Acts 9:22
in Acts 9But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
KJV
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
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This verse in Acts 9
Commentary
11 notes on this verse"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 …
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
proving that Jesus is the Christ
Albert Barnes explains that confounded means refuted, and that the same word can describe stirring up a tumult, which fits the plot that follows. Chrysostom observes that Saul's opponents thought Stephen's death had ended the debate. They found a stronger debater in his place.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ." As one learned in the Law, he stopped their mouths, and suffered them not to speak. They thought they were rid of disputation in such matters, in getting rid of Stephen, and they found another, more vehement than Stephen.
But Paul not only was not confounded by these things, nor hid his face for shame, but "increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews," i.e. put them to silence, left them nothing to say for themselves, "proving, that this is very Christ." "Teaching," it says: for this man was a teacher.
"Proving" it says: i.e. with mildness teaching. And observe, they did not say to him, Thou art he that destroyed: why art thou changed? for they were ashamed: but they said it to themselves. For he would have said to them, This very thing ought to teach you, as in fact he does thus plead in his speech before Agrippa.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
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.
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. As for God, his work is perfect; if he begin, he will make an end: a good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to Christ's feet, in that word, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And never did Christ leave any that were brought to that.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Confounded the Jews - Συνεχυνε, Overwhelmed them so with his arguments that they were obliged to blush for the weakness of their own cause. Proving that this - Οὑτος, This person, viz. Jesus, is very Christ; εϚιν ὁ ΧριϚος, Is the Christ, or Messiah. See on Act 9:21 (note).
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
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
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Increased the more in strength - His conviction of the truth of the Christian religion became stronger every day, and hence his moral strength or boldness increased. And confounded - See Act 2:6. The word here means “confuted.” It means also occasionally “to produce a tumult or excitement,” Act 19:32; Act 21:31. Perhaps the idea of producing such a tumor is intended to be conveyed here. Paul confuted the Jews, and by so doing he was the occasion of their tumultuous proceedings, or he so enraged them as to lead to great agitation and excitement - a very common effect of close and conclusive argumentation. Proving that this - This Jesus. Is very Christ - Greek: that this is the Christ. The word “very” means here simply in the Greek: ὁ Χριστός ho Christos. It means that Paul showed by strong and satisfactory arguments that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah. The arguments which he would use may be easily conceived, but the evangelist has not seen fit to record them.
The words behind it
18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Σαῦλος | saulos | Saul | G4569 → | 15 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | all the more | G3123 → | 81 times |
| ἐνεδυναμοῦτο | enedunamouto | was empowered | G1743 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| συνέχυννεν | sunechunnen | was confounding | G4797 → | 5 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰουδαίους | ioudaious | Jews | G2453 → | 192 times |
| τοὺς | tous | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατοικοῦντας | katoikountas | dwelling | G2730 → | 44 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Δαμασκῷ, | damasko | Damascus, | G1154 → | 15 times |
| συμβιβάζων | sumbibazon | proving | G4822 → | 7 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| οὗτός | houtos | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χριστός. | christos | Christ. | G5547 → | 523 times |
ΣαῦλοςSaul
saulosG4569 →15 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
μᾶλλονall the more
mallonG3123 →81 times
ἐνεδυναμοῦτοwas empowered
enedunamoutoG1743 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
συνέχυννενwas confounding
sunechunnenG4797 →5 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἸουδαίουςJews
ioudaiousG2453 →192 times
τοὺςthose
tousG3588 →19766 times
κατοικοῦνταςdwelling
katoikountasG2730 →44 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
Δαμασκῷ,Damascus,
damaskoG1154 →15 times
συμβιβάζωνproving
sumbibazonG4822 →7 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
οὗτόςthis
houtosG3778 →1381 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
χριστός.Christ.
christosG5547 →523 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
Isaiah 40:29He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
- Colossians 1:11
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
- Zechariah 10:12
I will strengthen them in the LORD, and in His name they will walk,” declares the LORD.
- Isaiah 41:10
Through
1 Corinthians 1:27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
it leads to
- James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- James 2:5
Through
Luke 21:15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 1:9
Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
- Jeremiah 1:9
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonUnited monarchySaulIsrael's first king, head and shoulders above the people; began in humility, ended in rejection — sparing what God devoted, consul…
- PlaceSyriaDamascusThe Syrian city Saul was travelling to with letters of arrest when the light stopped him on the road; he entered it blind and left…
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 Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); 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 Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.