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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/9-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/44_Act_09_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 9:1 - The Road to Damascus" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. 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He went to the high priest <a href="/nlt/acts/9.htm">New Living Translation</a> Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. <a href="/esv/acts/9.htm">English Standard Version</a> But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest <a href="/bsb/acts/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest <a href="/blb/acts/9.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Meanwhile, Saul still breathing out threats and murder toward the disciples of the Lord, having gone to the high priest, <a href="/kjv/acts/9.htm">King James Bible</a> And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, <a href="/nkjv/acts/9.htm">New King James Version</a> Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest <a href="/nasb_/acts/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, <a href="/nasb/acts/9.htm">NASB 1995</a> Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, <a href="/nasb77/acts/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, <a href="/lsb/acts/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, <a href="/amp/acts/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest, <a href="/csb/acts/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest <a href="/hcsb/acts/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest <a href="/asv/acts/9.htm">American Standard Version</a> But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, <a href="/cev/acts/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord's followers. He even went to the high priest <a href="/erv/acts/9.htm">English Revised Version</a> But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, <a href="/gwt/acts/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord's disciples. He went to the chief priest <a href="/gnt/acts/9.htm">Good News Translation</a> In the meantime Saul kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord. He went to the High Priest <a href="/isv/acts/9.htm">International Standard Version</a> Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord's disciples, Saul went to the high priest. <a href="/msb/acts/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest <a href="/net/acts/9.htm">NET Bible</a> Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest <a href="/nheb/acts/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, <a href="/wbt/acts/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, <a href="/wey/acts/9.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Now Saul, whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the Lord, <a href="/web/acts/9.htm">World English Bible</a> But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Saul, yet breathing of threatening and slaughter to the disciples of the LORD, having gone to the chief priest, <a href="/blb/acts/9.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Meanwhile, Saul still breathing out threats and murder toward the disciples of the Lord, having gone to the high priest, <a href="/ylt/acts/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Saul, yet breathing of threatening and slaughter to the disciples of the Lord, having gone to the chief priest, <a href="/slt/acts/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and murder against the disciples of the Lord, having come to the chief priest,<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> AND Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, <a href="/cpdv/acts/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Now Saul, still breathing threats and beatings against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, <a href="/nabre/acts/9.htm">New American Bible</a> Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest <a href="/nrsvce/acts/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> NOW Saul was still filled with anger and with threats of murder against the disciples of our LORD, <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/9.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> But Shaul was full of menace and the fury of murder against the disciples of Our Lord.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/9.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And Saul, still breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest, <a href="/godbey/acts/9.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, having come to the high priest, <a href="/haweis/acts/9.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> BUT Saul, still breathing out threatenings and murder against the disciples of the Lord, applying to the high-priest, <a href="/mace/acts/9.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Saul still breathing out nothing but threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, <a href="/wey/acts/9.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Now Saul, whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the Lord, <a href="/worrell/acts/9.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, going to the high priest, <a href="/worsley/acts/9.