Acts 22:12
in Acts 22There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,
KJV
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
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This verse in Acts 22
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Ananias, a devout man, according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there--One would not know from this description of Ananias that he was a Christian at all, the apostles object being to hold him up as unexceptionable, even to the most rigid Jews.
This site's exposition
a devout man according to the law
on Acts 22:12-13
Paul describes Ananias as a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, a detail chosen for this very audience, presenting his baptism as the work of a Torah-observant Jew rather than a renegade. Ananias came and said, Brother Saul, receive thy sight, and the same hour Paul looked up and saw him, the address itself remarkable, brother, spoken to a man who had come to arrest people just like him. The healing is instant, and Paul holds Ananias’s fuller commission back for the next verse, building his defense in careful order.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him." And see how unexceptionable he makes him also. "And one Ananias," he says, "a devout man according to the law," - so far is it from being anything alien! - "having a good report of all the Jews that dwelt there." "And I in the same hour received sight." Then follows the testimony borne by the facts. Observe how it is interwoven, of persons and facts; and the persons, both of their own and of aliens: the priests, the elders, and his fellow-travellers: the facts, what he did and what was done to him: and facts bear witness to facts, not persons only. Then Ananias, an alien; then the fact itself, the recovery of sight; then a great prophecy.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He was not a man that was any way prejudiced against the Jewish nation or religion, but was himself a devout man according to the law; if not a Jew by birth, yet one that had been proselyted to the Jewish religion, and therefore called a devout man, and thence advanced further to the faith of Christ; and he conducted himself so well that he had a good report of all the Jews that dwelt at Damascus.
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law,....
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἁνανίας | hananias | Ananias | G367 → | 11 times |
| δέ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τις, | tis | certain, | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἀνὴρ | aner | a man | G435 → | 216 times |
| εὐλαβὴς | eulabes | devout | G2126 → | 4 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νόμον, | nomon | law, | G3551 → | 192 times |
| μαρτυρούμενος | marturoumenos | borne witness to | G3140 → | 76 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| πάντων | panton | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατοικούντων | katoikounton | dwelling [there] | G2730 → | 44 times |
| Ἰουδαίων, | ioudaion | Jews, | G2453 → | 192 times |
ἉνανίαςAnanias
hananiasG367 →11 times
δέthen
deG1161 →2765 times
τις,certain,
tisG5100 →528 times
ἀνὴρa man
anerG435 →216 times
εὐλαβὴςdevout
eulabesG2126 →4 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
νόμον,law,
nomonG3551 →192 times
μαρτυρούμενοςborne witness to
marturoumenosG3140 →76 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →219 times
πάντωνall
pantonG3956 →1235 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
κατοικούντωνdwelling [there]
katoikountonG2730 →44 times
Ἰουδαίων,Jews,
ioudaionG2453 →192 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 6:3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 3:7–15
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
- Deuteronomy 1:13
Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
- James 3:17–18
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- 1 Timothy 5:10
and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
- Numbers 27:18–19
And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.
- 1 Timothy 3:7–15
Through
3 John 1:12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 3:7
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
- John 21:24
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
- Acts 10:22
“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in…
- 1 Timothy 3:7
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 47; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.