Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 9:21
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?
21. But all that heard him were amazed ] Saul’s fame as a persecutor of Christians was well known to the Jews of Damascus, and the authorities of the synagogues may have been instructed beforehand to welcome him as a zealous agent. If so their amazement is easy to understand. It is clear from what follows in this verse that they knew of his mission and the intention thereof, though Saul did not bring them his “commission and authority.” We should gather also from the strong expression “destroyed,” used to describe Saul’s career in Jerusalem, that the slaughter of the Christians there had not been limited to the stoning of Stephen.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Were amazed – Amazed at his sudden and remarkable change.
That destroyed – That opposed; laid waste; persecuted. Compare Gal 1:13.
For that intent – With that design, that he might destroy the church at Damascus.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 21. Is not this he that destroyed them] . The verb has three acceptations in the Greek writers:
1. To treat one as an enemy, to spoil him of his goods.
2. To lead away captive, to imprison.
3. To slay.
Paul was properly , a destroyer, in all these senses.
1. He acted as the most determined enemy of the Christians: Being exceedingly mad against them, he persecuted them to strange cities, Ac 26:11.
2. He shut up many of the saints in prison, Ac 8:3; Ac 9:14; Ac 26:10.
3. He persecuted them unto death-gave his voice against them that they might be destroyed, and was a principal instrument in the martyrdom of Stephen. He breathed threatenings and slaughter. See Ac 7:58; Ac 8:1; Ac 9:1; Ac 26:10-11.
Therefore these three meanings of the original word are all exemplified in the conduct of Saul.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This great change is a most unaccountable thing, and might truly cause amazement; but ex quovis ligno fit Mercurius, cum digitus Dei sit statuarius. Nothing is too hard for that God in whose hand Sauls heart was.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But all that heard him were amazed,…. Not the disciples that believed in Christ, but the unbelievers, as appears from their words:
and said, is not this he that destroyed them that called on this name in Jerusalem? they do not express the name of Christ, out of malice and ill will; which shows who they were that said these words, and were astonished to hear Saul preaching in this name, and proving him to be the Son of God, and the true Messiah; when it was but a little while ago he consented to the death of Stephen, made havoc of the church, wasted and destroyed it as much as was in his power, and persecuted unto death such as called upon the name of Christ, or were called by his name, he could find in Jerusalem: nor did this satisfy him, for it follows,
and came hither, that is, to Damascus,
for that intent, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests: whom he should find professing or invocating the name of Christ, or bearing it; now to see and hear him preach this same name, was surprising to them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Were amazed (). Imperfect middle indicative of . They continued to stand out of themselves in astonishment at this violent reversal in Saul the persecutor.
Made havock (). First aorist active participle of , to lay waste, an old verb, but only here and Gal 1:13; Gal 1:23 by Paul, an interesting coincidence. It is the old proverb about Saul among the prophets (1Sa 10:12) revived with a new meaning (Furneaux).
Had come (). Past perfect indicative active.
Might bring (). Second aorist (effective) active subjunctive of with (purpose).
Bound (). Perfect passive participle of . Interesting tenses.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Destroyed [] . Rather, laid waste, made havoc of, as Rev. Compare ch. 8 3. Paul uses the same word in Gal 1:13.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But all that heard him were amazed, and said,” (eksistanto de pantes hoi akountes kai elegon) “Then all those who heard him preaching were amazed and stood up and inquired,” or rhetorically affirmed, as they were confused, uncertain what would come of those disciples he had come to persecute, to whom he had joined himself, Gal 1:13; Gal 1:23.
2) “Is not this he that destroyed,” (ouk houtos estin ho prothesas) “Is not this the one who destroyed,” or “this is the one who destroyed, did harm, wrought havoc, or persecuted, is it not?” Act 8:1-3; Act 22:4.
3) “Them which called on this name in Jerusalem,” (eis lerousalem tous epikaloumenous to onoma touto) “Those who called on this name (the name of Jesus) in Jerusalem;” The Jews of the synagogue seemed especially shocked as those were to whom Peter preached on Pentecost, Act 2:36; Act 2:27; Act 4:12.
4) “And came hither for that intent,” (kai hode eis touto eleluthei) “And he came for this (same) purpose,” didn’t he? Act 22:4. A tree is known by its fruits, and the disciples at Damascus saw good fruit in Saul’s life at once, Mat 7:15-19.
5) “Unto the chief priests?” (epi tous archiereis) “Before the high priests?” from whom he had received arrest warrants or authority for arrest and detainment of disciples of the Lord, Act 22:5; Act 16:10-12.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
21. They were all amazed. This is added, that we may know that the power of God was acknowledged. For seeing that the zeal of Paul against the gospel was openly known, they saw no other cause of such a sudden change but the hand of God. And, therefore, this is also one fruit of the miracle, that they all wonder at him being made a new man so suddenly, so that his doctrine doth the more move their minds. Whereas they say that he raged horribly with great cruelty, and that he came of late to Damascus that he might proceed in his purpose, these circumstances serve to augment the miracle. We must also note the phrase, those which call on his name, which withesseth that the godly did so profess the name of Christ, that they placed all their hope of salvation in him. According to that, these
“
men put their trust in chariots, and others in horses, but we will call upon the name of the Lord,” (Psa 20:7.)
