Preface: Most of Acts 9 is about the conversion of Saul to faith in Christ. The last portion centers on two healings done through Peter.

Bible Summary: Saul went to arrest the believers. Jesus said, "Why do you persecute me?" Saul was baptised and began preaching. Peter raised Dorcas.

The “Key” & Main Points of Chapter 9 (a chart); from Slide Player; accessed June 30, 2022.

This should be the most extensive examination of Acts 9 available, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text.

Brief Overview: (taken from Light of the Word; accessed April 22, 2022).

Time and Place as per Modern Literal Version 2020:

Summer AD 37. Damascus. Saul is around 35 years old. Herod Antipas deposed. Herod Agrippa 1st king, 5th ruler of Galilee & Perea.

37-39 AD. Arabia. Saul’s retirement. Gal 1:17-18. AD dates vary due to many not putting this in the chronology.

Sept., 39 AD. Jerusalem. Paul’s first visit there

40-43 AD Paul in Tarsus & Cilicia.

40 AD. Lydda & Joppa. Herod Antipas banished.

You will note the two references to Galatians 1 above, which has some of Saul (Paul’s) history not found in Acts. This will be covered as a doctrine in this chapter at the end of v. 25.

Outline of Chapter 9:

Preface

Introduction

         vv.     1–31         Saul

         vv.         1–9          Jesus appears to Saul and Saul is blinded

         vv.        10–16        God sends Ananias to Saul

         vv.        17–19        Saul is given back his sight

         vv.        20–22        Saul proclaims Jesus in the synagogues of Damascus

         vv.        23–25        Saul, his life having been threatened, escapes Damascus

         vv.        26–30        Saul debating the Jews in Jerusalem; Saul is moved to Caesarea

         vv.         31           An interlude of peace for the church

         vv.    32–43         Peter

         vv.        32–35        Aeneas is healed through Peter

         vv.        36–43        Dorcas (Tabitha) is raised from the dead through Peter

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Preface

         Preface               Brief Overview

         Preface               The “Key” & Main Points of Chapter 9 (a chart)

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Damascus (from Hastings NT)

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Acts 9 (by Various Commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Acts 9 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Acts 9

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Prequel to Acts 9

         Introduction         The Principals of Acts 9

         Introduction         The Places of Acts 9

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Acts 9

         Introduction         Outlines and Summaries of Acts 9 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Acts 9 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Acts 6–10)

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions

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         v.       2              Jerusalem to Damascus (a map)

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         v.      25              Arabia at the time of Saint Paul (a map)

         v.      25              Paul Relates His Own History in Galatians 1:14–23

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         v.      30              Jerusalem ➔ Caesarea ➔ Tarsus (a map)

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         v.      43              Simon the Tanner’s Home (a photograph)

         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Acts 9 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Acts 9

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Acts 9

         Summary 

         Summary 

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:1–2

         Addendum          Commentary on Acts 9:1 (The Christian Community Bible)

         Addendum          Positional Truth = “(being) in Christ” (R. B. Thieme, Jr.)

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:3–6

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:7–9

         Addendum          The Early History of Paul's Life (from Kretzmann’s Commentary)

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:10–12

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:13–16

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:17–19

         Addendum          Types of Baptisms (by R. B. Thieme, Jr.)

         Addendum          Commentary on Acts 9:19 (The Christian Community Bible)

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:20–22

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:23–25

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:26–31

         Addendum          Commentary on Acts 9:32 (The Christian Community Bible)

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:32–35

         Addendum          Kretzmann’s Commentary on Acts 9:36–43

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Acts 9

         Addendum 

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Acts 9

         Addendum          Word Cloud from the Kukis Paraphrase of Acts 9

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Acts 9

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An Introduction to Acts 9

I ntroduction: Overall, Acts 9 is divided into two sections: Saul and Peter. Saul is persecuting Christians until he is suddenly stopped by the Lord Himself on the road to Damascus. The rest of this section is Paul as a new convert and he does a terrific amount of traveling (although not all of his early traveling is revealed in Acts 9). The second section, which is much shorter, is about Peter. God, through Peter, cures one person who has been lame for 8 years; and then raises a woman from the dead.

Much of Acts 9 takes place in Damascus, one of the oldest cities in the world. It is about 130 miles north of Jerusalem and has a large population of Jews living there. Saul is traveling to Damascus with permission from the religious hierarchy in Jerusalem to go after adherents to this new sect. However, along the way, Saul was stopped by Jesus, Who blinds Saul with light. Saul has to be led into Damascus.

