ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:1 In chs. Acts 6:1 Luke deals primarily with the witness of the Jerusalem church among the dispersed Greek-speaking Jews (the “Hellenists”) and with the apostle Peter. The conversion of Saul (later called Paul) fits into this time frame. As a Greek-speaking Diaspora Jew, Paul was... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:3 DAMASCUS was 135 miles (217 km) northeast of Jerusalem, a six-day journey by foot. Damascus was an oasis on the border of the Arabian desert and on the main route from Mesopotamia to Egypt. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.lengt... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:4 Jesus’ reference to Saul’s PERSECUTING ME shows his close identity with his followers: to persecute Christians was to persecute Christ. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:5 “WHO ARE YOU, LORD?” Though Paul was physically blinded by the bright light (see vv. Acts 9:3, Acts 9:8), he indicates elsewhere that he actually saw the risen Christ on this occasion (see v. Acts 9:27; 1 Corinthians 9:1). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:7 Saul’s companions heard the VOICE but saw NO ONE. In his later testimony to the Jews, Paul spoke of them seeing the light but not understanding the voice (Acts 22:9). They had no vision of Jesus nor did they hear his message to Saul, but they could testify to a brilliant light... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:10 The LORD is Jesus and not the Father (see v. Acts 9:17). Ananias’s response, HERE I AM, is like that of OT people such as Abraham (Genesis 22:1, Genesis 22:11), Jacob (Genesis 46:2), Moses (Exodus 3:11), Samuel ... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:11 THE STREET CALLED STRAIGHT is one of the world’s oldest continually occupied streets, still existing today. TARSUS. See note on v. 30. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:15 Later in Acts 1:1, Saul (later called Paul) preaches to Gentiles, to KINGS (Agrippa II, ch. Acts 26:1), and to the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:18 SOMETHING LIKE SCALES FELL FROM HIS EYES. This physical event was a symbol that Saul’s spiritual blindness had been overcome. He could now see and understand the truth (see 2 Corinthians 3:14 for a related image). WAS BAPTIZED. Through baptism, Saul made an immediate public de... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:19 Saul likely received instruction in the Christian “way” from the DISCIPLES AT DAMASCUS. In Galatians 1:1, Paul notes that during this time he “went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus” (see Galatians 1:17). Here, as throughout his ministry, Paul began his witness... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:23 THE JEWS. Luke often uses the phrase “the Jews” to refer to Jewish people who opposed the gospel (see esv footnote on v. Acts 9:23; see also Acts 12:3; Acts 13:45; Acts 14:4; Acts 17:5; Acts 19:33; etc.).... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:27 BARNABAS... BROUGHT HIM TO THE APOSTLES (in Jerusalem). According to Galatians 1:18, this visit took place three years (see note on Acts 11:27–30) after his conversion (which could make this c. A.D. 37). Paul met with Peter for 15 days. He had no discussions with the other apo... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:29 The HELLENISTS here are not the same as the Jewish believers called “Hellenists” in Acts 6:1. These people were Jews, but not Christians. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:30 On CAESAREA, see note on 8:40. Paul’s hometown of Tarsus was a strategically important city in southeast Asia Minor on the road from Syria into central Asia Minor. Paul calls it “no obscure city” (Acts 21:39). TO TARSUS corresponds to Galatians 1:21, where Paul says he went to... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:31 THE CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL JUDEA AND GALILEE AND SAMARIA. There may have been hundreds of churches in the small cities and towns throughout this large region, but all of them together can be called a “church.” PEACE. See also Galatians 1:22. FEAR OF THE LORD. See note on Acts 5... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:32 SAINTS refers to Christians. LYDDA (OT Lod) is 23 miles (37 km) northwest of Jerusalem on the road to Joppa. Lydda served as a regional administrative town for Judea, and was on an important trade route. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, l... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:34 JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU. See note on 3:6. MAKE YOUR BED probably refers to folding the mat on which he was lying. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:35 SHARON referred to the whole coastal plain north of Lydda. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:36 JOPPA (modern Jaffa/Yafa, south of Tel Aviv) was a port city on the coast, 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Lydda. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:40 TABITHA, ARISE. Peter had no supernatural power of his own, but the Lord had showed him what he was going to do in response to Peter’s prayer. See note on 3:6. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:41 The Greek verb for RAISED HER UP is the same word used throughout the NT for Jesus’ resurrection. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 9:43 As a TANNER, SIMON worked with animal hides. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]