Acts 9

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

What does Acts 9:21 mean?

Explanation

Acts 9:21 is a verse within the New Testament of the Christian Bible which captures the reaction of the people in Damascus to Saul’s (who later became known as Paul) sudden transformation.

Before his conversion, Saul was known for persecuting Christians vehemently.

He had been a fervent Jewish leader who, in his own words, 'persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it' (Galatians 1:13).

Upon hearing Saul preaching about Jesus, the people who knew of his past were astonished.

They recognized him as the same individual who had sought to eradicate the followers of Christ, and they were amazed to see him now advocating for the very faith he had once tried to demolish.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 9:21 falls in the midst of the account of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus.

Historically, this occurred after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and during a time when the early Christian church was experiencing intense persecution.

Saul, a Pharisee, had been an active participant in this persecution, which included the approval of the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58-8:1).

His journey to Damascus, originally intended to arrest Christians there, became pivotal as he encountered Christ and converted to Christianity.

Saul's transformation was a significant event for the early church, symbolizing the power of God to change even the most ardent opponent of Christianity.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse underscores several key points.

First, it demonstrates the power of divine grace to transform individuals dramatically.

Saul's conversion is often cited as one of the most striking examples of God's redeeming love in the New Testament.

Secondly, it highlights the concept of forgiveness and redemption, suggesting that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.

Lastly, this event illustrates the early church's struggle with understanding and accepting sudden and radical conversions, reflecting the tension between skepticism and the evidence of genuine transformation.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, Acts 9:21 can inspire individuals to believe in the possibility of change, not only in themselves but also in others. It can also serve as an encouragement to forgive past wrongs when evidence of genuine repentance is present.

Additionally, this verse might challenge believers to recognize and accept the various ways in which God works in people's lives, often in manners that are unexpected and can be initially hard to understand.

Cross-References

Acts 22:4-5: "And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished."

[Galatians 1:13-14](/new-testament/galatians/1/13/what-does-galatians-1-13-mean): "For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers."
1 Timothy 1:12-16: "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."

Language Study

The key words in Acts 9:21 from the original Greek are:

"ἐξεθάμβουντο" (exethambounto) which is often translated as "amazed", comes from a Greek term meaning to astonish greatly or to amaze.
"διαπορθμεύω" (diaporthmeuō) often translated as "destroyed", has a connotation of ravaging or violently destroying.
"ἐπικαλεῖσθαι" (epikaleisthai), translated here as "called on", refers to invoking a name, in this case, the name of Jesus.

Understanding the original Greek words adds depth to the readers' perception of how strongly the people felt about Saul's past actions and their shock at his transformation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the wider context of religious transformations, Saul's conversion might be compared to other ancient stories of dramatic change, such as the epiphany of the Buddha or the transformation of Ashoka after the Battle of Kalinga.

In each of these stories, a powerful figure undergoes a profound spiritual awakening that leads them to abandon a past of violence or dissatisfaction in pursuit of a higher spiritual calling.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, sudden conversions such as Saul's may be analyzed within psychological frameworks that examine radical belief changes.

Neuroscience might study the brain's capacity for transformative experiences, while psychology could offer insights on the mechanisms behind shifts in core beliefs and behaviors.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 9:21 often focus on the radical nature of Saul's conversion.

F.F.

Bruce, a biblical scholar, notes the incident as a striking turnaround that caught observers by surprise.

John Stott emphasizes the veracity of Saul's transformation, citing the astonishment of the witnesses as evidence.

Matthew Henry expands on the grace of God in redeeming Saul, illustrating how divine mercy brought about one of the most significant conversions in Christian history.

These commentaries contemplate the depth of Saul’s conversion and its powerful testament to the working of God in an individual’s life.

Acts 9

Acts 9

What does Acts 9:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 9:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?