Acts 22:23

23 They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.

Acts 22:23 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 22:23

And as they cried out
In this furious manner:

and cast off their clothes;
either like madmen, that knew not what they did, or in order to stone him; see ( Acts 7:57 Acts 7:58 ) .

and threw dust into the air
either with their hands, or by striking the earth, and scraping it with their feet, through indignation and wrath, like persons possessed, or mad.

Acts 22:23 In-Context

21 “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’ ”

22 The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!”

23 They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.

24 The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious.

25 When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”