KJV: And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
YLT: and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, he was both speaking and disputing with the Hellenists, and they were taking in hand to kill him,
Darby: and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with the Hellenists; but they sought to kill him.
ASV: preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were seeking to kill him.
He who feeds on Scripture must wax strong. The new convert started at once to testify of the Savior. We have no right to keep to ourselves the great treasures that we have discovered, but must copy the lepers of 2 Kings 7:9. He probably showed from a comparison between the predictions of the Old Testament and the facts of our Lord's life, that the key exactly fitted the wards of the ancient lock, and so proved its genuineness.
Those many days in Acts 9:23 probably include the three years spent in Arabia, Galatians 1:17. It was as though Paul wanted time and solitude for quiet thought. We may suppose that he went to Sinai, and there amid the silences of the school where Moses had studied before him, he received of the Lord Jesus that which also he was commissioned to pass on to the Church. From Arabia, he returned to Damascus; then happened Acts 9:24-25. Finally he came to Jerusalem, where he had the opportunity of comparing his teaching with that of the Apostles, Galatians 1:18-24. A vision led him to leave Jerusalem, Acts 22:17-21. While at Tarsus, he probably founded the churches in Cilicia, Acts 15:23; Acts 15:41. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 9
1Saul, going toward Damascus, is stricken down to the earth, 8and led blind to Damascus; 10is called to the apostleship; 18and is baptized by Ananias 20He preaches Christ boldly 23The Jews lay wait to kill him; 29so do the Grecians, but he escapes both 31The church having rest, Peter heals Aeneas; 36and restores Tabitha to life
Greek Commentary for Acts 9:29
Preaching boldly [parrēsiazomenos)] For a while. Evidently Saul did not extend his preaching outside of Jerusalem (Galatians 1:22) and in the city preached mainly in the synagogues of the Hellenists As a Cilician Jew he knew how to speak to the Hellenists. [source]
Disputed [sunezētei)] Imperfect active of sunzēteō the very verb used in Acts 6:9 of the disputes with Stephen in these very synagogues in one of which (Cilicia) Saul had probably joined issue with Stephen to his own discomfort. It was intolerable to these Hellenistic Jews now to hear Saul taking the place of Stephen and using the very arguments that Stephen had employed. But they went about to kill him (Hoi de epecheiroun anelein auton). Demonstrative hoi with de and the conative imperfect of epicheireō to put the hand to, to try, an old verb used in the N.T. only three times (Luke 1:1; Acts 9:29; Acts 19:3). They offer to Saul the same conclusive answer that he gave to Stephen, death. Paul tells how the Lord Jesus appeared to him at this juncture in a vision in the temple (Acts 22:17-21) with the distinct command to leave Jerusalem and how Paul protested that he was willing to meet the fate of Stephen in whose death he had a shameful part. That is to Saul‘s credit, but the Lord did not want Saul to be put to death yet. His crown of martyrdom will come later. [source]
But they went about to kill him [Hoi de epecheiroun anelein auton)] Demonstrative hoi with de and the conative imperfect of epicheireō to put the hand to, to try, an old verb used in the N.T. only three times (Luke 1:1; Acts 9:29; Acts 19:3). They offer to Saul the same conclusive answer that he gave to Stephen, death. Paul tells how the Lord Jesus appeared to him at this juncture in a vision in the temple (Acts 22:17-21) with the distinct command to leave Jerusalem and how Paul protested that he was willing to meet the fate of Stephen in whose death he had a shameful part. That is to Saul‘s credit, but the Lord did not want Saul to be put to death yet. His crown of martyrdom will come later. [source]
Grecians [] Rev., correctly, Grecian Jews. See on Acts 6:1. [source]
Went about [ἐπεχείρουν] Better, attempted: lit., took in hand. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 9:29
