English Standard Version
Acts 9:2
2and 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)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.
Context of Acts 9:2
1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 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. 3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
Read all of Acts 9Acts 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 he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."
- Acts 7:19He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive.
- Acts 22:5as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
- Acts 26:12"In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission 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 every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them.
- Psalms 82:2"How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Acts 6:9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.
- Acts 13:14but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
- Acts 28:17After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
- Acts 19:9But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.
- Acts 28:22But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries