Paul

How Nave’s arranged it

• Also called SAULActs 8:1Acts 9:1Acts 13:9
• From the tribe of BenjaminRomans 11:1Philippians 3:5
• Personal appearance of2 Corinthians 10:12 Corinthians 10:102 Corinthians 11:6
• Born in the city of TarsusActs 9:11Acts 21:39Acts 22:3
• Educated at Jerusalem in the school of GamalielActs 22:3Acts 26:4
• A zealous PhariseeActs 22:3Acts 23:6Acts 26:52 Corinthians 11:22Galatians 1:14Philippians 3:5
• A Roman citizenActs 16:37Acts 22:25–28
• Persecutes the Christians; present at, and gives consent to, the stoning of StephenActs 7:58Acts 8:1Acts 8:3Acts 9:1Acts 22:4
• Sent to Damascus with letters for the arrest and return to Jerusalem of ChristiansActs 9:1Acts 9:2
• His vision and conversionActs 9:3–22Acts 22:4–19Acts 26:9–151 Corinthians 9:11 Corinthians 15:8Galatians 1:131 Timothy 1:121 Timothy 1:13
• Is immersedActs 9:18Acts 22:16
• Called to be an apostleActs 22:14–21Acts 26:16–18Romans 1:11 Corinthians 1:11 Corinthians 9:11 Corinthians 9:21 Corinthians 15:9Galatians 1:1Galatians 1:15Galatians 1:16Ephesians 1:1Colossians 1:11 Timothy 1:11 Timothy 2:72 Timothy 1:12 Timothy 1:11Titus 1:1Titus 1:3

The passages, in Bible order (204)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Acts 7:58

   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.

   ›Commentary on Acts 7:582 voices

   “His dying prayer reached thee, as well as many others. And the martyr Stephen, and Saul the persecutor, (afterward his brother both in faith and martyrdom,) are now joined in everlasting friendship, and dwell together in the happy company of those who have made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.

   “Often one who is seen to come after us surpasses us through the swiftness of good work, and tomorrow we scarcely follow him whom today we seemed to precede. Certainly when Stephen was dying for the faith, Saul was guarding the garments of those who were stoning him. Therefore he himself stoned with the hands of all who were stoning, since he rendered them all free to stone, and yet in the holy Church he surpassed in labors that very one whom by persecuting he made a martyr.

   Everything gathered on Acts 7:58→

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2. Acts 8:1

   And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

   ›Commentary on Acts 8:12 voices

   “At that time there was great persecution against the Church - Their adversaries having tasted blood, were the more eager. And they were all dispersed - Not all the Church: if so, who would have remained for the apostles to teach, or Saul to persecute?

   “And Saul was consenting ... - Was pleased with his being put to death and approved it. Compare Act 22:20. This part of the verse should have been connected with the previous chapter. And at that time. - That is, immediately following the death of Stephen. The persecution arose on account of Stephen, Act 11:19. The tumult did not subside when Stephen was killed. The anger of his persecutors continued to be excited against all Christians.

   Everything gathered on Acts 8:1→

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3. Acts 8:3

   But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

   ›Commentary on Acts 8:32 voices

   “As for Saul - But Saul. He took no interest or part in the pious attentions shown to Stephen, but engaged with zeal in the work of persecution. He made havoc - ἐλυμαίνετο elumaineto. This word is commonly applied to wild beasts, to lions, wolves, etc., and denotes the “devastations” which they commit. Saul raged against the church like a wild beast - a strong expression, denoting the zeal and fury with which he engaged in persecution. Entering into every house - To search for those who were suspected of being Christians. Haling - Dragging, or compelling them.

   “(1.) He entered into every house, making no difficulty of breaking open doors, night or day, and having a force attending him for that purpose. He entered into every house where they used to hold their meetings, or every house that had any Christians in it, or was thought to have. No man could be secure in his own house, though it was his castle.

   Everything gathered on Acts 8:3→

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4. Acts 9:1

   Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest

   ›Commentary on Acts 9:12 voices

   “When as he saith, that he breathed out threatenings and slaughter as yet, his meaning is, that after that his hands were once imbued with innocent blood, he proceeded in like cruelty, and was always a furious and bloody enemy to the Church, after that he had once made that entrance whereof mention is made in the death of Stephen.

   “And Saul - See the notes on Act 7:58; Act 8:3. He had been engaged be fore in persecuting the Christians, but he now sought opportunity to gratify his insatiable desire on a larger scale. Yet breathing out - Not satisfied with what he had done, Act 8:3. The word breathing out is expressive often of any deep, agitating emotion, as we then breathe rapidly and violently. It is thus expressive of violent anger.

