Acts 22:20
And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul highlights his active participation by noting he was not only present but "approving" and "watching over the garments"—a deliberate detail showing he wasn't just passively witnessing, but fully complicit and guarding the clothes of those actively carrying out the murder. This suggests a deeper level of shared guilt and enthusiastic consent in Stephen's death than a simple bystander's role.
Paul is recounting his dramatic conversion story to a hostile Jewish crowd, trying to explain why he now follows Jesus. He's just described Jesus appearing to him on the road to Damascus, and now he's detailing his active participation in the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. By confessing his complicity in Stephen's death, Paul emphasizes how far he has come and why his ministry later turned towards the Gentiles.
Paul recounts his role in Stephen's death, but his words reveal a deeper involvement than simple observation.
When Paul describes his actions during Stephen's martyrdom, he uses powerful language to show his complicity.
Actively Approving
He says he was not just 'standing by' but was 'approving' (or 'consenting') to the killing. This wasn't a passive agreement; it was an active endorsement of the violence.
Guarding the Loot
Even more striking is that he was 'watching over the garments' of the executioners. This was a practical, almost mundane task, but it placed him squarely in the role of an accomplice, facilitating the crime and ensuring the perpetrators' belongings were safe while they committed murder.
The Greek word for Stephen's role is loaded with meaning, and Paul's own calling is tied to it.
The text uses a specific Greek word for Stephen's role that carries profound significance, both for Stephen and for Paul.
'Witness' - More Than Testimony
While 'martyr' is a common translation today, the original Greek word primarily means 'witness.' Stephen was a faithful witness to Jesus, even to his death. This word also connects to the calling Paul himself would later embrace.
Paul's Own Calling
Paul understood that the same calling to 'witness' applied to him. By recounting Stephen's martyrdom, he’s not just confessing guilt; he’s acknowledging the dramatic shift from persecutor to fellow witness for Christ, a transformation ordained by God.
Why would Paul bring up such a dark memory when addressing a crowd? It's a profound act of humility and honesty.
Understand the original words
martys · Greek Noun
One who provides evidence or testimony to the truth, often through suffering or martyrdom; a person who has seen or experienced the events of Christ's life and ministry.
Paul recounts his involvement in Stephen's martyrdom to demonstrate the depth of his past opposition to Christianity. This vivid memory underscores the radical nature of his conversion and serves as a powerful testimony to God's transformative grace.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Stephen's Martyrdom
Stephen, one of the early deacons in Jerusalem, is stoned to death by a mob incited by religious leaders. Saul of Tarsus (later Paul) is present, approving of the act and guarding the executioners' cloaks.
c. AD 33-36
Persecution of the Church
Following Stephen's death, a wave of persecution breaks out against the Jerusalem church. Many believers are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, spreading the Christian message.
c. AD 36
Saul's Journey to Damascus
Saul, still a zealous persecutor, travels to Damascus with letters authorizing him to arrest any followers of Christ there. He experiences a dramatic conversion on the road.
c. AD 36-40
Paul's Early Ministry in Arabia and Damascus
After his conversion, Paul retreats to Arabia for a period before returning to Damascus to begin preaching. He narrowly escapes an assassination plot by Jews in Damascus.
This passage describes the stoning of Stephen, where the perpetrators laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul, highlighting his complicity in the event before his conversion.
Acts 8:1This verse immediately follows Stephen's martyrdom and states that Saul 'approved' of Stephen's killing, directly paralleling Paul's confession in Acts 22:20 about his consent and action.
Romans 1:32Paul later writes about people who 'practice such things' and 'not only do them but give approval to those who practice them,' reflecting the same concept of 'consenting' to wrongdoing that he admits to regarding Stephen's death.
1 Timothy 1:13In this letter, Paul calls himself 'a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent opponent,' directly referencing his past actions, including his role in Stephen's death, which he is recounting here.
ellicottActs 22:20: "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."
(20) When the blood of thy martyr Stephen . . . . —Better, thy witness. The English word is, perhaps, a little too definite and technical, and fails to remind us, as the Greek does, that the same word had been used in Acts 22:15 as expressing the office to which St. Paul himself was called. He probably used the Aramaic word Edh, of w…
wesleyActs 22:20: "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."
22:20 When the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by - A real convert still retains the remembrance of his former sins. He confesses thorn and is humbled for them, all the days of his life.
Paul highlights his active participation by noting he was not only present but "approving" and "watching over the garments"—a deliberate detail showing he wasn't just passively witnessing, but fully complicit and guarding the clothes of those actively carrying out the murder. This suggests a deeper level of shared guilt and enthusiastic consent in Stephen's death than a simple bystander's role.
Paul is recounting his dramatic conversion story to a hostile Jewish crowd, trying to explain why he now follows Jesus. He's just described Jesus appearing to him on the road to Damascus, and now he's detailing his active participation in the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. By confessing his complicity in Stephen's death, Paul emphasizes how far he has come and why his ministry later turned towards the Gentiles.
Paul is recounting his dramatic conversion story to a hostile Jewish crowd, trying to explain why he now follows Jesus. He's just described Jesus appearing to him on the road to Damascus, and now he's detailing his active participation in the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. By confessing his complicity in Stephen's death, Paul emphasizes how far he has come and why his ministry later turned towards the Gentiles.
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Paul doesn't shy away from his participation in Stephen's death. He brings it up deliberately, and it reveals a key aspect of his transformed life.
A Humbled Heart
Paul, now a follower of Christ, retains a clear and humble remembrance of his past sins. This isn't about guilt-tripping himself but about acknowledging the depth of God's mercy in saving someone so actively opposed to Him.
Building Credibility (Ironically)
By detailing his former hostility, Paul implicitly argues: 'If God could change me, surely He can change anyone, and you should listen to my message because of this radical transformation.' It's a testament to the power of the Gospel, turning his greatest shame into evidence of God's grace.
c. AD 40-46
Paul in Tarsus
Paul returns to his hometown of Tarsus in Cilicia for a period, likely ministering and evangelizing there while the church in Jerusalem continues to grow.
c. AD 46-48
First Missionary Journey
Barnabas brings Paul from Tarsus to Antioch to help with the burgeoning Gentile church. Together, they embark on their first major missionary journey throughout Asia Minor.
"And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’" — Paul highlights his active participation by noting he was not only present but "approving" and "watching over the garments"—a deliberate detail showing he wasn't just passively witnessing, but fully…
