Acts 22

“Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.” Naming Men keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)” Naming Hebrew keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of…” Naming Cilicia and Gamaliel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” The line’s distinctive content terms include binding, both, death. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto…” Naming Damascus and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to…” The line’s distinctive content terms include afraid, light, spake. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into…” Naming Damascus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.” Naming Brother and Came keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony…” Naming Jerusalem and Make keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the…” Naming Stephen keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” Naming Depart and Gentiles keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the…” Naming Away keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,” The line’s distinctive content terms include clothes, cried, dust. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is…” Naming Roman and Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.” Naming Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after…” Naming Roman keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.