What is the meaning of Acts 22:20? And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed • The scene Paul recalls is the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:55-60). Stephen is called a “witness,” the same word for “martyr,” underscoring that his death was a testimony to Christ’s resurrection (Revelation 12:11). • “Blood” highlights the real, physical cost of following Jesus, echoing Jesus’ words: “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross” (Matthew 16:24). • Stephen’s bold proclamation—“I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56)—was the final spark that led to his death. Paul’s memory of that declaration later shaped his own Christ-centered preaching (cf. Acts 9:20–22). • The spilling of Stephen’s blood fulfills Jesus’ warning that His followers would be persecuted (John 15:18-20) but also advances the gospel: “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (Acts 8:4). I stood there giving my approval • Paul (then Saul) was not a mere bystander; he “was in hearty agreement with putting him to death” (Acts 8:1). • His consent shows the depth of his former hostility: “I persecuted this Way even to the death” (Acts 22:4). • Later, Paul marvels at God’s mercy toward him: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). His conversion demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of grace (Ephesians 2:4-5). • The phrase confronts every reader with the seriousness of sin; agreement with evil is itself culpable (Romans 1:32). Watching over the garments of those who killed him • Acts 7:58 notes that the executioners “laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Guarding the clothes implies responsibility and intent, not neutrality. • Saul’s role allowed the killers freedom to cast stones—an image of active participation, not distant observation. • This memory likely haunted Paul and remained a touchstone of humility: “I am the least of the apostles…because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:9). • His lingering recollection of coats and stones illustrates how specific sins can become catalysts for lifelong repentance and gratitude (Psalm 51:3). summary Acts 22:20 shows Paul publicly confessing his past: he agreed with Stephen’s murder and facilitated it. The verse underscores three truths: martyrdom powerfully testifies to Christ, agreeing with evil is itself sinful, and God’s grace can transform even the fiercest opponent into a devoted servant. The memory of Stephen’s blood not only humbled Paul but propelled his mission, proving that “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20). |
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