Acts 9 19

Acts 9:19 kjv

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Acts 9:19 nkjv

So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Acts 9:19 niv

and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Acts 9:19 esv

and taking food, he was strengthened. Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

Acts 9:19 nlt

Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

Acts 9 verses

Acts 9 19 Meaning

Acts 9:19 describes the immediate aftermath of Saul's conversion, healing, and baptism in Damascus. After three days of blindness and fasting, he consumed food, regaining his physical strength. This verse highlights his initial period of recovery and transition, emphasizing his first actions as a follower of Jesus: spending a period of time, referred to as "some days," in fellowship and integration with the very "disciples" in Damascus whom he had originally intended to persecute. It signifies his complete change of allegiance and the commencement of his journey within the Body of Christ.

Acts 9 19 Context

Acts 9:19 occurs immediately following one of the most pivotal events in early Christian history: the dramatic conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus. Earlier, Saul, a zealous Pharisee, obtained letters from the high priest to arrest and persecute believers in Damascus (Acts 9:1-2). His journey was interrupted by a blinding light and a divine encounter with the risen Jesus (Acts 9:3-9), leaving him blind and without food or drink for three days (Acts 9:9). God then sent Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, to heal Saul's sight and baptize him (Acts 9:10-18). This verse marks the essential period of physical restoration and initial communal integration before Saul (now identifying with Christians) begins his extraordinary ministry of proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God, initially in the very synagogues of Damascus.

Acts 9 19 Word analysis

• "and after taking food" (καὶ λαβὼν τροφήν - kai labōn trophēn):

  • Significance: "Trophēn" (food/nourishment) directly addresses Saul's preceding three-day fast and lack of sustenance (Acts 9:9).
  • Indicates physical weakness was overcome.
  • Highlights the immediate human need following a profound spiritual crisis and divine encounter.
  • Emphasizes his full human experience, including physical restoration, as a necessary precursor to his future ministry.

• "he was strengthened" (ἐνισχύθη - enischythē):

  • Meaning: From enischuō, meaning "to be strengthened," "to be invigorated," "to gain strength." This is in the passive voice, indicating that strength was received.
  • Significance: Primarily refers to his physical recovery and vigor after extreme weakness.
  • It's a consequence of the food but also implies a comprehensive renewal—physical, mental, and spiritual—preparing him for immediate action.
  • The term implies God's enabling grace through natural means.

• "For some days" (ἡμέρας τινάς - hēmeras tinas):

  • Significance: Denotes an unspecified, relatively short period.
  • It indicates a crucial, intentional pause for Saul to recover, reflect, and assimilate his monumental spiritual experience.
  • This period allowed for practical integration into the believing community and possibly early instruction, despite the unique nature of his revelation.

• "he was with the disciples" (ἦν μετὰ τῶν μαθητῶν - ēn meta tōn mathētōn):

  • "Disciples" (mathētōn): The common term for followers of Jesus in Acts, highlighting the burgeoning Christian community.
  • Crucial significance: Saul, the violent persecutor, now dwelled with those he sought to arrest and destroy.
  • This marks a radical shift in his identity and allegiance.
  • It signifies acceptance by and communion with the Body of Christ.
  • This time of fellowship was essential for his initial grounding, showing that even a uniquely called apostle benefits from communal life and discipleship.

• "at Damascus" (τῇ Δαμασκῷ - tē Damaskō):

  • Geographical Significance: The city itself becomes symbolic of God's transformative power.
  • This was the city he intended to invade with hostile authority; it now became the place of his profound personal encounter with Jesus, his initial healing, his first steps of faith, and his earliest fellowship as a follower of "the Way."
  • It served as the launching pad for his immediate public proclamation of Christ (Acts 9:20).

Acts 9 19 Bonus Section

• While brief, the period of "some days" with the disciples was crucial for Saul's personal processing of his extraordinary conversion, distinct from the later period Paul references in Arabia (Gal 1:17). Luke focuses on his integration into the local church in Damascus before any wider movements.
• This verse provides an early practical example of the importance of nourishment and rest for effective service, even in spiritual matters. Saul's physical state needed tending after the immense spiritual and physical impact of his Damascus Road experience.
• It subtly underscores God's mercy and transformative power, demonstrating how He can turn the most fervent opponent into a devoted disciple, accepted by those he once tormented. This acceptance by the Damascus disciples would have been a testament to the Holy Spirit's work within the community.

Acts 9 19 Commentary

Acts 9:19 serves as a concise bridge between Saul's personal encounter with the resurrected Christ, his healing, and his public ministry. The mention of food highlights a simple, practical necessity after a traumatic physical and spiritual ordeal, signifying his return to a state of health and functionality. The regaining of strength (enischythē) isn't just physical but encompasses a renewed vigor that would enable his forthcoming apostolic labors. Crucially, the verse establishes Saul's immediate identification with "the disciples" in Damascus. This short period of "some days" in fellowship underscores the communal nature of Christian life and conversion. It's a vital, albeit brief, phase where the former persecutor integrated into the community he once targeted, receiving not only physical sustenance but likely spiritual encouragement and perhaps practical insights into "the Way" from existing believers, preparing him for the unique calling he would fulfill. This passage implicitly contrasts Saul's old mission of binding believers with his new reality of dwelling among them.