Saul was pretty much leading a party of destruction to Damascus, but blinded by Jesus, he has relinquished his position as their leader. We do not know what his companions did, but Saul was dropped off at the house of Joshua. We would assume that Joshua is a devout Jew, but his status of faith is not actually revealed to us.

God then calls upon Ananias, just a regular believer who lives in Damascus. Jesus speaks directly to Ananias and tells him to go locate Saul. Ananias will ask, “Now are you talking about Saul who has destroyed the lives of many Christians in Jerusalem?” Jesus tells Ananias, “He will become My chosen instrument.”

Ananias locates Saul and calls him, brother, which suggests that Saul has already believed in Jesus (although this is not specifically stated in this chapter). Ananias gives Saul’s sight back to him along with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Saul begins to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, but he finds himself persecuted, so that he must sneak out of Damascus. Saul then goes to Jerusalem and tries to hook up with the believing community there, but they are understandably wary of him, given that Saul was known for his aggressive persecutions of Christians. However, Barnabas gives Saul an introduction, and he interacts with more of the saints there.

Saul also witnesses to and argues with the Hellenist Jews in this chapter.

Regarding Saul, there is also a period of time which is not alluded to at all in this narrative. At some point, Saul goes off to Arabia. Some suppose that this occurs before he is persecuted in Damascus (which means that he would have left Damascus and then, a few years later, returned). Or perhaps after sneaking out of Damascus, Saul ends up in Arabia next. At some point, he would go to Jerusalem from Arabia. This is all speculative as to exactly when it takes place, and this will be discussed in greater detail in the chapter study which follows.

Saul does go to Jerusalem, but a plot is afoot to kill him there, so he is also smuggled out of Jerusalem, going first to Caesarea and then to Tarsus. It appears that Saul spends a considerable amount of time in Tarsus before reemerging in the book of Acts. Saul will reappear in Acts 11:25, which is about 6 years after his conversion.

If it were me dividing up these chapters (they were divided up after the fact), this would have been the end of Acts 9 for me and Acts 10 would have begun at Acts 9:31. However, no one thought to consult me on this.

Beginning with Acts 9:32, we find ourselves back shadowing Peter. He is traveling first to Lydda and then to Joppa, where he a part of a miraculous healing and then he raises one from the dead. What God does through Peter at the end of this chapter is quite amazing.

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Saul

Jesus appears to Saul and Saul is blinded

Compare to Acts 22:4–11 26:12–18 Galatians 1:11–24

Compare to Acts 22:4–11 26:12–18, where Saul (Paul) recounts this event.

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       I will use the Westcott-Hort Greek text as the basis for my English translation. I use that test primarily because e-sword has a nice module by Rob Wolfram which has the interlinear English text, Strong’s #’s, and the Greek morphology. The e-sword tab is IWH+P. I do not use their English text for my translation. Also, throughout, I take in consideration alternate readings.

As a young Christian, I was quite interested in the alternative readings. After many decades of study, I have found that, as with the Hebrew text, disputed readings rarely have any affect on the interpretation of a text (apart from perhaps a half-dozen fairly well-known alternate readings, like the end of the book of Mark).

I will compare the Greek text to English translations of the Latin and Syriac (= Aramaic) texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation and George Lamsa’s translation from the Syriac. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.).

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls are irrelevant, as they preceded the writing of the New Testament by over 200 years.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Ancient texts:

Westcott-Hort Text (Greek)    But the Saul yet kept on breathing menace and murder to the disciples of the Lord. Having come to the High Priest, he asked of him letters for Damascus face to face with the synagogues, that if certain ones of the way, being men as well as women, having been bound, he has brought to Jerusalem.

Complete Apostles’ Bible      Then Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

and requested from him letters of authority to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he should find any who were of the Way, both men or women, he might bring them, having been bound, to Jerusalem.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Holy Aramaic Scriptures        Yet, Shaul {Saul} was still full of threat and murderous anger against The Disciples of Maran {Our Lord},

and he asked for letters from The Rab Kahne {The Priest's Chief}, so that they might be given unto him for Darmsuq {Damascus}; for The Kenushatha {The Synagogues}, so that if he might find men, or women, who were proceeding in this Way, he should bind them, to bring them unto Urishlem {Jerusalem}.

