Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 22:8
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
8. of Nazareth ] This is found only here in chap, 22, the other two accounts omitting the words, though in some MSS., to make one story exactly like the other, they are inserted in Act 9:5. Such assimilation of verses to each other is not uncommon in the Acts.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I am Jesus of Nazareth; that contemned (though not contemptible) name is owned by Christ from heaven, that they might not be ashamed when they were reproached by it on earth. Of the rest, See Poole on “Act 9:5“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. Jesus of NazareththeNazarene. See on Ac 9:5.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And I answered, who art thou, Lord?….
[See comments on Ac 9:5].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Of Nazareth ( ). The Nazarene, not in Acts 9:5; Acts 26:15 and here because Jesus is mentioned now for the first time in the address. The form as in Mt 2:23 (which see) is used also in 24:5 for the followers of Jesus instead of as in Mr 1:24, etc. (which see).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Of Nazareth [ ] . Lit., the Nazarene. Not mentioned in ch. 9.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And I answered, Who art thou, Lord?” (ego de apekrithen tis ei kurie) “And I replied, who are you, Lord?” This indicates that he recognized that he had heard the voice of God, in Christ Himself, speaking to him, Pro 1:22-23; Heb 3:7-8; Heb 4:7.
2) “And He said unto me,”(eipente proseme) “Then He said (responded) to me,” as surely and personally as He spoke to Moses at the burning bush, or Isaiah in the temple of the Lord, Exo 3:4-10; Isa 6:8.
3) “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.” (ego eimi lesous ho Nazoraios hon su diokeis) “I am Jesus, the Nazarene whom you are persecuting;” The voice of Jesus was a voice of authority, and He established His identity, before He gave Paul his commission, Act 9:5; Act 26:15. To persecute the people of the Lord, and the church of Jesus, is to persecute Jesus, even as Paul stated that he had once done in ignorance, 1Ti 1:13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. Jesus of Nazareth Jesus, the Nazarene. Paul uses the epithet here in purposed identification of Jesus with the disciples now living in Jerusalem, who bore the epithet of Nazarenes.
“And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting’.”
But he had not been able to see how what he was doing was persecuting God, so he had asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the reply had been that it was Jesus of Nazareth Whom he was persecuting. To persecute His followers was to persecute Him. Whatever else this proved it demonstrated that Jesus was alive and in heaven and approved of by God, for here He spoke from God. It was proclaiming the living, resurrected and enthroned Lord.
It was also a strong hint to the crowd. They too were persecuting Jesus when they should instead be listening to Him and acknowledging His resurrection. It had not been a secret. They too should be saying, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
Ver. 8. I am Jesus of Nazareth ] Why saith our Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth? Doth any good come out of Nazareth? Why saith he not rather I am Jesus the Son of God, the heir of the world &c. Nazareth was a reproach cast upon Christ and he glories in it: should not we prefer the reproach of Christ before the highest honour the world can do us?
Act 22:8-9 . See on Act 9:5 and Act 9:4 ; Act 9:7 ; Act 9:9 . . ., see critical note.
answered. Greek. apokrinomai. App-122.
Lord. App-98.
Jesus. App-98.
of Nazareth = the Nazarene. See Act 2:22. The Lord Himself uses the despised name.
I am: Act 3:6, Act 4:10, Act 6:14, Mat 2:23
whom: Act 26:14, Act 26:15, Exo 16:7, Exo 16:8, 1Sa 8:7, Zec 2:8, Mat 10:40-42, Mat 25:40, Mat 25:45, 1Co 12:12, 1Co 12:26, 1Co 12:27
Reciprocal: Joh 1:45 – Jesus Act 2:22 – Jesus Act 9:4 – why Act 26:9 – the name
8
Act 22:8. Paul (or Saul) knew that the person to whom he was talking was not on the earth. When he was told that it was the person whom he was persecuting, he did not express any surprise or question as to how he could be persecuting anyone who was not among men. He understood the subject of responsibility and association to mean that “he that despiseth you [the disciples] despiseth me” [Jesus].
Act 22:8. I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutes. More literally, Jesus the Nazarene. This title of the Lord is peculiar to this account of the conversion. It seems probable that the followers of the Crucified, whom Paul was proceeding to Damascus to persecute, were called Nazarenes, and the inquisitor was arrested in his work by One from heaven calling Himself The Nazarene.
See notes on verse 3
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)