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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 9:19 - 9:22
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_9:19-22
19bNow for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." 21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?" 22But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Act_9:20 "he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues" This is an imperfect active indicative. It can mean (1) the beginning of an action or (2) repeated action. What irony! He came earlier with a letter from the High Priests in Jerusalem to the synagogues in Damascus to persecute the followers of Jesus and now he came to the same synagogues preaching Jesus as the Messiah (cf. Act_9:21).
▣ "'He is the Son of God'" This is the only use of the title "Son of God" in the book of Acts (except for the quote of Psa_2:7 in Act_13:33). Its OT background reflects its significance: (1) the nation of Israel (cf. Hos_11:1); (2) the King of Israel (cf. 2Sa_7:14); and (3) the Messiah (cf. Mat_2:15). Paul's strict monotheism (see Special Topic at Act_2:39) is being redefined!
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Act_9:21 This verse is in the form of a question which expects a "yes" answer.
▣ "destroyed" This is a rare and intense word meaning to ravage, lay waste to, or totally destroy. It is found only here and in Gal_1:13; Gal_1:23 in the NT and in 4Ma_4:23. Paul was a vicious persecutor!
Act_9:22
NASB "Saul kept increasing in strength"
NKJV "Saul increased all the more in strength"
NRSV "Saul became increasingly more powerful"
TEV "Saul's preaching became even more powerful"
NJB "Saul's power increased steadily"
This is an imperfect passive indicative. It took some time for Saul's gifts and skills to develop. In context this refers to Paul's preaching and debating skills (cf. TEV).
▣ "confounding" This is an imperfect active indicative which denotes repeated action in past time. This is a compound term from "together" (sun) and "pour" (cheô). This word is only found in Acts.
1. Act_2:6, bewildered
2. Act_9:22, confounded
3. Act_19:32, confusion
4. Act_21:27, stir up
5. Act_21:31, confusion
The Jews could not explain Paul's conversion or his powerful preaching of Jesus as the promised OT Messiah.
▣ "proving" This word means to conclude (cf. Act_16:10; Act_19:33) and by extension, to prove. Paul's method was much like Stephen's. They both used OT passages and their fulfillment in the life of Jesus of Nazareth to prove that He was the Messiah promised in the OT.
▣ "the Christ" This is a way of referring to the Messiah (Anointed One, Promised Coming One, see Special Topic at Act_2:31). Many times in Acts the definite article precedes the noun (ex. Act_2:31; Act_2:36; Act_3:18; Act_3:20). Saul was asserting with power and conviction that Jesus of Nazareth, killed in Jerusalem, was indeed God's Son, the Messiah. If this was true, it changed everything for Jews (and Gentiles)! They had misunderstood and rejected Him. They had missed God's gift and remained in spiritual darkness and need.