God’s Word Translation
Acts 9:21
21Everyone who heard him was amazed. They asked, “Isn’t this the man who destroyed those who worshiped the one named Jesus in Jerusalem? Didn’t he come here to take these worshipers as prisoners to the chief priests ⌞in Jerusalem⌟?”
Acts 9:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
- New International Version (NIV)All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
Context of Acts 9:21
19After he had something to eat, his strength came back to him. Saul was with the disciples in the city of Damascus for several days. 20He immediately began to spread the word in their synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. Everyone who heard him was amazed. They asked, “Isn’t this the man who destroyed those who worshiped the one named Jesus in Jerusalem? Didn’t he come here to take these worshipers as prisoners to the chief priests ⌞in Jerusalem⌟?” 22Saul grew more powerful, and he confused the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. 23Later the Jews planned to murder Saul,
Read all of Acts 9Acts 9:21 word by word
ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες οἱ ἀκούοντες καὶ ἔλεγον· οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ πορθήσας Ἰερουσαλὴμ τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους τὸ ὄνομα τοῦτο; καὶ ὧδε εἰς τοῦτο ἐληλύθει ἵνα δεδεμένους αὐτοὺς ἀγάγῃ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- were amazedἐξίστημιexistēmi · to amazeG1839
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- notοὐou · noG3756
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- destroyedπορθέωportheō · to lay wasteG4199
- called onἐπικαλέωepikaleomai · to call (on)/nameG1941
- nameὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- JerusalemἹερουσαλήμHierousalēm · JerusalemG2419
- cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- hitherὧδεhōde · hereG5602
- forεἰςeis · towardG1519
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- he might bringἄγωagō · to bringG71
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- boundδέωdeō · to bindG1210
- untoἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the chief priestsἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
Cross-references for Acts 9:21
- Acts 2:6They gathered when they heard the wind. Each person was startled to recognize his own dialect when the disciples spoke.
- Acts 4:13After they found out that Peter and John had no education or special training, they were surprised to see how boldly they spoke. They realized that these men had been with Jesus.
- Numbers 23:23No spell can curse the descendants of Jacob. No magic can harm the people of Israel. Now it will be said of Jacob and Israel: ‘See what God has done!’
- Psalms 71:7I have become an example to many people, but you are my strong refuge.
- Isaiah 8:18I am here with the children that the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord of Armies, who lives on Mount Zion.
- Zechariah 3:8“Listen, Chief Priest Joshua and your friends sitting with you. These men are a sign of things to come: I’m going to bring my servant, the Branch.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:10⌞This will happen⌟ on that day when he comes to be honored among all his holy people and admired by all who have believed in him. This includes you because you believed the testimony we gave you.
- 1 John 3:1Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either.
- Acts 3:10They knew that he was the man who used to sit and beg at the temple’s Beautiful Gate. The people were amazed and stunned to see what had happened to him.
- Matthew 13:54Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in the synagogue in a way that amazed them. People were asking, “Where did this man get this wisdom and the power to do these miracles?
- Mark 5:15They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. The man was sitting there dressed and in his right mind. The people were frightened.
- John 9:8His neighbors and those who had previously seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”
- Acts 9:1Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord’s disciples. He went to the chief priest
- Acts 8:3Saul tried to destroy the church. He dragged men and women out of one home after another and threw them into prison.
- Galatians 1:13You heard about the way I once lived when I followed the Jewish religion. You heard how I violently persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it.
Commentaries on Acts 9:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Is not this he that destroyed them - ̔ . The verb has three acceptations in the Greek writers: To treat one as an enemy, to spoil him of his goods. To lead away captive, to imprison. To slay. Paul was properly , a destroyer, in all these senses. He acted as the most determined enemy of the Christians: Being exceedingly mad against them, he persecuted them to strange cities, Acts 26:11. He shut up many of the saints in prison, Acts 8:3; Acts 9:14; Acts…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Were amazed - Amazed at his sudden and remarkable change. That destroyed - That opposed; laid waste; persecuted. Compare Galatians 1:13. For that intent - With that design, that he might destroy the church at Damascus.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-22Verses 10-22 A good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to Christ's feet with those words, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And never did Christ leave any who were brought to that. Behold, the proud Pharisee, the unmerciful oppressor, the daring blasphemer, prayeth! And thus it is even now, and with the proud infidel, or the abandoned sinner. What happy tidings are these to all who understand the nature and power of prayer, of such prayer as…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus: Saul's encounter with the heavenly Christ was genuine, shown by his enthusiastic and bold preaching. His direct declaration surprised many because he had previously caused great harm to the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2220-22. preached Christ ... that he is the Son of God--rather, "preached Jesus," according to all the most ancient manuscripts and versions of the New Testament (so Ac 9:21, "all that call on this name," that is, Jesus; and Ac 9:22, "proving that this Jesus is very Christ").Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 9:21
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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