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> But Saul still breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest, and desired of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, <a href="/parallel/acts/9-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=2681" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/acts/9.htm">The Road to Damascus</a> 1<a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: De (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">Meanwhile,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: HO (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4569.htm" title="4569: Saulos (N-NMS) -- Saul, the apostle. Of Hebrew origin, the same as Saoul; Saulus, the Jewish name of Paul.">Saul</a> <a href="/greek/2089.htm" title="2089: eti (Adv) -- (a) of time: still, yet, even now, (b) of degree: even, further, more, in addition. Perhaps akin to etos; yet, still.">was still</a> <a href="/greek/1709.htm" title="1709: empneōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- To breathe, breathe into, inhale. From en and pneo; to inhale, i.e. to be animated by.">breathing out</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/5408.htm" title="5408: phonou (N-GMS) -- Murder, slaughter, killing. From an obsolete primary pheno; murder.">murderous</a> <a href="/greek/547.htm" title="547: apeilēs (N-GFS) -- A threatening, threat. From apeileo; a menace.">threats</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.">against</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tous (Art-AMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3101.htm" title="3101: mathētas (N-AMP) -- A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.">disciples</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the</a> <a href="/greek/2962.htm" title="2962: Kyriou (N-GMS) -- Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.">Lord.</a> <a href="/greek/4334.htm" title="4334: proselthōn (V-APA-NMS) -- From pros and erchomai; to approach, i.e. come near, visit, or worship, assent to.">He approached</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/749.htm" title="749: archierei (N-DMS) -- High priest, chief priest. From arche and hiereus; the high-priest; by extension a chief priest.">high priest</a> 2and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/acts/8-3.htm">Acts 8:3</a> But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. <a href="/acts/22-4.htm">Acts 22:4-5</a> I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, / as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. <a href="/acts/26-9.htm">Acts 26:9-11</a> So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. / And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. / I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. <a href="/galatians/1-13.htm">Galatians 1:13</a> For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. <a href="/1_timothy/1-13.htm">1 Timothy 1:13</a> I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. <a href="/philippians/3-6.htm">Philippians 3:6</a> as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless. <a href="/john/16-2.htm">John 16:2</a> They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. <a href="/matthew/10-17.htm">Matthew 10:17</a> But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. <a href="/luke/21-12.htm">Luke 21:12</a> But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors. <a href="/1_corinthians/15-9.htm">1 Corinthians 15:9</a> For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. <a href="/acts/7-58.htm">Acts 7:58</a> They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. <a href="/acts/22-19.htm">Acts 22:19-20</a> ‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You. / And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ <a href="/acts/6-13.htm">Acts 6:13-14</a> where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. / For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” <a href="/acts/26-14.htm">Acts 26:14</a> We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ <a href="/acts/22-7.htm">Acts 22:7-8</a> I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ / ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,Cir A.<a href="/acts/9-11.htm">Acts 9:11-13,19-21</a> And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, … <a href="/acts/7-58.htm">Acts 7:58</a> And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.<a href="/acts/8-3.htm">Acts 8:3</a> As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.breathing.<a href="/psalms/27-12.htm">Psalm 27:12</a> Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/2-2.htm">Breath</a> <a href="/john/20-22.htm">Breathing</a> <a href="/acts/7-10.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/acts/8-32.htm">Death</a> <a href="/acts/7-46.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/acts/8-20.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/acts/6-7.htm">Disciples</a> <a href="/acts/8-27.htm">High</a> <a href="/acts/8-25.htm">Lord's</a> <a href="/acts/6-7.htm">Meanwhile</a> <a href="/acts/8-1.htm">Murder</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-8.htm">Murderous</a> <a href="/acts/7-1.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/acts/8-3.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/acts/8-32.htm">Slaughter</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-17.htm">Threat</a> <a href="/matthew/27-24.htm">Threatening</a> <a href="/acts/4-29.htm">Threatenings</a> <a href="/acts/4-29.htm">Threats</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/17-25.htm">Breath</a> <a href="/genesis/2-7.htm">Breathing</a> <a href="/acts/9-14.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/acts/9-23.htm">Death</a> <a href="/acts/13-7.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/acts/13-19.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/acts/9-19.htm">Disciples</a> <a href="/acts/9-2.htm">High</a> <a href="/acts/11-16.htm">Lord's</a> <a href="/acts/9-7.htm">Meanwhile</a> <a href="/acts/9-24.htm">Murder</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-8.htm">Murderous</a> <a href="/acts/9-2.