Bible Strands
Acts 22:20
And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses a Jerusalem crowd recounting his past persecution, speaking immediately before Christ commissions him to the Gentiles.
The words — ἐξεχυννέτο (exechunneto) literally means “was poured out,” describing Stephen’s blood, while μάρτυς (martys) identifies him as a “witness.”
The thread — This account parallels Acts 7:58, where the executioners lay their garments at Saul’s feet, and Acts 8:1, which records Saul’s active approval of Stephen’s death.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to acknowledge personal complicity in religious violence and recognize that divine redirection follows confessed participation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
Cross-references
- Acts 7:58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
- Acts 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
- Romans 1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
- Revelation 2:13 I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits, yet you hold fast to My name. You did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of My faithful witness Antipas, who was killed among you where Satan dwells.
- Luke 11:48 So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.
- Acts 26:10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.
- Revelation 17:6 I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.