Acts 6:1Grecians [Ἑλληνιστῶν] Rev., much better, Grecian Jews, with Hellenists in margin. “Grecians” might easily be understood of Greeks in general. The word Hellenists denotes Jews, not Greeks, but Jews who spoke Greek. The contact of Jews with Greeks was first effected by the conquests of Alexander. He settled eight thousand Jews in the Thebais, and the Jews formed a third of the population of his new city of Alexandria. From Egypt they gradually spread along the whole Mediterranean coast of Africa. They were removed by Seleucus Nicator from Babylonia, by thousands, to Antioch and Seleucia, and under the persecutions of Antiochus Epiphanes scattered themselves through Asia Minor, Greece, Macedonia, and the Aegean islands. The vast majority of them adopted the Greek language, and forgot the Aramaic dialect which had been their language since the Captivity. The word is used but twice in the New Testament - here and Acts 9:29- and, in both cases, of Jews who had embraced Christianity, but who spoke Greek and used the Septuagint version of the Bible instead of the original Hebrew or the Chaldaic targum or paraphrase. The word Ἕλλην , Greek, which is very common in the New Testament, is used in antithesis, either to “Barbarians” or to “Jews. ” In the former case it means all nations which spoke the Greek language (see Acts 18:17; Romans 1:14; 1 Corinthians 1:22,1 Corinthians 1:23). In the latter it is equivalent to Gentiles (see Romans 1:16; Romans 2:9; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Galatians 2:3). Hence, in either case, it is wholly different from Hellenist. [source]
Acts 22:18Saw him saying [ιδειν αυτον λεγοντα] The first visit after his conversion when they tried to kill him in Jerusalem (Acts 9:29). [source]
Acts 9:29Disputed [sunezētei)] Imperfect active of sunzēteō the very verb used in Acts 6:9 of the disputes with Stephen in these very synagogues in one of which (Cilicia) Saul had probably joined issue with Stephen to his own discomfort. It was intolerable to these Hellenistic Jews now to hear Saul taking the place of Stephen and using the very arguments that Stephen had employed. But they went about to kill him (Hoi de epecheiroun anelein auton). Demonstrative hoi with de and the conative imperfect of epicheireō to put the hand to, to try, an old verb used in the N.T. only three times (Luke 1:1; Acts 9:29; Acts 19:3). They offer to Saul the same conclusive answer that he gave to Stephen, death. Paul tells how the Lord Jesus appeared to him at this juncture in a vision in the temple (Acts 22:17-21) with the distinct command to leave Jerusalem and how Paul protested that he was willing to meet the fate of Stephen in whose death he had a shameful part. That is to Saul‘s credit, but the Lord did not want Saul to be put to death yet. His crown of martyrdom will come later. [source]
Acts 9:29But they went about to kill him [Hoi de epecheiroun anelein auton)] Demonstrative hoi with de and the conative imperfect of epicheireō to put the hand to, to try, an old verb used in the N.T. only three times (Luke 1:1; Acts 9:29; Acts 19:3). They offer to Saul the same conclusive answer that he gave to Stephen, death. Paul tells how the Lord Jesus appeared to him at this juncture in a vision in the temple (Acts 22:17-21) with the distinct command to leave Jerusalem and how Paul protested that he was willing to meet the fate of Stephen in whose death he had a shameful part. That is to Saul‘s credit, but the Lord did not want Saul to be put to death yet. His crown of martyrdom will come later. [source]
1 Corinthians 1:20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? [Που σοποσ που γραμματευσ που συνζητητης του αιωνος τουτου] Paul makes use of Isaiah 33:18 without exact quotation. The sudden retreat of Sennacherib with the annihilation of his officers. “On the tablet of Shalmaneser in the Assyrian Gallery of the British Museum there is a surprisingly exact picture of the scene described by Isaiah” (Robertson and Plummer). Note the absence of the Greek article in each of these rhetorical questions though the idea is clearly definite. Probably σοπος sophos refers to the Greek philosopher, γραμματευς grammateus to the Jewish scribe and συνζητητης sunzētētēs suits both the Greek and the Jewish disputant and doubter (Acts 6:9; Acts 9:29; Acts 17:18; Acts 28:29). There is a note of triumph in these questions. The word συνζητητης sunzētētēs occurs here alone in the N.T. and elsewhere only in Ignatius, Ephesians. 18 quoting this passage, but the papyri give the verb συνζητεω sunzēteō for disputing (questioning together). [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 9:29 mean?
