Act 22:12-16 | RWP | e4.org | A devout man according to the law ( ευλαβης κατα τον νομον ). See on ; ; for the adjective ευλαβης . Paul adds "according to the law" to show that he was introduced to Christianity by a devout Jew and no law-breaker (Lewin).

‏ Acts 22:12-16

A devout man according to the law ( ευλαβης κατα τον νομον ). See on 2:5; 8:2; Lu 2:25 for the adjective ευλαβης. Paul adds "according to the law" to show that he was introduced to Christianity by a devout Jew and no law-breaker (Lewin).

I looked up on him ( αναβλεψα εις αυτον ). First aorist active indicative and same word as αναβλεψον (Receive thy sight). Hence here the verb means as the margin of the Revised Version has it: "I received my sight and looked upon him." For "look up" see Joh 9:11.

Hath appointed thee ( προεχειρισατο ). First aorist middle indicative of προχειριζω, old verb to put forth into one's hands, to take into one's hands beforehand, to plan, propose, determine. In the N.T. only in Ac 3:20; 22:14; 26:16. Three infinitives after this verb of God's purpose about Paul:

to know ( γνωνα, second aorist active of γινωσκω ) his will,

to see ( ιδειν, second aorist active of οραω ) the Righteous One (cf. 3:14),

to hear ( ακουσα, first aorist active of ακουω ) a voice from his mouth.

A witness for him ( μαρτυς αυτω ). As in 1:8.

Of what ( ων ). Attraction of the accusative relative α to the genitive case of the unexpressed antecedent τουτων.

Thou hast seen and heard ( εωρακας, present perfect active indicative κα ηκουσας, first aorist active indicative). This subtle change of tense is not preserved in the English. Blass properly cites the perfect εωρακα in 1Co 9:1 as proof of Paul's enduring qualification for the apostleship.

By baptized ( βαπτισα ). First aorist middle (causative), not passive, Get thyself baptized (Robertson, Grammar, p. 808). Cf. 1Co 10:2. Submit yourself to baptism. So as to απολουσα, Get washed off as in 1Co 6:11. It is possible, as in 2:38, to take these words as teaching baptismal remission or salvation by means of baptism, but to do so is in my opinion a complete subversion of Paul's vivid and picturesque language. As in Ro 6:4-6 where baptism is the picture of death, burial and resurrection, so here baptism pictures the change that had already taken place when Paul surrendered to Jesus on the way (verse 10). Baptism here pictures the washing away of sins by the blood of Christ.