ACT 9:1-9

The Road to Damascus

1Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest [9:2] and requested from him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way — men or women — he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. [9:3] As he was traveling and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. [9:4] He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" [9:5] He said, "Who are you, Lord?" And the reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [9:6] But rise and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do." [9:7] The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. [9:8] Saul rose from the ground, and though his eyes were open he saw nothing; they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. [9:9] He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, Saul’s actions reflect the intense sectarian conflicts within Second-Temple Judaism. His pursuit of followers of 'the Way' aligns with the authority granted by the high priest to enforce religious orthodoxy, particularly against groups perceived as deviant. Damascus, a city with a significant Jewish population, was a strategic location for such efforts, as synagogues there served as centers of communal and religious authority. Saul’s request for letters indicates a formal, sanctioned mission, leveraging the network of synagogues to identify and arrest dissenters. The term (persecute) conveys not just opposition but a systematic, hostile pursuit, often with violent intent. The sudden appearance of light and voice from heaven would have been understood as a divine intervention, a common motif in Jewish apocalyptic literature. Saul’s fall and temporary blindness symbolize a profound disruption of his mission and identity, marking a turning point in his role within the Jewish religious landscape.

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How other translations render this

ACT 9:1

KJV: And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
BSB: Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
Koinōnos: Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

ACT 9:2

KJV: 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.
BSB: and 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.
Koinōnos: and requested from him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way — men or women — he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

ACT 9:3

KJV: And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
BSB: As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
Koinōnos: As he was traveling and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

ACT 9:4

KJV: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
BSB: He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
Koinōnos: He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?

ACT 9:5

KJV: 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.
BSB: “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
Koinōnos: He said, "Who are you, Lord?" And the reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

ACT 9:6

KJV: 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.
BSB: “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Koinōnos: But rise and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.

ACT 9:7

KJV: And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
BSB: The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.
Koinōnos: The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

ACT 9:8

KJV: 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.
BSB: Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
Koinōnos: Saul rose from the ground, and though his eyes were open he saw nothing; they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

ACT 9:9

KJV: And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
BSB: For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.
Koinōnos: He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 9:1

breathing out:The word translated 'breathing out' here suggests a forceful, almost violent exhalation, conveying an intense and aggressive disposition, as if Saul's very breath was filled with threats.

ACT 9:2

way:The term translated 'way' here refers not just to a physical path, but to a distinct manner of life, a particular teaching, or a religious movement, much like 'the Way' of a philosophical school.

ACT 9:4

do you persecute?:The word translated 'do you persecute?' implies a relentless pursuit, like hunting down an animal, suggesting an active and aggressive campaign against the followers of Jesus.

ACT 9:7

speechless,:The word translated 'speechless' indicates a state of being utterly dumbfounded or struck silent, often due to shock or awe, rather than a physical inability to speak.