Acts 22:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 22:16

His Name for the Name of the Lord, A.V. and T.R. Wash away thy sins ; ἀπόλουσαι , only here and in 1 Corinthians 6:11 , where it is found in exactly the same sense of "washing away sins" (see 1 Corinthians 6:9 , 1 Corinthians 6:10 ) in holy baptism. Hence the λουτρὸν παλιγγενεσίας , "the washing of regeneration'' ( Titus 3:5 ; comp. Ephesians 5:26 ; and see Acts 2:38 , note). Calling on his Name ( ἐπικαλεσάμενος ); see Acts 2:21 ; Acts 7:59 , note; Acts... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 22:16

And now why tarriest thou? - Why dost thou delay, or wait any longer? These words are not recorded by Luke in Acts 9:0, where he has given an account of the conversion of Paul; but there is nothing here contradictory to his statement.And wash away thy sins - Receive baptism as emblematic of the washing away of sins. It cannot be intended that the external rite of baptism was sufficient to make the soul pure, but that it was an ordinance divinely appointed as expressive of the washing away of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 22:6-16

Acts 22:6-16. And as I made my journey, &c., about noon For all was done in the face of the sun; suddenly there shone a great light By whatever method God reveals himself to us, we shall have everlasting cause to remember it; especially when he has gone, in any remarkable manner, out of his common way, for this gracious purpose. If so, we should often dwell on the particular circumstance, and be ready, on every proper occasion, to recount these wonders of power and love for the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 22:1-29

Paul’s reply to the crowd (21:37-22:29)By his command of the situation, Paul showed much physical courage and mental alertness. One minute he was snatched from a violent death, the next he was able to address a mob of wildly excited Jews who were screaming for his blood. He spoke with such power that a rioting crowd of would-be murderers listened to him in silence (37-40).Paul wanted to show that he was a zealous Jew, called by God to serve him. He told of his Jewish upbringing and education,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 22:16

baptized . App-115 . The verb is in Mid. Voice. wash away . Greek. apolouo. App-136 and App-185 . sins . Greek. hamartia. App-128 . calling on . See note on Acts 2:21 . the name . See note on Acts 2:38 . the Lord . The texts read "of Him", i.e. His name, referring to the Righteous One. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 22:16

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away they sins, calling on his name.Efforts of men to spoil this text with the insinuation that it means, "Be baptized in token of the washing away of thy sins,"[14] are frustrated by the clear and certain meaning of it. The incomparable Hackett said:This clause states the results of baptism in language derived from the nature of the ordinance and has the meaning of "Submit to the rite in order to be forgiven."[15]Arise and be baptized... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 22:16

Acts 22:16. Be baptized,— Baptism, in respect to adults, except in the very peculiar instance of our Lord, was a token of confession and humiliation for sin; and of a desire to be cleansed from it, as the body is by water cleansed from its pollution; and being administered to such professed penitents by divine appointment, is called the baptism of repentance, Matthew 3:11.Mark 1:4; Mark 1:4.Luke 3:3; Luke 3:3. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 22:16

16. be baptized and wash away thy sins—This way of speaking arises from baptism being the visible seal of remission. calling on the name of the Lord—rather, "having called," that is, after having done so; referring to the confession of Christ which preceded baptism, as Acts 8:37. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 22:1-21

Paul’s speech in his defense 22:1-21The speeches in Acts so far have been mainly in the form of deliberative rhetoric, the purpose of which is to make people change their minds and lives in view of the future. In chapters 22-26, however, the speeches are forensic rhetoric, designed mainly for defensive and apologetic purposes. [Note: See ibid., pp. 660-61, for further discussion.] Paul needed to defend himself against the charge that he had been disloyal to his people, the Mosaic Law, and the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 22:16

Acts 22:16 has been a problem to some readers of Acts because one might understand it to say that water baptism washes away sins. The writers of Scripture present water baptism elsewhere not as the agent of spiritual cleansing but as the illustration of spiritual cleansing that has already taken place (1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 3:21). The agent of spiritual cleansing is faith in Christ. Paul referred to faith in this verse as "calling on His name" (cf. Joel 2:32). Paul evidently experienced... read more

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