He was speakingalsoandwas debatingwiththeHellenists-butthey were seekingto killhim
Greek Commentary for Acts 9:29
For a while. Evidently Saul did not extend his preaching outside of Jerusalem (Galatians 1:22) and in the city preached mainly in the synagogues of the Hellenists As a Cilician Jew he knew how to speak to the Hellenists. [source]
Imperfect active of sunzēteō the very verb used in Acts 6:9 of the disputes with Stephen in these very synagogues in one of which (Cilicia) Saul had probably joined issue with Stephen to his own discomfort. It was intolerable to these Hellenistic Jews now to hear Saul taking the place of Stephen and using the very arguments that Stephen had employed. But they went about to kill him (Hoi de epecheiroun anelein auton). Demonstrative hoi with de and the conative imperfect of epicheireō to put the hand to, to try, an old verb used in the N.T. only three times (Luke 1:1; Acts 9:29; Acts 19:3). They offer to Saul the same conclusive answer that he gave to Stephen, death. Paul tells how the Lord Jesus appeared to him at this juncture in a vision in the temple (Acts 22:17-21) with the distinct command to leave Jerusalem and how Paul protested that he was willing to meet the fate of Stephen in whose death he had a shameful part. That is to Saul‘s credit, but the Lord did not want Saul to be put to death yet. His crown of martyrdom will come later. [source]
Demonstrative hoi with de and the conative imperfect of epicheireō to put the hand to, to try, an old verb used in the N.T. only three times (Luke 1:1; Acts 9:29; Acts 19:3). They offer to Saul the same conclusive answer that he gave to Stephen, death. Paul tells how the Lord Jesus appeared to him at this juncture in a vision in the temple (Acts 22:17-21) with the distinct command to leave Jerusalem and how Paul protested that he was willing to meet the fate of Stephen in whose death he had a shameful part. That is to Saul‘s credit, but the Lord did not want Saul to be put to death yet. His crown of martyrdom will come later. [source]
Rev., correctly, Grecian Jews. See on Acts 6:1. [source]
Better, attempted: lit., took in hand. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 9:29
Rev., much better, Grecian Jews, with Hellenists in margin. “Grecians” might easily be understood of Greeks in general. The word Hellenists denotes Jews, not Greeks, but Jews who spoke Greek. The contact of Jews with Greeks was first effected by the conquests of Alexander. He settled eight thousand Jews in the Thebais, and the Jews formed a third of the population of his new city of Alexandria. From Egypt they gradually spread along the whole Mediterranean coast of Africa. They were removed by Seleucus Nicator from Babylonia, by thousands, to Antioch and Seleucia, and under the persecutions of Antiochus Epiphanes scattered themselves through Asia Minor, Greece, Macedonia, and the Aegean islands. The vast majority of them adopted the Greek language, and forgot the Aramaic dialect which had been their language since the Captivity. The word is used but twice in the New Testament - here and Acts 9:29- and, in both cases, of Jews who had embraced Christianity, but who spoke Greek and used the Septuagint version of the Bible instead of the original Hebrew or the Chaldaic targum or paraphrase. The word Ἕλλην , Greek, which is very common in the New Testament, is used in antithesis, either to “Barbarians” or to “Jews. ” In the former case it means all nations which spoke the Greek language (see Acts 18:17; Romans 1:14; 1 Corinthians 1:22, 1 Corinthians 1:23). In the latter it is equivalent to Gentiles (see Romans 1:16; Romans 2:9; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Galatians 2:3). Hence, in either case, it is wholly different from Hellenist. [source]
The first visit after his conversion when they tried to kill him in Jerusalem (Acts 9:29). [source]
Imperfect active of sunzēteō the very verb used in Acts 6:9 of the disputes with Stephen in these very synagogues in one of which (Cilicia) Saul had probably joined issue with Stephen to his own discomfort. It was intolerable to these Hellenistic Jews now to hear Saul taking the place of Stephen and using the very arguments that Stephen had employed. But they went about to kill him (Hoi de epecheiroun anelein auton). Demonstrative hoi with de and the conative imperfect of epicheireō to put the hand to, to try, an old verb used in the N.T. only three times (Luke 1:1; Acts 9:29; Acts 19:3). They offer to Saul the same conclusive answer that he gave to Stephen, death. Paul tells how the Lord Jesus appeared to him at this juncture in a vision in the temple (Acts 22:17-21) with the distinct command to leave Jerusalem and how Paul protested that he was willing to meet the fate of Stephen in whose death he had a shameful part. That is to Saul‘s credit, but the Lord did not want Saul to be put to death yet. His crown of martyrdom will come later. [source]
Demonstrative hoi with de and the conative imperfect of epicheireō to put the hand to, to try, an old verb used in the N.T. only three times (Luke 1:1; Acts 9:29; Acts 19:3). They offer to Saul the same conclusive answer that he gave to Stephen, death. Paul tells how the Lord Jesus appeared to him at this juncture in a vision in the temple (Acts 22:17-21) with the distinct command to leave Jerusalem and how Paul protested that he was willing to meet the fate of Stephen in whose death he had a shameful part. That is to Saul‘s credit, but the Lord did not want Saul to be put to death yet. His crown of martyrdom will come later. [source]
Paul makes use of Isaiah 33:18 without exact quotation. The sudden retreat of Sennacherib with the annihilation of his officers. “On the tablet of Shalmaneser in the Assyrian Gallery of the British Museum there is a surprisingly exact picture of the scene described by Isaiah” (Robertson and Plummer). Note the absence of the Greek article in each of these rhetorical questions though the idea is clearly definite. Probably σοπος sophos refers to the Greek philosopher, γραμματευς grammateus to the Jewish scribe and συνζητητης sunzētētēs suits both the Greek and the Jewish disputant and doubter (Acts 6:9; Acts 9:29; Acts 17:18; Acts 28:29). There is a note of triumph in these questions. The word συνζητητης sunzētētēs occurs here alone in the N.T. and elsewhere only in Ignatius, Ephesians. 18 quoting this passage, but the papyri give the verb συνζητεω sunzēteō for disputing (questioning together). [source]