James Murdock’s Syriac NT And Saul was still full of threats and deadly hatred against the disciples of our Lord.

And he requested that a letter from the high priest might be given him unto Damascus to the synagogues; that if he should find persons pursuing this course, men or women, he might bind and bring them to Jerusalem.

Original Aramaic NT              But Shaul was full of menace and the fury of murder against the disciples of Our Lord.

And he requested a letter for himself from The High Priest and to give it for Darmsuq for the synagogues, that if he were to find those following in this way, men or women, he may bind and bring them to Jerusalem.

Significant differences: 

English Translations:          I have included translations which I disagree with and footnotes that I do not necessarily agree with. If I believe that the author is too far from the truth, I may even address that at the footnote. However, nearly all of the correct commentary will be found following the Greek text box and the translation of each phrase.

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             But Saul, still burning with desire to put to death the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 

And made a request for letters from him to the Synagogues of Damascus, so that if there were any of the Way there, men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Bible in Worldwide English     Saul was still very angry with the Lords disciples. He said he would kill them. He went to the high priest.

He asked him for letters to take to the meeting places at Damascus. In this way he was given the power to catch any men or women disciples. He could tie them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

Easy English                          Jesus meets with Saul

All this time, Saul was still speaking strongly against the disciples of the Lord Jesus. He wanted to kill all the believers. So he went to see the most important priest in Jerusalem. Saul asked him, ‘Please will you write some letters for me? Then I can give one of these letters to the leader of each Jewish group in Damascus. That will give me authority to take hold of any believers that I find there.’

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  In Jerusalem Saul was still trying to scare the followers of the Lord, even saying he would kill them. He went to the high priest and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted the high priest to give him the authority to find people in Damascus who were followers of the Way. If he found any believers there, men or women, he would arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

Good News Bible (TEV)         In the meantime Saul kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord. He went to the High Priest and asked for letters of introduction to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way of the Lord, he would be able to arrest them, both men and women, and bring them back to Jerusalem.

J. B. Phillips                           The crisis for Saul

But Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest and begged him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way, whether men or women, he could bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners.

The Message                         The Blinding of Saul

All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master’s disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.

NIRV                                      Saul Becomes a Believer

Meanwhile, Saul continued to oppose the Lord’s followers. He said they would be put to death. He went to the high priest. He asked the priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted to find men and women who belonged to the Way of Jesus. The letters would allow him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

New Life Version                    Saul Becomes a Christian on the Way to Damascus

Saul was still talking much about how he would like to kill the followers of the Lord. He went to the head religious leader. He asked for letters to be written to the Jewish places of worship in the city of Damascus. The letters were to say that if he found any men or women following the Way of Christ he might bring them to Jerusalem in chains.

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible              ACTS 9

SAUL HUNTS CHRISTIANS, FINDS CHRIST

SAUL SEES THE LIGHT; IT’S BRIGHT

Saul started belching out threats against Jews who followed Jesus. Murder is what they deserved, he said. So he marched off to see the high priest. He asked for an affidavit giving him written permission to go to synagogues in Damascus and arrest followers of the Way [1]—men as well as women. He wanted to tie them up and bring them back to Jerusalem.

¹9:2Before people started calling the followers of Jesus “Christians” (see Acts 11:26), they called them followers of the Way. Some wrote of it as “the way of the Lord.” Didache (Teaching), a Christian manual written in either the first or second century, spoke of “Two Ways.” There was the way that led to life and the way that led to death. When Jesus’s disciple, Thomas, asked how to get to where Jesus was going, so he could go too, Jesus said, “I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life. If you want to get to the Father, I’m the one who’ll take you there” (John 14:6).

Contemporary English V.       Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord's followers. He even went to the high priest and asked for letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord's Way.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Living Translation           Saul’s Conversion

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. [Greek disciples.] So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

The Passion Translation        During those days, Saul, full of angry threats and rage, wanted to murder the disciples of the Lord Jesus. So he went to ask the high priest and requested a letter of authorization he could take to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, requesting their cooperation in finding and arresting any who were followers of the Way. Saul wanted to capture all of the believers he found, both men and women, and drag them as prisoners back to Jerusalem.

