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Acts 9:29-32

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

29. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 30. [Which] when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 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. 32. And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all [quarters], he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

Acts 9:29-32 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 9:29

Theological / Devotional

Spake boldly. See on v. 27. The first clause of v. 29 should be taken with v. 28. It reads literally, “speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.” The second clause reads literally, “he was both speaking and disputing against the Grecians.”

Name. See on chs. 2:21; 3:6, 16.

Disputed. The Greek word thus translated is used by Luke to describe Stephen’s encounter with the Greeks (see on ch. 6:9). There is a notable difference, however. The “Grecians” had disputed with Stephen; now Saul disputes with them. He, as a Tarsian Jew, was well equipped for such discussion (see on ch. 9:11). They were aroused to a passionate frenzy. Twice within a few weeks the apostle’s life was endangered, first in Damascus (v. 24), now in Jerusalem.

Grecians. That is, Hellenistic Jews (see on ch. 6:1).

Went about. Gr. epicheireo, “to put the hand to,” “to try” (see Acts 19:13; cf. on Luke 1:1; Acts 9:23, 24).

To slay. Saul was willing to face the death that had been dealt to Stephen, but the Lord had other plans for His courageous servant. It is at this juncture that the vision of warning and instruction can best be placed (see on ch. 22:17-21; cf. AA 130).

By SdaBc