New King James Version
Acts 9:2
2and 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.
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 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
1Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 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. 3As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4Then he fell to the ground, and 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 7:19This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live.
- Acts 22:5as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
- Acts 26:12“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
- Esther 3:8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.
- Psalms 82:2How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Acts 6:9Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.
- Acts 13:14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
- Acts 28:17And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have 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 were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
- Acts 28:22But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against 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
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries