Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Acts 9

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter

Act 8:1, 3; 26:10-11.

Act 9:2 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.

letters

Act 22:5.

of this way

that were of the Way, i.e. Christ. Jhn 14:6.

Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

light from heaven

2Co 4:6; 1Jo 1:5.

Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

persecutest

Zec 2:8; Jhn 15:20-21; Eph 5:29-30.

me

The Lord identifies Himself with His people.

Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

I am Jesus whom thou persecutest

Act 2:33-36; Heb 2:9.

Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Bible prayers (N.T.). Eph 1:17-20. (Mat 6:9; Rev 22:20.)

Act 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

a voice

the voice.

Cf. Act 22:9; 26:14. A contradiction has been imagined. The three statements should be taken together. The men heard the "voice" as a sound (Greek phone), but did not hear the "voice" as articulating the words, "Saul, Saul," etc.

Act 9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

no man

Or, nothing.

Act 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

Ananias

Act 22:12.

Act 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

he prayeth

Luk 15:7; 18:13.

Act 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

I have heard by many of this man

Act 9:1-2; Gal 1:23.

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

he is a

Inspiration. Act 28:25. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

chosen vessel

Greek vessel elected. Election (personal). Act 10:41. (Deu 7:6; 1Pe 1:2).

Gentiles

Rom 1:5; 11:13; Eph 3:7-8.

kings

Act 26:1-2; 2Ti 4:16-17.

children of Israel

Act 21:40; Rom 1:16; 9:1-5.

Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

he must suffer

Act 20:23; 2Co 11:23-28; Gal 6:17; Phl 1:29.

Act 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Holy Ghost

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Act 9:17, 31; 10:19, 38, 44-45, 47. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Act 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

received sight

Miracles (N.T.). Act 9:18, 36-41; 13:6-12. (Mat 8:2-3; Act 28:8-9.)

Act 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Literally And straightway, in the synagogues, was he proclaiming Jesus, that he is the Son of God.

that he is the Son of God

Cf. Act 2:36. Peter, while maintaining the deity of Jesus—"God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ"—gives especial prominence to His Messiahship. Paul, fresh from the vision of the glory, puts the emphasis on His Deity. Peter's charge was that the Jews had crucified the Son of David (Act 2:25-30); Paul's that they had crucified the Lord of glory (1Co 2:8). In the A.V. the sense is largely lost. The point was, not that the Christ was God, a truth plainly taught by Isaiah (Isa 7:14; 9:6-7), but that Jesus, the crucified Nazarene, was the Christ and therefore God the Son.

Act 9:22-25 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

very Christ

the very Christ

many days

It seems probable that Act 9:22-25 refer to Paul's labours in Damascus after his return from Arabia (Gal 1:17). The "many days" of Act 9:23 may represent the "three years" of Gal 1:18, which intervened between Paul's return to Damascus and his visit to Peter.

let him down by the wall

Jos 2:15; 1Sa 19:12; 2Co 11:32-33.

Act 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

Saul was come to Jerusalem

The Acts records four visits of Paul to Jerusalem after conversion:

1. Act 9:23-30. This seems identical with the visit of Gal 1:18-19. The "apostles" of Act 9:27 were Peter, and James, the Lord's brother.
2. Act 11:30. Paul may have been in Jerusalem during the events of Act 12:1-24. (See Act 12:25.)
3. Act 15:1-30; Gal 2:2-10.
4. Act 21:17 - Act 23:35.

they were all afraid of him

Act 9:13-14.

Act 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Barnabas

Act 4:36; 11:22-26.

[Paul] had preached boldly

Act 9:20, 22.

Act 9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Grecians

Hellenists, i.e. Grecian Jews.

Act 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

churches

Churches (local). Act 11:1-26. (Act 2:41; Phl 1:1).

edified

Eph 4:16.

fear of the Lord

Psa 34:9; Heb 12:28.

comfort of the Holy Ghost

Jhn 14:16; Phl 2:1-2.

multiplied

Act 9:42; 16:5.

Act 9:33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

sick of the palsy

Mat 9:2.

Act 9:34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

Jesus Christ maketh thee whole

Act 3:6, 16; 4:10.

Act 9:35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Saron

Sharon.

turned to the Lord

Act 11:21.

Act 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Dorcas

i.e. gazelle.

full of good works

1Ti 2:10.

Act 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

widows

Contra, Act 6:1.

Act 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

kneeled down

Mat 9:25.

Act 9:41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

presented her alive

Resurrection. Act 9:36-42; Act 17:3. (Job 19:25; 1 Cor 15:52.)

Act 9:42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

was

came to be.

many believed in the Lord

Jhn 11:45; 12:11.

Act 9:43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

Simon a tanner

Act 10:6, 28.