Acts 9:22

Saul increased. He increased in experience and effectiveness. The Holy Ghost was giving him more and more power as time went by.

Strength. In later years this word played a prominent part in Paul’s thinking. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me” (Phil. 4:13). He realized that it was Christ whose “strength” was “made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9); it was Christ who “enabled” him, or made him strong for the ministry (1 Tim. 1:12); and it was Christ who “strengthened” him in the closing trials of his life (2 Tim. 4:17).

Confounded. Gr. sugchund, “to pour together,” “to bewilder,” “to confound.” Saul’s training under Gamaliel stood him in good stead. He could now use his thorough knowledge of Jewish learning for the support of his new-found convictions. His methods commended his faith to those Jews who were sincerely looking for the Hope of Israel; but these, unfortunately, would not be a large proportion of his listeners. The rest of the Jews were “confounded.” They heard their Scriptures applied to the life of Jesus by a trained mind. They continued their rejection of the Saviour, but had not yet moved far enough to attack Saul.

Proving. Gr. sumbibazd, “to join together,” “to cause a person to unite with one in a conclusion”; hence, “to demonstrate,” “to prove.” With consummate skill Saul set forth the prophecies of the Messiah as fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.

This is very Christ. Or, “this is the Anointed One [the Messiah].”