   Everything gathered on Acts 9:1→

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5. Acts 9:2

   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.

   ›Commentary on Acts 9:22 voices

   “There is mention made of women, that it may the better appear how desirous he was to shed blood who had no respect of sex whom even armed enemies are wont to spare in the heat of war.

   “Letters to Damascus to the synagogues - Damascus, anciently called דמסק Damask, and דרמסק Darmask, was once the metropolis of all Syria. It was situated at fifty miles’ distance from the sea; from which it is separated by lofty mountains. It is washed by two rivers, Amara or Abara, which ran through it, and Pharpar, called by the Greeks Chrysorrhoas, the golden stream, which ran on the outside of its walls. It is one of the most ancient cities in the world, for it existed in the time of Abraham, Gen 14:15; and how long before is not known.

   Everything gathered on Acts 9:2→

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6. Acts 9:3–22

   As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

   ›Commentary on Acts 9:3–222 voices

   “In craving epistles of the high priest, he ran headlong against Christ willingly; and now he is enforced to obey whether he will or no. This is surely the most excellent mercy of God, in that that man is reclaimed unto salvation contrary to the purpose of his mind, whom so great a heat carried headlong into destruction.

   “Indeed, when I hear that this man was chosen by the Lord after He had attained His rest in heaven, I feel that a kind of improvidence is imputable to Christ, for not knowing before that this man was necessary to Him; and because He thought that he must be added to the apostolic body in the way of a fortuitous encounter rather than a deliberate selection; by necessity (so to speak), and not voluntary choice, although the members of the apostolate had been duly ordained, and were now dismissed to their several missions.

   Everything gathered on Acts 9:3–22→

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7. Acts 9:11

   “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

   ›Commentary on Acts 9:112 voices

   “Into the street which is called Straight - This street extends now from the eastern to the western gate, about three miles, crossing the whole city and suburbs in a direct line. Near the eastern gate is a house, said to be that of Judah, in which Paul lodged. There is in it a very small closet, where tradition reports that the apostle passed three days without food, until Ananias restored him to sight. Tradition also says that he had here the vision recorded in 2Co 12:

   “THESE words are the hallmark of genuine conversion. "Behold, he prays" is a surer witness of a man's conversion than, "Behold, he sings," or, "Behold, he reads the Scripture," or, "Behold, he preaches." These things may be admirably done by men who are not regenerate! But if, in God's sense of the term, a man really prays, we may know for sure that he has passed from death unto life.

   Everything gathered on Acts 9:11→

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8. Acts 9:16

   I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

   ›Commentary on Acts 9:162 voices

   “I will show him--(See Ac 20:23, 24; 21:11). how great things he must suffer for my name--that is, Much he has done against that Name; but now, when I show him what great things he must suffer for that Name, he shall count it his honor and privilege.

   “For I will show him,.... In vision, and by prophecy, either now, or hereafter; or by facts, as they come upon him: how great things he must suffer for my name's sake; such as weariness, pain, and watchings, hunger, thirst, fastings, cold, and nakedness, perils on various accounts, and from different quarters, stripes, scourges, imprisonment, shipwreck, stoning, and death, of which he himself gives a detail, 2Co 11:23 so that Ananias had no reason to be afraid to go to him, and converse with him, and do unto him as he was directed.

   Everything gathered on Acts 9:16→

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9. Acts 9:18

   At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,

   ›Commentary on Acts 9:182 voices

   “Ananias went his way, and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul--How beautifully childlike is the obedience of Ananias to "the heavenly vision!" the Lord, even Jesus--This clearly shows in what sense the term "Lord" is used in this book.

   “There fell from his eyes as it had been scales - This was real: he had been so dazzled with the brightness of the light that we may suppose the globe of the eye, and particularly the cornea, had suffered considerable injury. The structure of the cornea was doubtless much disturbed, and the whole of that humor would be rendered opaque, and incapable of permitting the rays of light to pass through the different humours to the retina, where all the images of things transmitted through the lenses, or humours, are distinctly painted.

   Everything gathered on Acts 9:18→

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10. Acts 9:20

    Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

    ›Commentary on Acts 9:202 voices

    Paul himself also-after that the Lord spoke to him out of heaven, and showed him that, in persecuting His disciples, he persecuted his own Lord, and sent Ananias to him that he might recover his sight, and be baptized-"preached," it is said, "Jesus in the synagogues at Damascus, with all freedom of speech, that this is the Son of God, the Christ."

