God’s Word Translation
Acts 9:2
2and asked him to write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟ and imprison them in 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.
- 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
1Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord’s disciples. He went to the chief priest and asked him to write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟ and imprison them in Jerusalem. 3As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say 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 9:14Saul has come here to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to put anyone who calls on your name in prison.”
- Acts 7:19This king was shrewd in the way he took advantage of our people. He mistreated our ancestors. He made them abandon their newborn babies outdoors, where they would die.
- Acts 22:5The chief priest and the entire council of our leaders can prove that I did this. In fact, they even gave me letters to take to the Jewish community in the city of Damascus. I was going there to tie up believers and bring them back to Jerusalem to punish them.
- Acts 26:12“I was carrying out these activities when I went to the city of Damascus. I had the power and authority of the chief priests.
- Esther 3:8Now, Haman told King Xerxes, “Your Majesty, there is a certain nationality scattered among—but separate from—the nationalities in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws differ from those of all other nationalities. They do not obey your decrees. So it is not in your interest to tolerate them, Your Majesty.
- Psalms 82:2“How long are you going to judge unfairly? How long are you going to side with wicked people?” Selah
- Acts 6:9⌞One day⌟ some men from the cities of Cyrene and Alexandria and the provinces of Cilicia and Asia started an argument with Stephen. They belonged to a synagogue called Freedmen’s Synagogue.
- Acts 13:14Paul and Barnabas left Perga and arrived in Antioch, a city near Pisidia. On the day of rest—a holy day, they went into the synagogue and sat down.
- Acts 28:17After three days Paul invited the most influential Jews in Rome to meet with him. When they assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, I haven’t done anything against the Jewish people or violated the customs handed down by our ancestors. Yet, I’m a prisoner from Jerusalem, and I’ve been handed over to the Roman authorities.
- Acts 19:9But when some people became stubborn, refused to believe, and had nothing good to say in front of the crowd about the way ⌞of Christ⌟, he left them. He took his disciples and held daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
- Acts 28:22However, we would like to hear what you think. We know that everywhere people are talking against this sect.”
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
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