Bible Commentaries
Acts 9

Verse 1

And = But, or Now.

breathing out. Greek. empneo. Only here.

threatenings. Greek. apeile. See Acts 4:17 .

slaughter = murder. Greek. phonos. Occurs ten times. Always translates, murder, except here and Hebrews 11:37 .

against. Greek. eis. App-104 .

unto = to.

Verse 2

desired. Greek. aiteo. App-134 .

Damascus. Probably the oldest city in the world. First mentioned in Genesis 14:15 . Founded before Baal-bee and Palmyra, has outlived them both. In David's time a garrison town (2 Samuel 8:6 ). Rebelled against Solomon (1 Kings 11:24 ). Many interesting events connected with it See 2Ki 8:7-15 ; 2 Kings 14:28 ; 2 Kings 16:9 , 2Ki 16:10 ; 2 Chronicles 24:23 .Isaiah 7:8 , &c.

of this way = being of the way. Note the term "the way" to describe the faith of the believers. See Acts 18:25 , Acts 18:26 ; Acts 19:9 , Acts 19:23 ; Acts 22:4 ; Acts 24:14 , Acts 24:22 , and compare John 14:6 .

whether they were = both.

men. Greek. aner. App-123 .

women. Compare Acts 8:3 .

unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 3

as he journeyed. Literally in (Greek. en. App-104 .) the journeying.

he came near = it came to pass that he drew nigh.

suddenly. Greek. exaiphnes. Occurs here, Acts 22:6 , Mark 13:36 . Luke 2:13 ; Luke 9:39 .

shined round about = flashed around. Greek. periastrapto Only here and Acts 22:6 . Compound of peri , around, and astrapto, to lighten. (See Luke 17:24 ; Luke 24:4 . Compare Matthew 28:3 .)

light. Greek. phos . App-130 .

from. Greek. apo. App-104 . but texts read ek.

heaven , singular. See Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

Verse 4

fell . . . and = falling.

earth. Greek. ge . App-129 .

voice. Greek. phone. Same as "sound", Acts 2:6 .

Saul, Saul. Up to Acts 13:9 , the Greek form Saulos is used in the narrative, but here, 17; Acts 13:21 ; Acts 22:7 , Acts 22:13 ; Acts 26:14 , the Hebrew Saoul is found. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 . See Genesis 22:11 .

Verse 5

the Lord. The texts read "He".

Jesus. App-98 .

it is hard, &c. The texts omit "it is hard", &c. to "unto him", in the middle of Acts 9:6 . The words were probably supplied from the personal narrative in Acts 26:14 .

Verse 6

Arise. Greek. anistemi. App-178 .

into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

told. Greek. laleo. App-121 .

Verse 7

journeyed with. Greek. sunodeuo. Only here.

speechless. Greek. enneos or eneos. Only here in N.T., but found in Septuagint Proverbs 17:28 (holdeth his peace) and Isaiah 56:10 (dumb).

hearing. The companions of Saul heard the sound of the voice, but did not distinguish the words spoken. Compare Acts 22:9 . This is expressed by the word "voice" ( phone ) being in the genitive case here, and in the accusative case in Acts 9:4 . Compare John 12:28-30 .

seeing. Greek. theoreo. App-133 .:11.

no man = no one. Greek. medeis.

Verse 8

arose = was raised up. Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

saw. Greek. blepo. App-133 .

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis. The texts read "nothing".

led . . . and = leading him by the hand. Greek. cheiragogeo. Only here and Acts 22:11 . Compare Acts 13:11 .

Verse 9

without slight = not (Greek. me) seeing (Greek. blepo. App-133 .)

neither = not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

Verse 10

certain. Greek. tis . App-123 .

named = by name.

vision. See note on Acts 7:31 .

Behold. Greek. idou. App-133 . Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .

Verse 11

street = lane. Greek. rhume. Here, Acts 12:10 . Matthew 6:2 .Luke 14:21 .

Straight. It ran direct from the W. gate to the E. gate. In oriental cities such would be the bazaar.

enquire = seek. Greek. zeteo.

one, &c. = a Tarsean, Saul by name. Tarsus was the capital of Cilicia. Saul was doubtless one of those who disputed with Stephen (Acts 6:9 ).

prayeth. Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .

Verse 12

hath seen = saw. Greek. eidon. App-133 .

receive his sight . Greek. anablepo. App-133 .

Verse 13

by = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

Of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

how much evil = how many evil things. Greek. kakos. App-128 .

saints = holy, or separated, ones. Greek. hagios. Compare Psalms 116:15 .