Finally, whatsoever the Scripture commandeth concerning calling upon the name of God, it agreeth to the person of Christ.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(21) That destroyed them which called on this name.Better, made havock of them. It is noticeable that St. Paul uses the same verb as descriptive of his own conduct in Gal. 1:13, where the English version has wasted. On them which called on this name, see Note on Act. 9:16.
And came hither.More accurately, had come hither, as implying that the purpose of his coming had been abandoned.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. Amazed Sudden conversions are a great stumbling-block to unbelievers and rationalists. But in this case, when the persecutor suddenly turned preacher, the amazement was fairly at its height. It is well when the firmness of the young convert is greater even than the caviller’s amazement.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And all who heard him were amazed, and said, “Is not this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name, and who had come here for this purpose, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests?” ’
His appearance in this mode astonished all who saw him. They could not believe that the persecutor had become the disciple. Why, he had come to Damascus to arrest the believers in Jesus, and now here he was proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah and more, and declaring that he had seen the heavens opened and had received confirmation that the Lord Jesus was risen and exalted. What on earth could have happened?
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 9:21. And came hither for that intent, And came hither on purpose to carry them prisoners to the chief priests. See 1Sa 10:11-12. Heylin.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
21 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?
Ver. 21. Is not this he? ] It is, and it is not: it is not Ille ego qui quondam, but ego non sum ego. He is another man than he was, and this the whole Church shall soon hear of: like as a bell cannot be turned from one side to another, but it will make a sound, and report its own motion.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
21. ] ‘Militari verbo usus est,’ Erasm. So sch. Choeph. 680, , . See also Sept. c. Theb. 176 (194 Dind.).
] had come here, implying the abandonment of the purpose.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 9:21 . : same word used by St. Paul of himself in Gal 1:13 ; Gal 1:23 ; nowhere else in N.T., but see 4Ma 4:23 ; 4Ma 11:4 ; used often in classical Greek. Blass draws attention to the coincidence between this passage and the use of the word in Gal., and adds: “ut a Paulo hoc ipsum verbum scriptorem accepisse dicas”. Wendt (1899) dismisses the point of connection in the use of the word by the two authors Luke and Paul as accidental. He bases his objection, p. 35, upon the view that St. Paul’s Epistles and Acts are independent of each other; but this would not prevent St. Luke from receiving the narrative of the events at Damascus from the lips of Paul himself. ., see above on Act 9:14 . , pluperfect: “inestindicatio voluntatis mulct,” Blass, cf. also Burton, N. T. Moods and Tenses , p. 44, and Blass, Gramm. , p. 197. On the jurisdiction of the Sanhedrim and their commissions to their officers see Act 4:5 , and Lewin, St. Paul , i., 52 (smaller edition). For followed by the conjunctive after a past tense in preference to the optative cf. Act 5:26 , Act 25:26 , in Winer-Moulton, xli. b 1 a .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
were amazed. Greek. existemi. Compare Act 2:7; Act 8:9, Act 8:13.
destroyed = devastated. Greek. portheo. Same word as in Gal 1:1, Gal 1:13, Gal 1:23. Not the same as in Act 8:3.
for that intent = for (Greek. eis.) this.
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
21. ] Militari verbo usus est, Erasm. So sch. Choeph. 680, , . See also Sept. c. Theb. 176 (194 Dind.).
] had come here, implying the abandonment of the purpose.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
amazed: Act 2:6, Act 2:12, Act 4:13, Num 23:23, Psa 71:7, Isa 8:18, Zec 3:8, 2Th 1:10, 1Jo 3:1
Is not: Act 3:10, Mat 13:54, Mat 13:55, Mar 5:15-20, Joh 9:8, Joh 9:9
destroyed: Act 9:1, Act 9:2, Act 9:13, Act 9:14, Act 8:3, Gal 1:13-24
Reciprocal: 1Sa 10:11 – What is this 1Sa 19:24 – Is Saul Mar 1:22 – they were Act 7:59 – calling Act 22:4 – I persecuted Act 26:10 – having 1Co 1:2 – with
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1
Act 9:21. It should be expected that the people would be amazed at the preaching of Saul. He did not merely subside from his persecution of the disciples, but became an active pro-claimer of the faith he had been opposing.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 9:21. But all that heard him were amazed. The Jews were astonished; they knew the position he had held at Jerusalem; they knew the object of his visit to Damascus; and now they saw him using all his great powers to defend and advance the cause he had come to destroy.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 19
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Saul’s conduct understandably bewildered the Jews who lived in Damascus. Instead of persecuting the Christians he was proving that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. This is what people then and now need to believe to obtain salvation (cf. 1Jn 5:1). Saul had made a 180-degree change in his thinking and in his conduct; he had truly repented. Saul’s understanding and commitment kept growing as he continually sought to convince the Damascus Jews that Jesus was their Messiah. Perhaps Saul’s sojourn in Arabia occurred between Act 9:21-22 or between Act 9:22-23.