Acts 9:1-6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 9:1-9

We found mention made of Saul twice or thrice in the story of Stephen, for the sacred penman longed to come to his story; and now we are come to it, not quite taking leave of Peter but from henceforward being mostly taken up with Paul the apostle of the Gentiles, as Peter was of the circumcision. His name in Hebrew was Saul?desired, though as remarkably little in stature as his namesake king Saul was tall and stately; one of the ancients calls him, Homo tricubitalis?but four feet and a half in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 9:1-9

9:1-9 But Saul, still breathing out threat and murder to the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters of credit to Damascus, to the synagogues there, so that if he found any of The Way there, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed round about him. He fell on the ground and he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He said, "Who, are you,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:1

And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter ,.... The historian having given an account of the dispersion of all the preachers of the Gospel at Jerusalem, excepting the apostles, and of their success in other parts, especially of Philip's, returns to the history of Saul; who, not satisfied with the murder of Stephen, and with the havoc he made of the church at Jerusalem, haling them out of their houses to prison, continued not only to threaten them with confiscation of goods and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:2

And desired of him letters to Damascus ,.... Damascus was the head or metropolis of Syria, Isaiah 7:8 And so Pliny F26 L. 36. c. 8. calls it Damascus of Syria: it was a very ancient city; it was in the times of Abraham; his servant Eliezer is said to be of it, Genesis 15:2 and some say it was built by him the said Eliezer; though Josephus F1 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 5. makes Uz, a grandson of Shem, to be the founder of it; whose surname is conjectured, by some, to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:3

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus ,.... Some say it was a mile from Damascus: though, no mention is made of his obtaining letters from the high priest, only of his desiring them; yet there is no doubt but they were granted him; the design of the historian, under a divine direction, being to give an account of the temper and disposition of Saul; and he having got them, set out on his journey in high spirits, and proceeded on with the same wicked intentions, till he came near the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:4

And he fell to the earth ,.... Not being able to bear the light, and still less the divine glory and majesty which he perceived was present; and therefore, in great confusion, amazement, and fear, he fell with his face to the ground, and lay there prostrate and so did also those that were with him, Acts 26:14 and heard a voice, saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ? this voice was the real voice of Christ in his human nature, and who visibly and in person appeared, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:5

And he said, who art thou, Lord ?.... For he knew not whether it was God, or an angel, or who it was that spake to him; he knew not Christ by his form or voice, as Stephen did, when he saw him standing at the right hand of God; he was in a state of ignorance, and knew neither the person, nor voice of Christ, and yet his heart was so far softened and wrought upon, that he was desirous of knowing who he was; and the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest . The Alexandrian copy, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:6

And he trembling and astonished ,.... At the light and voice, and appearance of Christ, and especially at the words last spoken; he was now pricked to the heart, and filled with a sense of sin, and loaded with guilt, and had dreadful apprehensions of his state and condition, on account of his past wickedness, and the present course of sin he was in: so persons under first convictions "tremble" at the sight of their sins, which rise up like so many ghosts, and stare them in the face, and load... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:1

Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter - The original text is very emphatic, ετι εμπνεων απειλης και φονου , and points out how determinate Saul was to pursue and accomplish his fell purpose of totally destroying the infant Church of Christ. The mode of speech introduced above is very frequent in the Greek writers, who often express any vehement and hostile affection of the mind by the verb πνεειν , to breathe, to pant; so Theocritus, Idyll. xxii. ver. 82: Ες μεσσον... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:2

Letters to Damascus to the synagogues - Damascus, anciently called דמסק Damask , and דרמסק Darmask , was once the metropolis of all Syria. It was situated at fifty miles' distance from the sea; from which it is separated by lofty mountains. It is washed by two rivers, Amara or Abara, which ran through it, and Pharpar, called by the Greeks Chrysorrhoas, the golden stream, which ran on the outside of its walls. It is one of the most ancient cities in the world, for it existed in the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 9:1-9

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 9:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:2

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