Acts 26:9
in Acts 26So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
KJV
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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This verse in Acts 26
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I verily thought - I indeed μὲν men supposed. Paul here commences the account of his conversion, and states the evidence on which he judged that he was called of God to do what he had done. He begins by saying that it was not because he was originally disposed to be a Christian, but that he was violently and conscientiously opposed to Jesus of Nazareth, and had been converted when in the full career of opposition to him and his cause. With myself - I thought to myself; or, I myself thought.
This site's exposition
oppose the name of Jesus
on Acts 26:9-11
Paul confesses he once set out to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This third telling adds what chapters 9 and 22 omit, that he cast his vote against believers when they were condemned to death. He tried to make them blaspheme and, raging, went even to foreign cities.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Then he tells, how he persecuted: this also helps the proof: and he brings forward the chief priests as witnesses, and the "strange cities," and that he heard Him saying to him, "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks," and shows the mercifulness of God, that, though being persecuted He appeared to men, and did that benefit not to me only, but also sent me as teacher to others: and shows also the prophecy, now come to pass, which he then heard, "Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee."
"I indeed thought with myself," that is, I determined, "to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." I was not one of Christ's disciples: among those who fought against Him, was I. Whence also he is a witness who has a right to be believed, because he, a man who was doing numberless things, makes war on the believers, persuading them to blaspheme, stirring up all against them, cities, rulers, and by himself doing all this of his own accord, was thus suddenly changed.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Paul says "indeed, I too thought," for it seemed to him that this is how it should have been.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He thought he did God good service in persecuting those who called on the name of Jesus Christ. Note, It is possible for those to be confident they are in the right who yet are evidently in the wrong; and for those to think they are doing their duty who are wilfully persisting in the greatest sin.
I verily thought with myself,....
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| ἔδοξα | edoxa | thought | G1380 → | 62 times |
| ἐμαυτῷ | emauto | in myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄνομα | onoma | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| Ἰησοῦ | iesou | of Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ναζωραίου | nazoraiou | of Nazareth | G3480 → | 13 times |
| δεῖν | dein | needing | G1163 → | 101 times |
| πολλὰ | polla | many things | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ἐναντία | enantia | contrary | G1727 → | 8 times |
| πρᾶξαι, | praxai | to do, | G4238 → | 39 times |
ἘγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
ἔδοξαthought
edoxaG1380 →62 times
ἐμαυτῷin myself
emautoG1473 →839 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὄνομαname
onomaG3686 →227 times
Ἰησοῦof Jesus
iesouG2424 →908 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Ναζωραίουof Nazareth
nazoraiouG3480 →13 times
δεῖνneeding
deinG1163 →101 times
πολλὰmany things
pollaG4183 →367 times
ἐναντίαcontrary
enantiaG1727 →8 times
πρᾶξαι,to do,
praxaiG4238 →39 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 3:6But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
it leads to
- Acts 4:10
then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 3:16
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this…
- Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
- Acts 9:34
“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,
- Acts 16:18
She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And…
- Acts 4:10
Through
Philippians 3:6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
it leads to
- 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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 1:13–14
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.
- Acts 26:9–10
So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Acts 8:3
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 52; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.