Plain English Version             Saul kept on making trouble for Christians

At that time, Saul was still making trouble for Jesus’s followers. He was telling them, “I’m going to hurt you and kill you.” He went to the big boss of the Jewish ceremonies and said, “I want to go to the city called Damascus and grab the followers of Jesus there. Will you write letters for me to take to the people in the Jewish meeting houses there? Tell them that you want me to grab anyone that belongs to that mob called the Jesus Way mob. I will grab those men and women, and tie them up, and I will bring them back to Jerusalem for you to punish them.” So that big boss wrote letters like that, and he gave them to Saul to take to Damascus.

UnfoldingWord Simplified T.  Meanwhile, Saul angrily continued to threaten to kill those who followed the Lord. He went to the high priest in Jerusalem and requested him to write letters introducing him to the leaders of the Jewish synagogues in Damascus. The letters asked them to give Saul power to seize any man or woman who followed the way that Jesus had taught, and to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem so that the Jewish leaders could judge and punish them.

Williams’ New Testament      Now Saul, as he was still breathing threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that if he found any men or women belonging to The Way he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          Well at the time, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the Lord’s disciples.So he went to the High Priest and asked him to write letters that he could carry to the synagogues in Damascus that would empower him to arrest anyone he found who belonged to The Way (both men and women) and to bring them back to JeruSalem in chains.

Beck’s American Translation .

Breakthrough Version            Saul still breathing in the smell of threat and murder for the Master's students, after going forward to the head priest, asked from the side of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues in order that if he found any people of the Way (being both men and women), he would bring them tied up to Jerusalem.

Common English Bible           Saul encounters the risen Jesus

Meanwhile, Saul was still spewing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest, seeking letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found persons who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, these letters would authorize him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Len Gane Paraphrase           Then Saul, still breathing out threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and wanted letters from him to the Damascus' synagogues, so that if he found any of this way, whether men or women, he might bring them tied up to Jerusalem.

A. Campbell's Living Oracles But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest, and petitioned for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus; that, if he found any of that way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       Saul, with every breath he drew, still threatened the disciples of the Lord with massacre; and now he went to the high priest and asked him for letters of commendation to the synagogues at Damascus, so that he could arrest all those he found there, men and women, who belonged to the way, and bring them back to Jerusalem.[1]

[1] ‘The way’; that is, the Christian profession.

20^th Century New Testament Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest, And asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorizing him, if he found there any supporters of the Cause, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Conservapedia Translation    Saul was still issuing threats and murdering Jesus' disciples, and he went to his high priest. He wanted letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that they might capture any men or women who followed this new Way and bring them to Jerusalem under arrest.

Revised Ferrar-Fenton           The Conversion of Saul.

Meanwhile, Saul, still breathing threatenings and murder against the disciples of the Lord, applying to the High Priest, demanded from him letters addressed to the synagogues of Damascus, ordering that if any should be found of the Way,2 whether men or women, he should bring them under arrest to Jerusalem.

Free Bible Version                 But meanwhile Saul was making violent threats against the disciples of the Lord, wanting to kill them. He went to the high priest and asked for letters of authorization to take with him to the synagogues in Damascus, giving him permission to arrest any believers in the Way* that he found, men or women, and bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           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.

International Standard V        Saul Becomes a Believer

Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord’s disciples, Saul went to the high priest. He asked him for letters to take with him [The Gk. lacks to take with him] to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.

Montgomery NT                     Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and begged of him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any that were of the Way, either men or women, he could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem.

Weymouth New Testament    Now Saul, whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest and begged from him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that if he found any believers there, either men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)     Saul meets Jesus

• Meanwhile Saul considered nothing but violence and death for the disciples of the Lord. He went to the High Priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues of Damascus that would authorize him to arrest and bring to Jerusalem anyone he might find, man or woman, belonging to the Way.

22:5-16; 26:10-18; Gal 1: 12-17

22:5; 28:21

An extensive note on this verse is in the Addendum.

The Heritage Bible                          And Saul, still breathing out threats and murder upon the disciples of the Lord, having come near the head priest,

Asked from him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any being of this way, binding both men and women, he may lead them to Jerusalem.

New American Bible (2011)   Saul’s Conversion.

* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,^a went to the high priest^b and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,* he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.