    “Preached Christ in the synagogues - Instead of ΧριϚον, Christ, Ιησουν, Jesus, is the reading of ABCE, several others of high importance, together with the Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Slavonic, and Vulgate. The great question to be determined, for the conviction of the Jews, was that Jesus was the Son of God. That the Christ, or Messiah, was to be the Son of God, they all believed. Saul was now convinced that Jesus, whom they had crucified, and who had appeared to him on the way, was the Son of God, or Messiah; and therefore as such he proclaimed him.

    Everything gathered on Acts 9:20→

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11. Acts 9:22

    But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

    ›Commentary on Acts 9:222 voices

    "Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews." The Jews were confounded because the things he had been taught from the Law of Moses, he questioned them about as well. They thought that by getting rid of Stephen, they had rid themselves …

    “But Saul increased the more in strength,.... Not of body, but of mind; his gifts and graces, and spiritual light and knowledge increased; his abilities were greater; his fortitude of mind, boldness, and freedom of speech, every day increased: he got more, and new, and fresh arguments, by which he himself was confirmed, and he confirmed others in the truths of Christ.

    Everything gathered on Acts 9:22→

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12. Acts 9:23

    After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,

    ›Commentary on Acts 9:232 voices

    “And after that many days were fulfilled,.... This phrase is used by the Septuagint on Exo 2:11 for a considerable length of time, for many years.

    “And after that many days ... - How long a time elapsed before this is not recorded in this place, but it is evident that the writer means to signify that a considerable time intervened. There is, therefore, an interval here which Luke has not filled up; and if this were the only narrative which we had, we should be at a loss how to understand this.

    Everything gathered on Acts 9:23→

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13. Acts 9:24

    but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.

    ›Commentary on Acts 9:242 voices

    “But their laying await was known of Saul,.... Either by divine revelation, or by some friends, who had got knowledge of it, and gave him information, as in Act 23:16 and they watched the gates night and day to kill him; that is, the Jews, together with the governor of the city, and the garrison of soldiers in it. These all watched at the several gates of the city, night and day, that Saul might not make his escape, and that they might take him, and put him to death.

    “They watched the gates day and night to kill him - At this time Damascus was under the government of Aretas, king of Arabia, who was now at war with Herod, his son-in-law, who had put away his daughter in order to marry Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

    Everything gathered on Acts 9:24→

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14. Acts 9:25

    One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

    ›Commentary on Acts 9:252 voices

    “Then the disciples . . . by night let him down--"through a window" (2Co 11:33). by the wall--Such overhanging windows in the walls of Eastern cities were common, and are to be seen in Damascus to this day.

    “Then the disciples took him by night,.... The Alexandrian copy reads, "his disciples"; the disciples of Saul, such as he had been instrumental in making at Damascus: but it is not usual for the saints to be called in Scripture the disciples of any man; therefore the common reading is best, and designs the disciples and followers of Christ; who being concerned for the preservation of so valuable a life, took Saul in the night season, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

    Everything gathered on Acts 9:25→

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15. Acts 9:26

    When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

    ›Commentary on Acts 9:262 voices

    "Saul arrived in Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples." Having escaped the danger, he not only does not hide, but on the contrary goes where they were persecuted the most. And notice that he even seeks out the disciples of the Savior—so completely was …

    “He assayed to join himself to the disciples - Επειρατο κολλασθαι, He endeavored to get closely united to them, to be in religious fellowship with them. Believed not that he was a disciple - They did not suppose it possible that such a person could be converted to the faith of Christ. The full power of Divine grace, in the conversion of the soul, was not yet completely known.

    Everything gathered on Acts 9:26→

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16. Acts 9:29

    He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.

    ›Commentary on Acts 9:292 voices

    “He says "Hellenists" of those speaking in Greek, and very wisely. For the others, that is, the native Jews, did not even wish to see him. [CHRYSOSTOM]

    “And spake boldly - He openly defended the doctrine that Jesus was the Messiah. In the name ... - By the authority of the Lord Jesus. Against the Grecians - See the word “Grecians” explained in the notes on Act 6:1. It means that he not only maintained that Jesus was the Christ in the presence of those Jews who resided at Jerusalem, and who spoke the Hebrew language, but also before those foreign Jews who spoke the Greek language, and who had come up to Jerusalem.

    Everything gathered on Acts 9:29→

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