And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The immediate command to "Depart!" cuts short Paul's plea to his Jewish countrymen, revealing that the very reason he's being removed from Jerusalem is precisely because his ultimate mission lies outside of them. The gracious promise, "I will send you far away to the Gentiles," isn't just a new assignment, but the core of his divine calling, a "fatal word" for the angry crowd because it signifies God's expansive love beyond their borders.
And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is recounting his dramatic conversion to a furious mob in Jerusalem, trying to explain God's plan for him. He's just told them about his divine commission to preach to the Gentiles, a truth that infuriates them, leading Jesus to instruct him to leave immediately. This declaration to go to the Gentiles marks a significant turning point, signaling the true, global scope of Paul's mission beyond the Jewish people.
Paul was telling his life story, trying to bridge the gap with the angry crowd. Then, one word changed everything.
When Jesus speaks to Paul in Acts 22, He reveals the core of Paul's future mission: to the Gentiles. The word 'Gentiles' (non-Jews) was explosive for the Jewish crowd. They saw themselves as God's chosen people, and the idea of God's message going to outsiders was deeply offensive. For Paul, this single word signified a massive shift – a commission to a mission he would embrace, but one that would always provoke strong reactions.
Paul's pleas to the Jewish crowd were cut short. Jesus' response wasn't just an exit strategy, but a divine redirection.
The dialogue in Acts 22:17-21 reveals a pivotal moment. The Jewish leaders and crowd in Jerusalem couldn't accept Paul's testimony, even with his passionate defense of his past zeal. Jesus' command for Paul to 'Depart!' isn't simply an escape from danger. It's the launch of an entirely new trajectory. His mission wouldn't primarily be within Jerusalem or even all of Judea, but 'far away' to the Gentiles. This redirection shows God's plan unfolding even when human plans and expectations are thwarted.
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ethnos · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, Gentiles refers to all people groups or nations outside of the covenant people of Israel. Through the gospel, Gentiles are included in the promise of salvation, becoming fellow heirs with the Jews in Christ.
The crowd's violent reaction reveals their deep-seated resistance to the idea that God's message is for anyone other than themselves. Jesus' command to Paul here directly addresses this by commissioning him for a mission far beyond Jewish borders.
c. 34 AD
Stephen's Martyrdom and Saul's Persecution
Saul of Tarsus actively participates in the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. This event marks the beginning of a fierce persecution of the early church in Jerusalem, prompting many believers to scatter.
c. 34 AD
Saul's Conversion on the Road to Damascus
While en route to arrest Christians in Damascus, Saul has a dramatic encounter with the resurrected Jesus. He is dramatically converted and blinded, and is later healed and filled with the Holy Spirit in Damascus.
c. 37-43 AD
Saul's Early Ministry in Arabia and Damascus
After his conversion, Saul spends time in Arabia and later returns to Damascus, where he begins to preach boldly about Jesus. His new message arouses strong opposition from Jewish authorities.
c. 43-46 AD
Saul's Visit to Jerusalem and Tarsus
Saul travels to Jerusalem and meets with Peter and James, but the Hellenistic Jews attempt to kill him, forcing him to flee to his hometown of Tarsus. He spends several years there.
c. 46-48 AD
Barnabas Recruits Saul for Ministry in Antioch
Barnabas seeks out Saul in Tarsus and brings him to Antioch, a major center for gentile believers. Together, they minister to a large crowd of both Jews and Gentiles for about a year.
c. 55 AD— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Jerusalem
Returning to Jerusalem with offerings for the poor, Paul is attacked by Jewish crowds in the temple. Roman soldiers rescue him, and he is imprisoned. He later appeals to Caesar.
c. 59-60 AD
Paul's Voyage to Rome
As an appellant to Caesar, Paul is sent to Rome under guard. This journey is fraught with danger, including severe storms and a shipwreck on the island of Malta.
Paul directly addresses his role as the apostle to the Gentiles, highlighting how this mission was divinely appointed and central to his ministry.
Galatians 2:8This passage emphasizes God's powerful working in Paul to make him an apostle specifically for the Gentiles, echoing the commission given in Acts.
Acts 26:17-18Jesus reiterates Paul's commission here, expanding on the mission to open eyes, turn people from darkness to light, and receive forgiveness, all directed towards the Gentiles.
Jeremiah 1:5Similar to Paul's call, Jeremiah was appointed as a prophet to the nations before his birth, showing a pattern of God choosing individuals for a broad, international mission.
pulpitActs 22:21: "And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles."
Verse 21. - Send thee forth for send thee, A.V. The natural understanding of the preceding dialogue is that Saul, when bid depart quickly out of Jerusalem because the Jews would not receive his testimony, was unwilling to obey, and pleaded that surely the Jews must listen to him and be convinced, since they were well aware how hot and zealous a partisan of the Jews he had been, and must see that nothing…
gillActs 22:21: "And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles."
And he said unto me, depart,.... At once from Jerusalem, and out of the land of Judea: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles; to the nations afar off, even as far as Illyricum, Pannonia, or Hungary, where the apostle went and preached, Romans 15:19 and so by a divine mission and commission he became the apostle of the Gentiles, and preached the Gospel among them with great success, to the con…
The immediate command to "Depart!" cuts short Paul's plea to his Jewish countrymen, revealing that the very reason he's being removed from Jerusalem is precisely because his ultimate mission lies outside of them. The gracious promise, "I will send you far away to the Gentiles," isn't just a new assignment, but the core of his divine calling, a "fatal word" for the angry crowd because it signifies God's expansive love beyond their borders.
Paul is recounting his dramatic conversion to a furious mob in Jerusalem, trying to explain God's plan for him. He's just told them about his divine commission to preach to the Gentiles, a truth that infuriates them, leading Jesus to instruct him to leave immediately. This declaration to go to the Gentiles marks a significant turning point, signaling the true, global scope of Paul's mission beyond the Jewish people.
Paul is recounting his dramatic conversion to a furious mob in Jerusalem, trying to explain God's plan for him. He's just told them about his divine commission to preach to the Gentiles, a truth that infuriates them, leading Jesus to instruct him to leave immediately. This declaration to go to the Gentiles marks a significant turning point, signaling the true, global scope of Paul's mission beyond the Jewish people.
"And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”" — The immediate command to "Depart!" cuts short Paul's plea to his Jewish countrymen, revealing that the very reason he's being removed from Jerusalem is precisely because his ultimate mission lies *ou…
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Last reviewed October 2026