* [9:1–19] This is the first of three accounts of Paul’s conversion (with Acts 22:3–16 and Acts 26:2–18) with some differences of detail owing to Luke’s use of different sources. Paul’s experience was not visionary but was precipitated by the appearance of Jesus, as he insists in 1 Cor 15:8. The words of Jesus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” related by Luke with no variation in all three accounts, exerted a profound and lasting influence on the thought of Paul. Under the influence of this experience he gradually developed his understanding of justification by faith (see the letters to the Galatians and Romans) and of the identification of the Christian community with Jesus Christ (see 1 Cor 12:27). That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. This first account occurs when the word is first spread to the Gentiles. At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. The emphasis in the account is on Paul as a divinely chosen instrument (Acts 9:15).

* [9:2] The Way: a name used by the early Christian community for itself (Acts 18:26; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life.

a. [9:1] 8:3; 9:13; 22:4; 1 Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13–14.

b. [9:1–2] 9:14; 26:10.

New Catholic Bible                 Conversion of Saul on the Road to Damascus.^[a] Now, Saul,^[b] still breathing threats and violence against the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus,^[c] authorizing him to arrest any men or women there who were followers of the Way and bring them back to Jerusalem.

[a] Acts 9:1 The story of Paul’s conversion is repeated twice more in this Book, with some variations in details (Acts 22:4-21; 26:9-18).

The heart of the story is the identification of Jesus with the persecuted community of believers: The Lord can no longer be separated from his Church. Saul is given the mission of carrying the name of Jesus to Israel and the rulers of the nations.

[b] Acts 9:1 Saul: present at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58), he was born in Tarsus and had studied under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).

[c] Acts 9:2 Damascus: an important city of the Roman province of Syria with a large Jewish population; it was some 150 miles from Jerusalem and a four-to-six-day journey. Way: behavior, a concept of life, the teaching of the Lord, teaching about salvation; in short, Christianity (see Acts 16:17; 18:25-26). The Romans granted the high priest authority in religious matters, even over Jews outside of Palestine.

New Jerusalem Bible             Meanwhile Saul was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked for letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, that would authorise him to arrest and take to Jerusalem any followers of the Way, men or women, that he might find.

Revised English Bible–1989   SAUL, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest and applied for letters to the synagogues at Damascus authorizing him to arrest any followers of the new way whom he found, men or women, and bring them to Jerusalem.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           Meanwhile, Sha’ul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord’s talmidim, went to the cohen hagadol and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Dammesek, authorizing him to arrest any people he might find, whether men or women, who belonged to “the Way,” and bring them back to Yerushalayim.

Holy New Covenant Trans.    In Jerusalem, Saul was still trying to scare the students of the Lord Jesus, threatening to kill them. So he went to the high priest. Saul asked him to write letters to the Jews of the houses of worship in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted the authority to find people in Damascus who were students of the Way. If he found any there, men or women, he would tie them up and bring them back to Jerusalem.

The Scriptures 2009              But Sha’ul, still breathing threats and murder against the taught ones of the Master, having come to the high priest, asked from him letters to the congregations of Dammeseq, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, to bring them bound to Yerushalayim.

Tree of Life Version                Now Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the Lord’s disciples, went to the kohen gadol.

He requested letters of introduction from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Accurate New Testament       ...The but Saul yet Breathing threat and murder to the students [of] the lord Approaching the priest (chief) asks from him letters to damascus to the assemblies so if (some) ones [He] may find [of] the way being men also and women having been bound [He] may lead to jerusalem...

Alpha & Omega Bible            NOW SAULOS, STILL BREATHING THREATS AND MURDER AGAINST THE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD, WENT TO THE HIGH PRIEST,

AND ASKED FOR LETTERS FROM HIM TO THE SYNAGOGUES AT DAMASCUS (Syria), SO THAT IF HE FOUND ANY BELONGING TO THE WAY, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, HE MIGHT BRING THEM BOUND TO JERUSALEM.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Moreover, Saul still breathing-from-within threats and murder, against the disciples of the Lord, he is coming-to the chief-priest,

requests for himself from him, letters to Damascus, with regards to the drawings-together there, that-which if- he -shall find some being of the Way, there were being both men and women that might he bring, having been bound, to Jerusalem.

exeGeses companion Bible   YAH SHUA CONFRONTS SHAUL

And Shaul,

still breathing out threatenings and murder

to the disciples of Adonay,

goes to the archpriest,

and asks him for epistles to Dammeseq

- to the synagogues;

that whenever he finds any being of this way,

whether men or women,

to bring them bound to Yeru Shalem.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           Now Sha'ul, still breathing a threat even of retzach (murder) keneged (against) the talmidim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu, having approached the Kohen Gadol,

Requested from him iggrot of reshus (authorization) to the shuls of Damascus, that if someone he should find being mishtatef (involved) in HaDerech [Hashem], both anashim and nashim, he may lead them bound to Yerushalayim. [Isa 17:1; Jer 49:23]

Rotherham’s Emphasized B.          § 17. The Conversion of Saul. Chap. xxii. 6, ff.; xxvi. 12, ff.

