brightest against the darkness it has overcome. No hearer could dismiss Paul as a man who had never taken the law seriously; he had been more violent for it than any of them.
Acts 22:4 in the Original Language
hodos (ὁδός), 'way' -- a road or path; the earliest name for the fellowship of Jesus' followers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 22:4
What does Acts 22:4 mean?
Paul confesses that he once persecuted the followers of this way even to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.