Acts 9:13
in Acts 9But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:
KJV
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
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This verse in Acts 9
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I have heard by many ... - This was in the vision, Act 9:10. The passage of such a train of thoughts through the mind was perfectly natural at the command to go and search out Saul. There would instantly occur all that had been heard of his fury in persecution; and the expression here may indicate the state of a mind amazed that such a one should need his counsel, and afraid, perhaps, of entrusting himself to one thus bent on persecution.
This site's exposition
many people have told me
on Acts 9:13-14
Ananias objects, citing the harm Saul has done to the saints in Jerusalem. The text records the objection without rebuke, as Moses in Exodus 3:11 and Gideon in Judges 6:15 met their own calls.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
In the same way Moses also is afraid: so that the words betokened that he was afraid, and shrunk from the task, not that he did not believe. He said, "I have heard from many concerning this man." What sayest thou? God speaketh, and thou hesitatest? They did not yet well know the power of Christ. "And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name." How was that known? It is likely that they, being in fear, made minute enquiries. He does not say this, as thinking that Christ does not know the fact, but, "such being the case, how," says he, "can these things be?" As in fact those in the Gospel say, "Who can be saved?"
And let not any imagine, that Ananias speaks in unbelief of what was told him, as imagining that Christ was deceived: far from it! but affrighted and trembling, he did not even attend to what was said, at hearing the name of Paul. Moreover, the Lord does not tell that He has blinded him: at the mention of his name fear had prepossessed his soul: "see," he says, "to whom Thou art betraying me: 'and hither for this very purpose is he come, to bind all that call upon Thy Name.' I fear, lest he take me to Jerusalem: why dost Thou cast me into the mouth of the lion?" He is terrified, even while he speaks these words; that from every quarter we may learn the energetic character of the man. For that these things should be spoken by Jews, were nothing wonderful: but that these (the believers) are so terrified, it is a most mighty proof of the power of God. Both the fear is shown, and the obedience greater after the fear.
Therefore says Ananias, not as one disbelieving the reports, nor thinking that Christ had been deceived, God forbid! but fearing and trembling. For it was reasonable that, being in fear, they would analyze him to learn what had been determined concerning them (for how else …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Note, It is to be valued as a signal token of the divine favour if God, either by the inward operations of his grace or the outward occurrences of his providence, prevent us from prosecuting and executing a sinful purpose, 1 Sam. xxv. The appearance of Christ to him in his glory.
Not, "Therefore I do not owe him so much service. Why should I do him a kindness who has done and designed us so much unkindness?" No, Christ has taught us another lesson, to render good for evil, and pray for our persecutors; but if he be such a persecutor of Christians, [1.] Will it be safe for Ananias to go to him?
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Then Ananias answered, Lord,....
"Oh! go to him quickly, and tell him he is a dear son, a pleasant child, and since I spoke against him, for persecuting me, I do earnestly remember him still. " Jer. xxxi. Observe what condition Saul was now in. He was under conviction of sin, trembling and astonished; the setting of sin in order before us should drive us to prayer.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The Saviour speaks with Ananias as a man does with his friend" [OLSHAUSEN]. how much evil he hath done to thy saints--"Thy saints," says Ananias to Christ; therefore Christ is God [BENGEL]. So, in Ac 9:14, Ananias describes the disciples as "those that called on Christ's name." See on Ac 7:59, 60; and compare 1Co 1:2.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
THE conversion of Saul of Tarsus was one of the most remarkable facts in Christian history. Perhaps there has never happened an event of equal importance since the days of Pentecost. It was important as a testimony to the power and Truth of the Gospel. When such a man, so violently opposed, so intelligent and well-instructed, could be converted to the faith of the Nazarene by the appearance of the Lord from Heaven, it was a testimony alike to the fact of our Lord's Resurrection, and to the power of His Word. Paul also occupied a high place among the defenders of the faith when the Gospel had to struggle for a footing against Judaism and philosophy. Being well-versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament and in the traditions of the Jews, and possessing great argumentative powers, he became a leading apologist for the faith. In the synagogues and the schools he overthrew those who opposed the doctrines of Jesus. In addition to this, the conversion of the Apostle Paul gave a great impetus to the missionary spirit of the Christian Church. Here he shone preeminently. Into what lands did he not carry the Gospel? Ordained to be the Apostle of the uncircumcision, he proclaimed in the utmost ends of the earth the name of Jesus Christ. The Apostle, moreover, as a writer takes the highest place in the Christian canon. It pleased God to select this most remarkable man to be the medium of Inspiration by whose writings we should receive the most thorough and complete exhibition of the Gospel of the Grace of God. Turn to the New Testament and see with astonishment how large a space is occupied by the letters of one first called Saul of Tarsus, but afterwards Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ. It is a matter of fact that Paul not only directed the energy of the Christian Church of his own day, but he shaped its mode of action.