But ||Saul|| <yet breathinga threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord> |going unto the High-priest| asked from him letters for Damascus, unto the synagogues; to the end that <if he should find |any| who were of The Way, whether men or women> he might bring them ||bound|| unto Jerusalem.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                The Conversion of Saul

Now Saul [Later known as Paul the Apostle.], still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest [Probably Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Annas. See note 4:6.], and he asked for letters [of authority] from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there belonging to the Way [believers, followers of Jesus the Messiah] [This term for Christianity may have originated from Jesus’ own words, “I am the Way...,” John 14:6.], men and women alike, he could arrest them and bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.

From Acts 4:6: Caiaphas (Annas’ son-in-law) served as high priest a.d. 18-36.

An Understandable Version   With every breath [it seemed], Saul [expressed his desire to] threaten and murder the Lord’s disciples and [even] went to the head priest to ask for letters [authorizing him to go] to Damascus and to enter [Jewish] synagogues looking for people of “the Way” [Note: This was a designation for Christians at that time]. And if he found any, whether men or women, he would tie them up and take them to Jerusalem.

The Expanded Bible              Saul Is Converted

·In Jerusalem [^L But; Meanwhile] Saul was still ·threatening [^L breathing threats against] the ·followers [disciples] of the Lord by saying he would kill them. So he went to the high priest [^C probably Caiaphas; 4:6] 2 and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus [^C in Syria, 135 miles north of Jerusalem]. Then if Saul found any ·followers of Christ’s Way [or who belonged to the Way; ^C a name for the Christian movement], men or women, he would ·arrest [take them prisoner; ^L bind] them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

Jonathan Mitchell NT             Now Saul, still continuously inhaling and breathing (or: in-spiriting and blowing [out]; animated with the spirit of) threatening and murder (or: slaughter) into the midst of the Lord's [= Yahweh's or Christ's] disciples (or: students; learners), after going to the head (chief; ranking) priest,

requested from him letters [to take] into Damascus – to the synagogues – so that if he should be finding anyone being [a part] of (or: belonging to) the Way (or: the Path; the Road), he could lead [them] – both men and women – bound, into Jerusalem.

P. Kretzmann Commentary    Verses 1-2

The Conversion and Early Labors of Paul.

Paul's continued enmity against the Church:

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.

Kretzmann’s commentary for Acts 9:1–2 has been placed in the Addendum.

Syndein/Thieme                     And Saul, yet inhaling threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and requested of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this Way {Christ is the way, the truth, the Light}, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

{Note: Saul was totally occupied at this time with wiping out Christianity. He lead the persecution against the Church.}

Translation for Translators              Saul asked the high priest to authorize him to arrest believers.

Acts 9:1-2

Meanwhile, Saul angrily continued to say, “I will kill those who believe that Jesus is the Lord!” He went to the supreme priest in Jerusalem and requested him to write letters introducing him to the leaders of [MTY] the Jewish meeting places in Damascus city. The letters asked them to authorize Saul to seize any men or women who followed the way that Jesus had taught, and to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem so that the Jewish leaders could judge and punish them.

The Voice                               Back to Saul—this fuming, raging, hateful man who wanted to kill every last one of the Lord’s disciples: he went to the high priest in Jerusalem for authorization to purge all the synagogues in Damascus of followers of the way of Jesus. [The Christian movement] His plan was to arrest and chain any of Jesus’ followers—women as well as men—and transport them back to Jerusalem. He traveled north toward Damascus with a group of companions. A portion of v. 3 is included for context.

Bible Translations with a Lot of Footnotes:

Lexham Bible                         Saul’s Conversion on the Damascus Road

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and [*Here “and ” is supplied because the participle in the previous verse (“went to”) has been translated as a finite verb] asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he could bring them [*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] tied up [Or figuratively “bring them under arrest”] to Jerusalem.

NET Bible®                             The Conversion of Saul

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats¹ to murder² the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues³ in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way,⁴ either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners⁵ to Jerusalem.⁶

^1tn Or “Saul, making dire threats.”

