Acts 9 22

Acts 9:22 kjv

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Acts 9:22 nkjv

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 9:22 niv

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

Acts 9:22 esv

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Acts 9:22 nlt

Saul's preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn't refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

Acts 9 verses

Acts 9 22 Meaning

Acts 9:22 reveals that immediately following Saul's conversion, his commitment and effectiveness in ministry grew exponentially. He vigorously and compellingly engaged the Jewish community in Damascus, systematically demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is undeniably the Messiah (Christ). This verse underscores his powerful spiritual transformation and his prompt, impactful proclamation of the Gospel.

Acts 9 22 Context

Acts chapter 9 marks a pivotal turning point in biblical history, chronicling the dramatic conversion of Saul from a zealous persecutor of the early church into an ardent apostle of Jesus Christ. Verse 22 occurs shortly after his baptism and initial fellowship with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately after his initial proclamation in the synagogues (Acts 9:19-21). Historically, Damascus was a significant urban center with a long-established and thriving Jewish community, served by multiple synagogues where public reading and discussion of the Torah and Prophets were customary. Saul, a trained Pharisee deeply learned in Jewish law and scripture, was uniquely positioned to engage in theological debates. His opponents, "the Jews which dwelt at Damascus," represent the prevailing Jewish orthodoxy that rejected Jesus' Messiahship. The verse therefore illustrates Saul's immediate, Spirit-empowered dedication to his new mission of proclaiming Christ, even in the very environment where he intended to imprison Christians.

Acts 9 22 Word analysis

• But: (δέ, de) A common Greek conjunction, here marking a contrast. It highlights the sharp change from Saul's earlier intentions (to arrest believers) and the previous verse (that he had received sight and was with the disciples) to his growing spiritual dynamism and public ministry.

• Saul: (Σαῦλος, Saulos) The Jewish name of the one who would become the Apostle Paul. His identity is in flux; the former persecutor is now a passionate preacher, though still known by his birth name here.

• increased the more in strength: (μᾶλλον ἐνεδυναμοῦτο, mallon enedynamouto) "Mᾶλλον" means "more" or "rather." "Ενεδυναμοῦτο" is the imperfect passive of dynamoo, meaning "to empower, strengthen." This signifies a continuous, internal strengthening that was being worked in him, implying divine agency and not merely natural resolve. His spiritual conviction, rhetorical ability, and understanding of the Scriptures for Christ grew progressively. This strength was not of himself but imparted by God (cf. Eph 3:16, Phil 4:13).

• and confounded: (συνεχύννεν, synechyennoi) From syncheo, meaning "to pour together, mix up, confuse, stir up, throw into confusion." This is an active, ongoing verb in the imperfect tense, suggesting Saul repeatedly or continually baffled and disoriented his opponents. It describes a profound intellectual and spiritual defeat where they were left speechless, their arguments dismantled and exposed as illogical or unbiblical in light of Saul's demonstration.

• the Jews which dwelt at Damascus: (τοὺς Ἰουδαίους τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν Δαμασκῷ, tous Ioudaious tous katoikountas en Damaskō) Specifies his initial target audience: the local Jewish community. This aligns with Paul's general evangelistic strategy, "to the Jew first" (Rom 1:16). These were the same religious people whose leaders had sent him to persecute believers, adding a layer of ironic fulfillment to his mission.

• proving: (συμβιβάζων, symbivazōn) A present active participle meaning "bringing together, knitting together, connecting, demonstrating, proving, instructing, convincing." This describes a systematic, logical process of reasoning, connecting points from the Old Testament Scriptures to argue for Christ. It suggests he was showing the interconnectedness of prophecy and fulfillment.

• that this is very Christ: (ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός, hoti houtos estin ho Christos) "Οὗτός" (houtos) means "this one" or "he." "Ἔστιν" (estin) is "is." "Ὁ Χριστός" (ho Christos) means "the Christ" or "the Messiah." The definite article "the" emphasizes the singular, long-awaited Messiah promised to Israel. "Very Christ" is an idiomatic translation stressing the certainty and undeniable nature of this claim. This was the core of Saul's new message and the foundational truth he was now committed to proving.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "But Saul increased the more in strength": Indicates divine empowerment for his new role. This wasn't a natural aptitude, but a spiritual growth in conviction, wisdom, and rhetorical power given by God to His chosen vessel. It suggests an overflowing spiritual vitality immediately post-conversion.
  • "and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus": Highlights the profound impact of his arguments. Saul, being highly trained in the Mosaic Law and the Prophets, used his deep knowledge, now illumined by the Spirit, to silence those who were once his peers or even superiors in rabbinic learning. The phrase emphasizes intellectual disarray and argumentative defeat rather than physical harm.
  • "proving that this is very Christ": Clearly states the content and objective of Saul's argumentation. His goal was not mere debate but demonstrating irrefutable evidence from their own Scriptures that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the fulfillment of the Old Testament Messianic prophecies. This shows his immediate pivot from rejecting Christ to dogmatically asserting His identity as the unique Messiah.

Acts 9 22 Bonus section

• Irony of Saul's Position: The individual who came to Damascus armed with authority to suppress the nascent Christian movement is now the one dismantling the arguments of the Jewish establishment that sent him. This radical reversal showcases God's sovereign power to use unlikely vessels.
• Early Apologetics: This verse presents one of the earliest models of Christian apologetics within Acts. Saul did not simply state a belief; he proved it by systematically "bringing together" (symbivazōn) prophetic fulfillment with historical reality, using shared Jewish Scriptures. This method continued to be a hallmark of Paul's ministry (e.g., Acts 17:3, 18:28).
• Immediate Spiritual Efficacy: The swiftness with which Saul moved from blindness and recovery to "increasing in strength" and "confounding" opponents highlights the immediate and dynamic working of the Holy Spirit post-conversion. There was no long period of quiet reflection before action; his passion for Christ was immediate and outwardly manifest.

Acts 9 22 Commentary

Acts 9:22 powerfully portrays the immediate and profound transformation wrought by divine grace in Saul's life. His spiritual strength, derived directly from his encounter with the Risen Christ and the filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17), enabled him to move from bewildered dependency to articulate proclamation with astonishing speed. This was no casual discussion; Saul "confounded" his Jewish audience, indicating that his arguments were not just strong but overwhelming, leaving his opponents without an effective response. His rigorous rabbinic training, once wielded against believers, was now consecrated and empowered by God to establish the very truth he had fought against: that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, as proved through the Jewish Scriptures themselves. The verse exemplifies how God re-purposes an individual's background and gifts for His Kingdom purposes, turning a chief persecutor into a leading apologist and evangelist whose zeal for error became zeal for truth. This act serves as a foundational example of Christ-centered evangelism and apologetics, relying on robust scriptural proof.