Acts - 22:21



21 "He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.'"

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Acts 22:21.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
And he said to me: Go, for unto the Gentiles afar off, will I send thee.
And he said to me, Go, for I will send thee to the nations afar off.
and he said unto me, Go, because to nations far off I will send thee.'
"'Go,' He replied; 'I will send you as an Apostle to nations far away.'"
And he said to me, Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.
And he said to me, 'Go forth. For I am sending you to far away nations.' "
But Jesus said to me 'Go; for I will send you to the Gentiles far away'."

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And he said unto me, Depart - Because the Christians at Jerusalem would not receive him.
Far hence - Paul traveled far in the pagan nations. A large part of his ministry was spent in remote countries, and in the most distant regions then known. See Romans 15:19.

I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles - This was the particular appointment of St. Paul: he was the apostle of the Gentiles; for, though he preached frequently to the Jews, yet to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, and to write for the conversion and establishment of the Gentile world, were his peculiar destination. Hence we find him and his companions travelling every where; through Judea, Phoenicia, Arabia, Syria, Cilicia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Pamphylia, Galatia, Phrygia, Macedonia, Greece, Asia, the Isles of the Mediterranean Sea, the Isles of the Aegean Sea, Italy, and some add Spain and even Britain. This was the diocess of this primitive bishop: none of the apostles traveled, none preached, none labored as this man; and, we may add, none was so greatly owned of God. The epistles of Peter, John, James, and Jude, are great and excellent; but, when compared with those of Paul, however glorious they may be, they have no glory comparatively, by reason of that glory which excelleth. Next to Jesus Christ, St. Paul is the glory of the Christian Church. Jesus is the foundation; Paul, the master-builder.

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 conversion of many thousands of them, and to the planting of many churches in the midst of them.

depart for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles--that is, "Enough; thy testimony is not to be thrown away upon Jerusalem; the Gentiles, afar off, are thy peculiar sphere."

*More commentary available at chapter level.


Discussion on Acts 22:21

User discussion of the verse.






*By clicking Submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.