Verse 14

authority. Greek. exousia. App-172 .

call, &c. See note on Acts 2:21 .

Verse 15

a chosen vessel = a vessel of choice, or election (Greek. ekloge) . Occurs here, Romans 9:11 ; Romans 11:5 , Romans 11:7 , Rom 11:28 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:4 . 2 Peter 1:10 .

unto = for.

Before = in the presence of.

Gentiles = nations. Greek. ethnos.

children = sons. Greek. huios. App-108 . Note the order.

Verse 16

shew = forewarn. Greek. hupodeiknumi. Occurs elsewhere Acts 20:35 .Matthew 3:7 . Luke 3:7 ; Luke 6:47 ; Luke 12:5 .

suffer. See 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 .

for My name's sake = on behalf of (Greek. huper.) My name. See Acts 22:14-18

Verse 17

Brother. Thus recognizing him as a fellow-disciple.

Saul. Greek. Saoul, as in Acts 9:4 .

appeared unto = was seen by. Greek. optomai. App-106 .

as = by which.

sent. Greek. apostello. App-174 .

the Holy Ghost. Greek. pneuma hagion. App-101 .

Verse 18

immediately = straightway. Greek. eutheos,

fell = fell away. Greek. apopipto. Only here.

scales. Greek. lepis. Only here in NT. In Septuagint, Leviticus 11:9 , Leviticus 11:10 . &C.

forthwith. Greek. parachrema. Compare Acts 3:7 ; Acts 5:10 . The texts omit.

baptized. App-115 .

Verse 19

meat = nourishment. Greek. trophe.

Verse 20

straightway. Greek. eutheos, as in Acts 9:18 .

preached. Greek. kerusso. App-121 .

Christ. The texts read "Jesus".

He = This One.

the Son of God. . App-98 .

Verse 21

were amazed. Greek. existemi. Compare Acts 2:7 ; Acts 8:9 , Acts 8:13 .

destroyed = devastated. Greek. portheo. Same word as in Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:13 , Galatians 1:23 . Not the same as in Acts 8:3 .

for that intent = for (Greek. eis.) this.

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

Verse 22

increased . . . in strength = was strengthened. Greek. endunamoo. Occurs elsewhere, Romans 4:20 . Ephesians 6:10 . Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:13 . 1Ti 1:12 . 2 Timothy 2:1 ; 2 Timothy 4:17 . Hebrews 11:34 . Compare App-172 .

confounded. See note on Acts 2:6 .

dwelt. See note on Acts 2:5 .

proving. Greek. sumbibazo. Literally bring together, compare. Here, Acts 16:10 1 Corinthians 2:16 . Ephesians 4:16 . Co Acts 1:2 , Acts 1:2 , Acts 1:19 .

very Christ = the Christ, i.e. the Messiah. App-98 . Instead of searching the Scriptures to see if these things were so, the Damascenes were occupied with the change in Saul's attitude. Hence we read nothing of believers. Contrast Acts 17:11 , Acts 17:12 . No epistle addressed to them nor any record of a church there.

Verse 23

after that = when.

many days = the three years of Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:18 . Compare 1 Kings 2:38 , 1 Kings 2:39 , where many days also implies three years.

took counsel = plotted. Greek. sumbouleuo. Occurs elsewhere, Matthew 26:4 .John 11:53 ; John 18:14 .Revelation 3:18 .

kill. See note on "slain", Acts 2:23 .

Verse 24

laying await = plot. Greek. epiboule. Occurs elsewhere Acts 20:3 , Acts 20:19 ; Acts 23:30 .

known. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .

of = to.

to = that they might. In 2 Corinthians 11:32 , Paul says "the governor under Aretas kept the city with a garrison". This Aretas was Herod's father-in-law, upon whom he made war because Herod had abandoned his daughter for his brother Philip's wife, Herodias. Perhaps to do the Jews a pleasure, like Felix, Aretas endeavored to seize Paul.

Verse 25

let him down = sent him down. Greek. kathiemi. Occurs elsewhere, Acts 10:11 ; Acts 11:5 .Luke 5:19 .

by = through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 9:1 .

in = lowering him in. See note on Luke 5:4 .

basket . Greek. spuris. See note on Matthew 15:37 .

Verse 26

assayed = tried. Greek. peirao.

join . See note on Acts 5:13 .

and believed not = not believing, i.e. hesitating to believe. App-150 .

