Acts 22:8
New International Version
“’Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “’I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.

New Living Translation
“‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’

English Standard Version
And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

Berean Standard Bible
‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

Berean Literal Bible
And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'

King James Bible
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

New King James Version
So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

New American Standard Bible
And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

NASB 1995
“And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

NASB 1977
“And I answered, ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

Legacy Standard Bible
And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

Amplified Bible
And I replied, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

Christian Standard Bible
“I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord? ’ “He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’” He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, the One you are persecuting!’

American Standard Version
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Contemporary English Version
"Who are you?" I answered. The Lord replied, "I am Jesus from Nazareth! I am the one you are so cruel to."

English Revised Version
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I answered, 'Who are you, sir?' "The person told me, 'I'm Jesus from Nazareth, the one you're persecuting.'

Good News Translation
'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute,' he said to me.

International Standard Version
"I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' "He told me, 'I'm Jesus from Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'

Majority Standard Bible
‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

NET Bible
I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'

New Heart English Bible
I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazorean, whom you persecute.'

Webster's Bible Translation
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Weymouth New Testament
"'Who art thou, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene,' He replied, 'whom you are persecuting.'

World English Bible
I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I answered, Who are You, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you persecute—

Berean Literal Bible
And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'

Young's Literal Translation
'And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? and he said unto me, I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou dost persecute --

Smith's Literal Translation
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarite, whom thou drivest out.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I responded, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

New American Bible
I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’

New Revised Standard Version
I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Then he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I answered and said, Who are you, my LORD? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Naz’a-reth, whom you persecute.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“But I answered, and I said, “Who are you, my lord?” And he said to me, “I am Yeshua the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And I answered, Who art thou Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you persecute.

Godbey New Testament
And I responded, Who art thou, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou art persecuting.

Haweis New Testament
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarean, whom thou persecutest.

Mace New Testament
I answered, who art thou, Lord? it answered, "I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou dost persecute."

Weymouth New Testament
"'Who art thou, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene,' He replied, 'whom you are persecuting.'

Worrell New Testament
And I answered, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, Whom you are persecuting.'

Worsley New Testament
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Defense to the Crowd
7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ 8‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. 9My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.…

Cross References
Acts 9:4-5
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” / “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.

Acts 26:14-15
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ / ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

John 9:5
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 12:35-36
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. / While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

1 Corinthians 15:8
And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.

Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

1 Timothy 1:13-16
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. / And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. / This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. ...

1 Corinthians 9:1
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

Galatians 1:15-16
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased / to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,

Exodus 3:4-6
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. / “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” / Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Isaiah 6:8-9
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!” / And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

Ezekiel 1:28
The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

Daniel 10:7-9
Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves. / So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. / I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

Genesis 46:2
And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob.


Treasury of Scripture

And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.

I am.

Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 4:10
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Acts 6:14
For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

whom.

Acts 26:14,15
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks…

Exodus 16:7,8
And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? …

1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

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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.














‘Who are You, Lord?’
This phrase captures Saul's immediate response to the divine encounter on the road to Damascus. The Greek word for "Lord" here is "Κύριε" (Kyrie), which can mean "sir" or "master," but in this context, it signifies a recognition of divine authority. Saul, later known as Paul, acknowledges the presence of a higher power, even though he does not yet fully understand who is speaking to him. This moment marks the beginning of Saul's transformation, as he moves from persecutor to apostle. The question reflects a heart that is open to revelation and truth, a pivotal moment of humility and submission.

‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,’
The identification of Jesus as "of Nazareth" is significant. Nazareth was a small, seemingly insignificant town, yet it fulfills the prophecy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23). This title emphasizes Jesus' humanity and His humble earthly origins, contrasting with His divine nature. The Greek "Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος" (Iēsous ho Nazōraios) underscores the historical reality of Jesus' life and ministry. For Saul, this revelation is shocking, as he realizes that the very person he has been persecuting is the risen Lord, affirming the truth of the resurrection and the continuity of Jesus' mission.

‘whom you are persecuting,’
This phrase highlights the intimate connection between Jesus and His followers. The Greek word "διώκεις" (diōkeis) means "to pursue" or "to persecute." Jesus' words reveal that any attack on His followers is an attack on Him personally. This profound truth underscores the unity of the body of Christ and the deep love Jesus has for His church. For Saul, this is a moment of conviction and realization that his actions against Christians are, in fact, actions against the Messiah himself. It is a call to repentance and a turning point that leads to his conversion and subsequent mission to spread the Gospel.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
‘Who
Τίς (Tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

are You,
εἶ (ei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

Lord?’
Κύριε (Kyrie)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

I
Ἐγὼ (Egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

asked.
ἀπεκρίθην (apekrithēn)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

‘I
Ἐγώ (Egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am
εἰμι (eimi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

of
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Nazareth,
Ναζωραῖος (Nazōraios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3480: A Nazarene, an inhabitant of Nazareth. From Nazareth; a Nazoraean, i.e. Inhabitant of Nazareth; by extension, a Christian.

whom
ὃν (hon)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

you
σὺ (sy)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are persecuting,’
διώκεις (diōkeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

He replied.
Εἶπέν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.


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Acts 22:7
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