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As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,
Acts 22:23 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,
  • KJV And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
  • NKJV Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,
  • NASB And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,
  • NLT They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The enraged crowd shouts, throws off their cloaks, and flings dust into the air. Their frenzied gestures display uncontrolled fury against Paul.

Overview

The throwing of cloaks and dust are signs of extreme outrage and protest. The scene captures the irrational violence that the gospel can provoke in hardened hearts. Yet God remains in control, and the mob's fury will become the occasion for Paul's witness before governors and kings.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 5

  • 2 Sam 16:13So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David.
  • Acts 7:58They 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 26:11I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
  • Eccl 10:3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
  • Acts 7:53you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 22:23YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 22:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.