^2tn The expression “breathing out threats and murder” is an idiomatic expression for “making threats to murder” (see L&N 33.293). Although the two terms “threats” and “murder” are syntactically coordinate, the second is semantically subordinate to the first. In other words, the content of the threats is to murder the disciples.

^3sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

^4sn The expression “the way” in ancient religious literature refers at times to “the whole way of life fr. a moral and spiritual viewpoint” (BDAG 692 s.v. ὁδός 3.c), and it has been so used of Christianity and its teachings in the book of Acts (see also 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). It is a variation of Judaism’s idea of two ways, the true and the false, where “the Way” is the true one (1 En. 91:18; 2 En. 30:15).

^5tn Grk “bring them bound”; the translation “bring someone as prisoner” for δεδεμένον ἄγειν τινά (dedemenon agein tina) is given by BDAG 221 s.v. δέω 1.b.

^6sn From Damascus to Jerusalem was a six-day journey. Christianity had now expanded into Syria.

The Spoken English NT         Jesus Stops Saul in his Tracks-And he Becomes a Believer
But Saul was still fuming with murderous threats^a against the Lord’s followers. He went to the high priest and asked him for authorization letters to the synagogues^b in Damascus.^c That way, if he found people from the Way^d.-men or women-he could bring them to Jerusalem in chains.

^a.Lit. “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder.”

^b.Prn. sinn-a-goggz.

^c.Prn. dam-mass-kas.

^d.This is what the earliest Jewish followers of Jesus called their movement.

Wilbur Pickering’s New T.     Saul of Tarsus
Meanwhile Saul, still exhaling murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he should find any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Benjamin Brodie’s trans.       Now Saul, still breathing [inspired by] a threat of injury [harm] and murder [slaughter] against disciples of the Lord, having approached the high priest,

Asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus in order that if he found any who belonged to the Way [true Israel, believers in Jesus the Messiah], both men and women, he might bring them back to Jerusalem bound and arrested .

Context Group Version          But Saul, yet breathing threats and slaughter against the apprentices of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus to the community centers, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Far Above All Translation       But Saul was still breathing threats and murder towards the Lord's disciples, and he went to the high priest, and asked him for letters to take to Damascus, addressed to the synagogues, authorizing that if he should find anyone of “the way”, both men and women, he should bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Modern Literal Version 2020  {Summer AD 37. Damascus. Saul is around 35 years old. Herod Antipas deposed. Herod Agrippa 1st king, 5th ruler of Galilee & Perea.}

But Saul, still breathing his words of threatening and of murder toward the disciples of the Lord, came near to the high-priest, asked from him letters *for Damascus to the synagogues, *that if he should find some who are of the Way, both men and women, having been bound, he might lead them to Jerusalem.

New American Standard B.    The Conversion of Saul

Now Saul [Later called Paul], still breathing [b]threats [Lit threat] and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way [See John 14:6], whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem.

New King James Version       The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

The gist of this passage:     Saul is described as persecuting Christians throughout Judæa and Samaria.

Translation: Nevertheless, Saul kept on breathing menace and murder regarding the disciples of the Lord,...

Saul was mentioned in the previous chapter, at the beginning. He came to Jerusalem and began to persecute Christians with great enthusiasm. I think the key lynchpin was the killing of Stephen. Apparently, there were no repercussions from Rome. Perhaps the idea was, “Let them fight it out among themselves, and we will stay out of it.” (that is pure conjecture on my part). Whatever the reason or set of events; the religious Jews seem to have a freer hand when it comes to persecuting Christians.

We are told that Saul is breathing menace and murder. This means that he takes in information about the Christians, whether true or false, and he breathes out hatred, revenge, menace and murder. Saul seems to have no trouble murdering people for their beliefs (or advocating murder—I don’t know that there is a clear cut case of Saul committing any murders).

Translation: ...having come to the High Priest.

After enjoying some success persecuting Christians in Jerusalem, it became clear that such people were beginning to pop up everywhere. Saul’s evangelization was not going out and telling people how great it was to be a follower of Judaism; he made certain that those who followed Jesus were imprisoned and killed.

Saul goes to the High Priest for a particular reason. He needs official authorization.

Acts 9:1 Nevertheless, Saul kept on breathing menace and murder regarding the disciples of the Lord, having come to the High Priest. (Kukis mostly literal translation)