21 "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
21 And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"
21 "But he said, 'Don't argue. Go. I'm sending you on a long journey to outsider Gentiles.'"
21 Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' "
21 "But the Lord said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!' "
31 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-
31 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
31 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--
31 This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called.
31 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles--
31 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . .
(Read Ephesians 3:1-7)
For having preached the doctrine of truth, the apostle was a prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; the object of special protection and care, while thus suffering for him. All the gracious offers of the gospel, and the joyful tidings it contains, come from the rich grace of God; it is the great means by which the Spirit works grace in the souls of men. The mystery, is that secret, hidden purpose of salvation through Christ. This was not so fully and clearly shown in the ages before Christ, as unto the prophets of the New Testament. This was the great truth made known to the apostle, that God would call the Gentiles to salvation by faith in Christ. An effectual working of Divine power attends the gifts of Divine grace. As God appointed Paul to the office, so he qualified him for it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 22:21
Commentary on Acts 22:12-21
(Read Acts 22:12-21)
The apostle goes on to relate how he was confirmed in the change he had made. The Lord having chosen the sinner, that he should know his will, he is humbled, enlightened, and brought to the knowledge of Christ and his blessed gospel. Christ is here called that Just One; for he is Jesus Christ the righteous. Those whom God has chosen to know his will, must look to Jesus, for by him God has made known his good-will to us. The great gospel privilege, sealed to us by baptism, is the pardon of sins. Be baptized, and wash away thy sins; that is, receive the comfort of the pardon of thy sins in and through Jesus Christ, and lay hold on his righteousness for that purpose; and receive power against sin, for the mortifying of thy corruptions. Be baptized, and rest not in the sign, but make sure of the thing signified, the putting away of the filth of sin. The great gospel duty, to which by our baptism we are bound, is, to seek for the pardon of our sins in Christ's name, and in dependence on him and his righteousness. God appoints his labourers their day and their place, and it is fit they should follow his appointment, though it may cross their own will. Providence contrives better for us than we do for ourselves; we must refer ourselves to God's guidance. If Christ send any one, his Spirit shall go along with him, and give him to see the fruit of his labours. But nothing can reconcile man's heart to the gospel, except the special grace of God.