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/acts/9-4.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/romans/8-36.htm">Slaughter</a> <a href="/ezra/4-22.htm">Threat</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-9.htm">Threatening</a> <a href="/acts/4-29.htm">Threatenings</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-9.htm">Threats</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 9</div>1. <a href="/acts/9-1.htm">Saul, going toward Damascus, is stricken down to the earth, </a> 8. <a href="/acts/9-8.htm">and led blind to Damascus;</a> 10. <a href="/acts/9-10.htm">is called to the apostleship;</a> 18. <a href="/acts/9-18.htm">and is baptized by Ananias.</a> 20. <a href="/acts/9-20.htm">He preaches Christ boldly.</a> 23. <a href="/acts/9-23.htm">The Jews lay wait to kill him;</a> 29. <a href="/acts/9-29.htm">so do the Grecians, but he escapes both.</a> 31. <a href="/acts/9-31.htm">The church having rest, Peter heals Aeneas;</a> 36. <a href="/acts/9-36.htm">and restores Tabitha to life.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/acts/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. Saul, later known as Paul, was a zealous Pharisee deeply committed to the Jewish law. His actions were driven by a belief that the followers of Jesus, known as "the Way," were heretical and a threat to Judaism. The phrase "breathing out murderous threats" indicates his intense hostility and determination to eradicate the early Christian movement. This period of persecution followed the martyrdom of Stephen (<a href="/acts/7-54.htm">Acts 7:54-60</a>), which Saul approved. Saul's actions were part of a broader Jewish effort to suppress the nascent Christian faith, which was seen as a blasphemous deviation from traditional Jewish beliefs.He approached the high priest The high priest at the time was likely Caiaphas, who held the position from AD 18 to 36. Saul's approach to the high priest demonstrates his influential status and his commitment to his cause. The high priest had significant religious and political authority, and Saul sought official sanction to pursue Christians beyond Jerusalem. This reflects the centralized religious authority in Jerusalem and the cooperation between religious leaders and Roman authorities to maintain order. Saul's mission to seek letters from the high priest for the synagogues in Damascus (as described in the following verses) underscores the widespread nature of early Christianity and the perceived need to control its spread.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul</a> A zealous Pharisee known for his persecution of Christians. He was a Roman citizen and a Jew, educated under Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the law. 2. <a href="/topical/d/disciples_of_the_lord.htm">Disciples of the Lord</a> Early followers of Jesus Christ who were spreading the Gospel message despite facing persecution. 3. <a href="/topical/h/high_priest.htm">High Priest</a> The Jewish religious leader who held significant authority in religious and civil matters. Saul sought permission from him to arrest Christians. 4. <a href="/topical/t/threats_and_murder.htm">Threats and Murder</a> Saul's actions and intentions towards Christians, indicating his intense opposition to the early Church. 5. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The city where Saul was based and from where he sought to expand his persecution to other regions.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/z/zeal_without_knowledge.htm">Zeal Without Knowledge</a> Saul's fervor for the Jewish law led him to oppose the very truth he would later embrace. This reminds us to align our zeal with God's truth. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_transformation.htm">The Power of Transformation</a> Saul's account is a powerful testament to God's ability to transform even the most hardened hearts. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. <a href="/topical/p/persecution_and_the_church.htm">Persecution and the Church</a> The early church faced significant persecution, yet it continued to grow. This encourages believers today to remain steadfast in the face of opposition. <a href="/topical/s/seeking_authority.htm">Seeking Authority</a> Saul sought the high priest's authority to persecute Christians, highlighting the importance of discerning whose authority we seek and follow in our lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 9</a> <a href="/q/did_paul's_companions_fall_too.htm">When Paul saw the light he fell to the ground. Did his traveling companions also fall to the ground? Yes (Acts 26:14) No (Acts 9:7)</a> <a href="/q/how_verify_paul's_conversion_in_acts_9.htm">Acts 9:1–19: Without external corroboration, how can the reality of Paul’s conversion experience be verified?</a> <a href="/q/what_are_the_pauline_epistles.htm">What are the Pauline Epistles?</a> <a href="/q/why_different_versions_of_paul's_conversion.htm">Why does Acts record different versions of Paul’s conversion story?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/9.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>IX.(1) Yet breathing out threatenings.