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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_22:17-21
17"It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, 18and I saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.' 19And I said, 'Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.' 21And He said to me, 'Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"
Act_22:17-21 This is another example of Paul's special visions (cf. Act_18:9-10; Act_23:11; Act_27:23-24). In this context it fits the prophecy of Act_22:14.
Act_22:17 "when I returned to Jerusalem" In Paul's testimony in both Acts 9 and here, it seems to imply that he returned to Jerusalem soon after his conversion, but Gal_1:11-24 reveal a long period (up to three years) before Paul returned.
▣ "fell into a trance" See note at Act_10:10.
Act_22:18 Jesus speaks two aorist active imperatives to Paul: "make haste" and "get out." Jesus' warning is illustrated in the Hellenistic Jews' plot to kill Paul, recorded in Act_9:29.
Act_22:19 "Lord" The grammatical antecedent to this could be either "the God of our fathers" (Act_22:14) or "the Righteous One" (Act_22:14). The Jewish mob would have understood YHWH, but any believers present there would have understood Jesus. The transference is common in OT quotes used of Jesus in the NT. It is the ambiguity of "triune monotheism" (see Special Topics at Act_2:32; Act_2:39)!
▣ "I used to imprison and beat" These are periphrastic imperfect actives, which denotes continued action in the past. See full note at Act_22:4.
▣ "those who believed in You" See the related Special Topics at Act_2:40; Act_3:16; Act_6:5.
Act_22:20 See note at Act_7:58-59; Act_8:1. Paul describes his previous grievous acts by using three periphrastic imperfect participles.
1. He was standing there with the mob.
2. He was consenting to the stoning.
3. He was holding the cloaks of those stoning Stephen.
Stephen's sermon and death had a profound influence on Paul.
Act_22:21 "I will send you far away to the Gentiles" This is an obvious reference to Paul's missionary journeys and ultimately, witness before Roman governmental officials in Palestine and also in Rome before Caesar (cf. Act_23:11). He knew this statement would inflame the crowd!