THE conversion of Saul of Tarsus was one of the most remarkable facts in Christian history. Perhaps there has never happened an event of equal importance since the days of Pentecost. It was important as a testimony to the power and Truth of the Gospel. When such a man, so violently opposed, so intelligent and well-instructed, could be converted to the faith of the Nazarene by the appearance of the Lord from Heaven, it was a testimony alike to the fact of our Lord's Resurrection, and to the power of His Word.
Lord, I have heard by many of this man - This was all done in a dream, else this sort of reasoning with his Maker would have been intolerable in Ananias. Saul had been a notorious persecutor; many could testify of his outrageous acts against the poor followers of Christ. Thy saints - That is, the Christians, or followers of Christ. Ἁγιοι signifies not only holy persons, but also consecrated persons; from α, negative, and γη, the earth; persons who are separated from all earthly uses, and consecrated to the service of God alone.
The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀπεκρίθη | apekrithe | Answered | G611 → | 231 times |
| δὲ | de | but | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| Ἁνανίας· | hananias | Ananias; | G367 → | 11 times |
| κύριε, | kurie | Lord, | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἤκουσα | ekousa | I have heard | G191 → | 425 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| πολλῶν | pollon | many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀνδρὸς | andros | man | G435 → | 216 times |
| τούτου, | toutou | this, | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ὅσα | hosa | how many | G3745 → | 110 times |
| κακὰ | kaka | evils | G2556 → | 50 times |
| τοῖς | tois | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίοις | hagiois | saints | G40 → | 220 times |
| σου | sou | of You | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐποίησεν | epoiesen | he did | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ἰερουσαλήμ· | ierousalem | Jerusalem; | G2419 → | 76 times |
ἈπεκρίθηAnswered
apekritheG611 →231 times
δὲbut
deG1161 →2765 times
Ἁνανίας·Ananias;
hananiasG367 →11 times
κύριε,Lord,
kurieG2962 →711 times
ἤκουσαI have heard
ekousaG191 →425 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
πολλῶνmany
pollonG4183 →367 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
ἀνδρὸςman
androsG435 →216 times
τούτου,this,
toutouG3778 →1381 times
ὅσαhow many
hosaG3745 →110 times
κακὰevils
kakaG2556 →50 times
τοῖςto the
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίοιςsaints
hagioisG40 →220 times
σουof You
souG4771 →2973 times
ἐποίησενhe did
epoiesenG4160 →569 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
Ἰερουσαλήμ·Jerusalem;
ierousalemG2419 →76 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 9:1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:13
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 1:13
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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 9:11–21
“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.
- 1 Timothy 1:13
Through
Ezekiel 3:14So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 37:1
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones.
- 2 Kings 3:15
But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha
- Jeremiah 20:7–9
You have deceived me, O LORD, and I was deceived. You have overcome me and prevailed. I am a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me.
- Ezekiel 37:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 944: “An Encouraging Lesson From Paul's Conversion” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 20; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts.