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Acts 9:21

in Acts 9

All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.

KJV

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

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This verse in Acts 9

Commentary

7 notes on this verse
Were amazed - Amazed at his sudden and remarkable change. That destroyed - That opposed; laid waste; persecuted. Compare Gal 1:13. For that intent - With that design, that he might destroy the church at Damascus.

This site's exposition

proclaim Jesus in the synagogues

on Acts 9:20-22

Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring Him the Son of God, and the hearers were astounded. He confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ, the Greek verb meaning to bring evidence together.

This site's exposition

wreaked havoc in Jerusalem

The Greek word behind wreaked havoc, Adam Clarke explains, can mean to plunder, to imprison or to kill, and Saul had done all three. Paul describes this same past in Galatians 1:13. Chrysostom notes that the hearers say this name, unable in their hatred to speak the name of Jesus.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 20 · Written before 407.

proposed

"But all that heard him were amazed, and said: Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?" And with this very thing, he put all in fear: for, said they, Hither also is he come for this very thing. They were reduced to utter incredulity. And yet they ought not to have wondered only, but to worship and reverence. "Is not this he," etc. He had not merely been a persecutor, but "destroyed them which called on this Name"-they did not say, "on Jesus;" for hatred, they could not bear even to hear His name-and what is more marvellous still, "and came hither for this purpose," etc. "We cannot say, that he associated with the Apostles before." See by how many witnesses he is confessed to have been of the number of the enemies!

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

But all that heard him were amazed,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

preached Christ . . . that he is the Son of God--rather, "preached Jesus," according to all the most ancient manuscripts and versions of the New Testament (so Ac 9:21, "all that call on this name," that is, Jesus; and Ac 9:22, "proving that this Jesus is very Christ").

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Is not this he that destroyed them - Ὁ πορθησας. The verb πορθειν has three acceptations in the Greek writers: 1. To treat one as an enemy, to spoil him of his goods. 2. To lead away captive, to imprison. 3. To slay. Paul was properly πορθων, a destroyer, in all these senses. 1. He acted as the most determined enemy of the Christians: Being exceedingly mad against them, he persecuted them to strange cities, Act 26:11. 2. He shut up many of the saints in prison, Act 8:3; Act 9:14; Act 26:10. 3. He persecuted them unto death - gave his voice against them that they might be destroyed, and was a principal instrument in the martyrdom of Stephen. He breathed threatenings and slaughter. See Act 7:58; Act 8:1; Act 9:1; Act 26:10, Act 26:11. Therefore these three meanings of the original word are all exemplified in the conduct of Saul.

The words behind it

31 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 9:14And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”9 worksActs 8:3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.5 worksActs 9:13–14But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.5 worksActs 26:10And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.5 works2 Thessalonians 1:10on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.4 worksGalatians 1:13For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Matthew 13:54–55Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.3 works1 Corinthians 1:2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:3 worksZechariah 3:8Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.2 worksActs 3:10they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.2 worksActs 9:1–2Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest2 worksJohn 9:8–9At this, his neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”2 worksMark 5:15–20When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.2 works1 John 3:1Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.2 worksActs 2:12Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”2 worksPsalms 71:7I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge.2 worksActs 2:6And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.2 worksIsaiah 8:18Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    2 Thessalonians 1:10

    on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 1:18

      I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

    • 1 Corinthians 3:13

      his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.

    • John 17:10

      All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and in them I have been glorified.

    • 2 Timothy 4:8

      From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who…

  • Through

    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.

    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.

    • 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.

    • Philippians 3:6

      as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.

    • 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.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 9 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on Acts; 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 and John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748).

Read on in Acts 9 →