Verse 27

Barnabas. See note on Acts 4:36 .

took = laid hold of. Greek. epilambanomai. Occurs twelve times in Luke and Acts. Mostly of helping or arresting.

apostles . App-189 .

declared = related. Greek. diegeomai. See note on Acts 8:33 .

spoken . Greek. laleo. App-121 .

preached boldly = spoke without reserve. Greek. parrhiesiazomai. Occurs elsewhere, Acts 9:29 ; Acts 13:46 ; Acts 14:3 ; Acts 18:26 ; Acts 19:8 ; Acts 26:26 . Ephesians 6:20 . 1 Thessalonians 2:2 .

Verse 28

coming in and going out. See note on Acts 1:21 .

Verse 29

spake boldly. Same word as "preached boldly" in Acts 9:27 .

disputed . Same word as in Acts 6:9 .

Grecians . See note on Acts 6:1 .

went about = took in hand. Greek. epicheireo. Occurs elsewhere, Acts 19:13 .Luke 1:1 . A medical word.

slay . Same word as "kill", verses: Acts 9:23 , Acts 9:24 .

Verse 30

Which . . . knew = But the brethren having got to know it. Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .

brought . . . down. Greek. katago.

Caesarea . See Acts 8:40 .

sent . Greek. exapostello. App-174 . See Acts 11:25 .

Verse 31

Then, &c. = The church indeed therefore.

churches . App-186 .

rest = peace. Greek. eirene.

throughout . Greek. kata. App-104 .

and were edified = being edified. Greek. oikodomec. Compare Acts 4:11 ; Acts 7:47 , Acts 7:49 .

walking = going. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 . Read, "being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord were replenished with".

comfort . Greek. paraklesis. See note on Acts 4:36 .

the Holy Ghost. App-101 .

were = was. The texts put this verse in the singular. "The church . . . was".

multiplied . See note on Acts 6:1 .

Verse 32

throughout = through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 9:1 .

also to the saints = to the saints also.

Lydda . Ludd, in the plain of Sharon, about a day's journey w. of Jerusalem. See 1 Chronicles 8:12 .

Verse 33

which had kept his bed = lying on a bed (Greek. krabbaton. See note on Mark 2:4 ).

eight years = from (Greek. ek. App-104 .) eight years.

sick of the palsy = paralyzed. See note on Acts 8:7 .

Verse 34

maketh thee whole = healeth thee. Greek. iaomai. See note on Luke 6:17 .

make thy bed . Literally spread for thyself.

Verse 35

turned . See Acts 11:21 ; Acts 14:15 ; Acts 15:19 ; Acts 26:18 , Acts 26:20 .

Verse 36

disciple . Greek. mathetria, the feminine form of mathetes. Only here.

Tabitha . Aramaic. App-94 .:42. The Hebrew for roe or gazelle is Zebee. The feminine is found in 2 Kings 12:1 , there spelled Zibiah.

by interpretation = being interpreted. Greek. diermeneuo. Here, Luk 24:27 . 1 Corinthians 12:30 ; 1 Corinthians 14:5 , 1Co 14:13 , 1 Corinthians 14:27 .

Dorcas . Greek. for antelope, or gazelle.

almsdeeds = alms. Greek. eleemosune, as in Acts 3:2 ,

Verse 37

was sick = fell sick. Greek. astheneo. Frequent in the Gospels. In Acts, here, Acts 19:12 ; Acts 20:35 .

washed = bathed. Greek. louo. App-136 .

upper chamber = upper room. See note on Acts 1:13 .

Verse 38

forasmuch as Lydda was nigh. Literally Lydda being near.

there = in (Greek. en. App-104 .) it.

desiring = entreating. Greek. parakaleo. App-134 .

delay . Greek. okneo. Only here.

to = as far as. Greek. heos.

Verse 39

coats . Greek. chiton. = tunic or under-garment.

Verse 40

forth = outside. Greek. exo. Compare Mark 5:40 .

kneeled down. Same expression as in Acts 7:60 .

Verse 41

lifted her up . Literally caused her to rise up. Greek. anistemi, as above, Acts 9:40 .

when he had = having.

Verse 42

it was = it came to be.

known . Greek. gnostos. See note on Acts 1:19 .

believed in. App-150 .

Verse 43

tarried = abode. Greek. meno. See note on p. 1511.

one = a certain. Greek. tis. App-123 .

tanner . Greek. burseus. Only here and Acts 10:6 , Acts 10:32 . Perhaps no one else would receive him.