Acts 9:14
in Acts 9And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.
KJV
And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
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This verse in Acts 9
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all." How was this known to them? It was natural for those living in fear to inquire and find out what was being plotted against them. See what fear is like, because it did not …
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.
This site's exposition
authority from the chief priests
Adam Clarke explains that Ananias had heard of Saul's commission and raises it as a reason to keep away from so dangerous a man. Theophylact suggests how the news reached Damascus. People living in fear learn what is plotted against them.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 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.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 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?
And here he hath authority from the chief priests,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
"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 Century3 voices
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.
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.
And here he hath authority, etc. - Ananias had undoubtedly heard of Saul’s coming, and the commission he had received from the chief priests; and he was about to urge this as a reason why he should have no connection with so dangerous a man.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὧδε | hode | here | G5602 → | |
| ἔχει | echei | he has | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἐξουσίαν | exousian | authority | G1849 → | 102 times |
| παρὰ | para | from | G3844 → | 192 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀρχιερέων | archiereon | chief priests | G749 → | 122 times |
| δῆσαι | desai | to bind | G1210 → | 43 times |
| πάντας | pantas | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τοὺς | tous | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐπικαλουμένους | epikaloumenous | calling on | G1941 → | 30 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄνομά | onoma | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| σου.¶ | sou | of You. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὧδεhere
hodeG5602 →
ἔχειhe has
echeiG2192 →707 times
ἐξουσίανauthority
exousianG1849 →102 times
παρὰfrom
paraG3844 →192 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀρχιερέωνchief priests
archiereonG749 →122 times
δῆσαιto bind
desaiG1210 →43 times
πάνταςall
pantasG3956 →1235 times
τοὺςthose
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἐπικαλουμένουςcalling on
epikaloumenousG1941 →30 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὄνομάname
onomaG3686 →227 times
σου.¶of You.
souG4771 →2973 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
2 Timothy 2:22Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
- 1 Peter 3:11
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
- 1 Timothy 6:11
But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
- Psalms 119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
- 1 Peter 2:11
Through
Acts 22:16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
it leads to
- Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Titus 3:5
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 2:21
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 944: “An Encouraging Lesson From Paul's Conversion” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); 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 Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.