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Acts 7:2
And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

Acts 13:26
Menand brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

Acts 23:1,6
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Menand brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day…

my.

Acts 19:33
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

Acts 24:10
Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

Acts 25:8,16
While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all…

listen now
Paul's call for attention underscores the urgency and importance of his message. This plea for attentive listening is a common rhetorical device in ancient speeches, emphasizing the speaker's sincerity and the significance of the forthcoming message. It also reflects the biblical tradition of prophets and leaders calling people to hear God's word, as seen inDeuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel."

to my defense
Paul is about to present an apologia, a formal defense of his actions and beliefs. This is a legal term, indicating that Paul is aware of the accusations against him and is prepared to respond. The context is Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, where he is accused of defiling the temple (Acts 21:28). His defense is not only personal but also theological, as he seeks to explain his conversion and mission to the Gentiles.

before you
Paul is addressing a specific audience, the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. This setting is significant, as Jerusalem is the center of Jewish religious life and the location of the temple. The historical and cultural context is tense, with Jewish nationalism and Roman occupation creating a volatile environment. Paul's defense is an attempt to bridge the gap between his Jewish heritage and his Christian mission, highlighting the continuity of God's work through Jesus Christ.

Paul opens with a warm family term that carries deep covenant significance.

• He identifies with his fellow Israelites, showing that faith in Jesus does not sever his Jewish identity (Acts 13:26;Romans 9:3–4).

• Like Moses appealing to “brothers” who were mistreating one another (Acts 7:26), Paul invites them to see him as kin rather than an outsider.

• The word also hints that the gospel calls the hearers into a new family in Christ (Galatians 3:26–28), setting the stage for Paul’s testimony.

Adding “fathers” displays respect for older leaders in the crowd.

• Paul honors the Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12) by acknowledging their authority.

• He mirrors Stephen’s respectful address before the Sanhedrin (“Brothers and fathers, listen…”Acts 7:2), signaling that his message stands in the same prophetic stream.

• Showing deference undercuts any claim that believers in Jesus are rebellious toward Jewish leadership (cf.Romans 13:7).

A gracious yet urgent summons to pay attention.

• “Listen” echoes the Shema’s call to hear and obey God’s word (Deuteronomy 6:4), implying divine importance in what follows.

• The adverb “now” stresses immediacy; postponing response is dangerous (2 Corinthians 6:2;Hebrews 3:15).

• Throughout Acts, faith is born when people “listen” to testimony about Jesus (Acts 10:44; 16:14).

Paul signals a reasoned explanation, not mere self-justification.

• The term recalls Peter’s call to “give an answer for the hope within you” (1 Peter 3:15).

• His defense is gospel-centered: he will recount his conversion and mission (Acts 22:3-21).

• By standing publicly, he fulfills Jesus’ promise that believers would testify before rulers (Luke 21:12-13) and treats the crowd as a jury before whom truth can be proved (Acts 25:16).

Accountability is personal and present.

• Paul stands “before” the accusers face to face, modeling transparency (Acts 24:16; 26:2).

• The phrase underscores that revelation is not abstract; it confronts real people in real time (John 18:20-21).

• Everyone present must weigh what they hear and decide whether to embrace or reject the gospel (Acts 28:24).

In a single sentence, Paul embraces his audience as family, honors their leaders, urges immediate attention, prepares to present a reasoned gospel defense, and does so openly before all.Acts 22:1 therefore models respectful, urgent, and transparent Christian witness grounded in the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

(1)Men, brethren, and fathers.--The apparently triple division is really only two-fold--Brethren and fathers. (See Note onActs 7:2.) It is noticeable that he begins his speech with the self-same formula as Stephen. It was, perhaps, the received formula in addressing an assembly which included the scribes and elders.