--The "yet" implies a considerable interval since the death of Stephen, probably coinciding with the time occupied by the mission-work of Philip in the previous chapter. During this interval the persecution had probably been continuing. The Greek participle, literally, breathing-in, is somewhat more emphatic than the English. He lived, as it were, in an atmosphere of threats and slaughter. It was the very air he breathed. Patristic writers and their followers have not unnaturally seen a half-prophetic parallelism between the language of Jacob, "Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil" (<a href="/genesis/49-27.htm" title="Benjamin shall shred as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.">Genesis 49:27</a>), and this description of one who gloried in being of that tribe (<a href="/philippians/3-5.htm" title="Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;">Philippians 3:5</a>), and bore the name of its great hero-king.Went unto the high priest.--It will be remembered that the high priest (whether we suppose Annas or Caiaphas to be meant) was a Sadducee, and that Saul gloried in being a Pharisee of the straitest sect (<a href="/acts/26-5.htm" title="Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most strait sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.">Acts 26:5</a>). The temper of the persecutor, however, does not shrink from strange companionship, and the coalition which had been formed against our Lord (<a href="/matthew/26-3.htm" title="Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, to the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,">Matthew 26:3</a>) was renewed against His followers. If, as is probable, the admission of the Samaritans to the new community had become known at Jerusalem, it would naturally tend to intensify their hatred. It would seem to them as if the accursed people were now allied with the Galileans against the Holy Place, and those who were zealous for its honour.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 1. - But for and, A.V.; breathing for breathing out, A.V.; threatening for threatenings, A.V. Threatening and slaughter. The phrase ἐμπνέων ἀπειλῆς κ.τ.λ., is rather a difficult one, and is variously explained. Schleusner takes the genitives in "threatening and slaughter" as genitives of the thing desired, "punting after threatening and slaughter" (comp. <a href="/amos/2-7.htm">Amos 2:7</a>). Meyer explains it "out of the threatenings and murder [in his heart] breathing hard at the disciples" - an expression indicating passion. Alford, taking nearly the sense of the A.V., makes "threatenings and slaughter" to be as it were the very material of his breath, whether breathed out or breathed in. Considering that ἐμπνέω means "to breathe in," as distinguished from ἐκπνέω, "to breathe out," and that these two are opposed to each other in Hippocrates (see Schleusner), the A.V. breathing out cannot be justified; nor is it likely that "Luke the physician" would forget the distinction. The difficulty is to explain the genitive case of "threatenings" and "slaughter." The high priest; probably the same person who is so described in <a href="/acts/7-1.htm">Acts 7:1</a> (where see note). If the year with which we are now dealing was the year A.D. , Caiaphas was high priest. But Alford, Lewin, Farrar, and others place Saul's conversion in A.D. , when Theophilus, son of Annas or Ananus, was high priest (Chronicles Table in Alford's 'Proleg. to Acts'). <a href="/commentaries/acts/9-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Meanwhile, Δὲ (De) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. Saul Σαῦλος (Saulos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4569.htm">Strong's 4569: </a> Saul, the apostle. Of Hebrew origin, the same as Saoul; Saulus, the Jewish name of Paul. {was} still ἔτι (eti) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_2089.htm">Strong's 2089: </a> (a) of time: still, yet, even now, (b) of degree: even, further, more, in addition. Perhaps akin to etos; 'yet, ' still. breathing out ἐμπνέων (empneōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1709.htm">Strong's 1709: </a> To breathe, breathe into, inhale. From en and pneo; to inhale, i.e. to be animated by. threats ἀπειλῆς (apeilēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_547.htm">Strong's 547: </a> A threatening, threat. From apeileo; a menace. of murder φόνου (phonou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5408.htm">Strong's 5408: </a> Murder, slaughter, killing. From an obsolete primary pheno; murder. against εἰς (eis) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1519.htm">Strong's 1519: </a> A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Lord’s Κυρίου (Kyriou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2962.htm">Strong's 2962: </a> Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master. disciples. μαθητὰς (mathētas) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3101.htm">Strong's 3101: </a> A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil. He went προσελθὼν (proselthōn) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4334.htm">Strong's 4334: </a> From pros and erchomai; to approach, i.e. come near, visit, or worship, assent to. to the τῷ (tō) Article - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. high priest ἀρχιερεῖ (archierei) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_749.htm">Strong's 749: </a> High priest, chief priest. From arche and hiereus; the high-priest; by extension a chief priest. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/9-1.htm">Acts 9:1 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/9-1.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 9:1 But Saul still breathing threats and slaughter (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/8-40.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 8:40"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 8:40" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/9-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 9:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 9:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>