Acts 22:2
(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
Original Language Analysis
ὅτι
that
G3754
ὅτι
that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
3 of 13
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἑβραΐδι
in the Hebrew
G1446
Ἑβραΐδι
in the Hebrew
Strong's:
G1446
Word #:
5 of 13
the hebraistic (hebrew) or jewish (chaldee) language
προσεφώνει
he spake
G4377
προσεφώνει
he spake
Strong's:
G4377
Word #:
7 of 13
to sound towards, i.e., address, exclaim, summon
αὐτοῖς
to them
G846
αὐτοῖς
to them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
8 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
παρέσχον
they kept
G3930
παρέσχον
they kept
Strong's:
G3930
Word #:
10 of 13
to hold near, i.e., present, afford, exhibit, furnish occasion
ἡσυχίαν
silence
G2271
ἡσυχίαν
silence
Strong's:
G2271
Word #:
11 of 13
(as noun) stillness, i.e., desistance from bustle or language
Historical Context
Roman occupation meant most official business occurred in Latin or Greek. That Paul commanded both Aramaic (his native tongue as a Jew from Tarsus) and educated Greek (evident in his letters) shows his bicultural sophistication—able to bridge Jew and Gentile worlds.
Questions for Reflection
- How might 'speaking the language' (culturally, not just linguistically) of your audience enhance gospel communication?
- What aspects of your testimony naturally connect with those who don't yet know Christ?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
He spake in the Hebrew tongue (τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ)—Likely Aramaic, the common language of Palestinian Jews. Paul's linguistic choice was strategic: speaking the people's heart language (not Greek, the empire's lingua franca) immediately established his Jewish credentials and cultural authenticity.
They kept the more silence (μᾶλλον παρέσχον ἡσυχίαν)—The verb implies granting or furnishing silence, suggesting the crowd actively chose to listen rather than merely quieting down. Language creates connection; Paul's Aramaic transformed a murderous mob into an attentive audience, if only temporarily (they resumed rioting at verse 22 when he mentioned his Gentile mission).