Acts 9:2

Acts 9:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of Acts 9:2

1Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest, 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], men and women alike, he could arrest them and bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem. 3As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ]; 4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?”

Acts 9:2 word by word

ᾐτήσατο παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐπιστολὰς εἰς Δαμασκὸν πρὸς τὰς συναγωγάς, ὅπως ἐάν τινας εὕρῃ τῆς ὁδοῦ ὄντας ἄνδρας τε καὶ γυναῖκας, δεδεμένους ἀγάγῃ εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And desiredαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
• ofπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• lettersἐπιστολήepistolē · epistleG1992
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• DamascusΔαμασκόςDamaskos · DamascusG1154
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• the synagoguesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the synagoguesσυναγωγήsunagōgē · synagogueG4864
• thatὅπωςhopōs · thatG3704
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• he foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• anyτιςtis · oneG5100
• of this wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
• whetherτεte · and/bothG5037
• they wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• menἀνήρanēr · manG435
• orκαίkai · andG2532
• womenγυνήgunē · womanG1135
• he might bringἄγωagō · to bringG71
• them boundδέωdeō · to bindG1210
• JerusalemἹερουσαλήμHierousalēm · JerusalemG2419

Cross-references for Acts 9:2

• Acts 9:14and here [in Damascus] he has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on Your name [confessing You as Savior].”
• Acts 7:19He shrewdly exploited our race and mistreated our fathers, forcing them to expose their [male] babies so that they would die.
• Acts 22:5as the high priest and all the Council of the elders (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) can testify; because from them I received letters to the brothers, and I was on my way to Damascus in order to bring those [believers] who were there to Jerusalem in chains to be punished.
• Acts 26:12“While so engaged, as I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission and full power of the chief priests,
• Esther 3:8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered [abroad] and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people, and they do not observe the king’s laws. Therefore it is not in the king’s interest to [tolerate them and] let them stay here.
• Psalms 82:2How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah.
• Acts 6:9However, some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and [the province of] Asia, rose up and questioned and argued with Stephen.
• Acts 13:14Now they went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
• Acts 28:17Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Kinsmen, though I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
• Acts 19:9But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient [to the word of God], discrediting and speaking evil of the Way (Jesus, Christianity) before the congregation, Paul left them, taking the disciples with him, and went on holding daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus [instead of in the synagogue].
• Acts 28:22But we would like to hear from you what your views are [that is, exactly what you believe]; for in regard to this sect (Christianity), we are fully aware that it is denounced everywhere.”

Commentaries on Acts 9:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Letters 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2And desired of him - This shows the intensity of his wish to persecute the Christians, that he was willing to ask for such an employment. Letters - Epistles, implying a commission to bring them to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. From this it seems that the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem claimed jurisdiction over all synagogues everywhere. To Damascus - This was a celebrated city of Syria, and long the capital of a kingdom of that name. It is situated in a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2A synagogue (Greek sunagōgē, meaning “gathering place”) was a local Jewish meeting place. After the exile to Babylon, Jewish people began to meet in synagogues in their towns. These places became centers for teaching and worship. After Israel returned from exile in Babylon, Jews began using synagogues for instruction and worship. In the synagogue, people read from the Law and the Prophets. Leaders explained the meaning of the Scriptures. The people also…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. desired ... letters--of authorization. to Damascus--the capital of Syria and the great highway between eastern and western Asia, about one hundred thirty miles northeast of Jerusalem; the most ancient city perhaps in the world, and lying in the center of a verdant and inexhaustible paradise. It abounded (as appears from Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 2.20,2) with Jews, and with Gentile proselytes to the Jewish faith. Thither the Gospel had penetrated; and…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 9:2

• Arrest
• Bigotry
• Extradition
• Heart
• Paul
• Persecution
• Synagogue
• Syria
• Way

In the dictionaries

• Damascus
• Jerusalem
• Authority
• Confound
• Forthwith
• Kick
• Acts of the Apostles
• Apostolic Age
• Epistle
• Foreship

Commentaries on Acts 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings