Acts 9 29

Acts 9:29 kjv

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Acts 9:29 nkjv

And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.

Acts 9:29 niv

He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.

Acts 9:29 esv

And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.

Acts 9:29 nlt

He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him.

Acts 9 verses

Acts 9 29 Meaning

Acts 9:29 describes a pivotal moment in Saul's (Paul's) early ministry in Jerusalem, following his dramatic conversion. After Barnabas's intervention allowed him to join the disciples, Saul preached Jesus with profound courage and conviction in the Jerusalem synagogues. His proclamation involved intense theological debate, specifically with the Greek-speaking Jews (Hellenists). The fervor and persuasive power of his arguments were so challenging to their beliefs that, unable to refute him logically, these Hellenists sought to assassinate him, demonstrating the intense opposition the gospel message frequently encountered.

Acts 9 29 Context

Acts 9:29 falls immediately after Saul's dramatic conversion on the Damascus road and his subsequent three years in Arabia (Gal 1:17-18) and a period back in Damascus. When he finally came to Jerusalem (after his escape from Damascus due to a murder plot, Acts 9:23-25), he faced skepticism from the disciples until Barnabas championed his cause (Acts 9:26-28). With the apostles' endorsement, Saul began preaching Christ directly in Jerusalem. This verse describes his specific ministry engagement in Jerusalem, targeting the Greek-speaking Jews, a segment of the Jewish community that Stephen also intensely debated with, ultimately leading to Stephen's martyrdom. Saul's bold disputation and the immediate murderous response highlight the fervent religious and political atmosphere in Jerusalem, where any deviation from established Jewish tradition was seen as a dangerous threat. The resistance reflects the depth of conviction among those who upheld traditional Judaism, particularly against a movement that declared a crucified man as Messiah.

Acts 9 29 Word analysis

• And he spake boldly: (Greek: ἐλάλει παρρησίᾳ, elalei parrēsia).
  • ἐλάλει (elalei): Imperfect tense, indicating continuous or repeated action, meaning "he was speaking" or "he habitually spoke." It signifies his regular practice.
  • παρρησίᾳ (parrēsia): "boldness," "courage," "frankness," "freedom of speech." This term is characteristic of apostolic preaching in Acts (e.g., Acts 4:13, 29, 31; Eph 6:19), indicating an unreserved and open proclamation of the gospel, undeterred by opposition or fear. This courage was especially notable given Saul's prior identity as a persecutor.
• in the name of the Lord Jesus: (Greek: ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ, en tō onomati tou Kyriou Iēsou).
  • in the name of: This phrase conveys acting by the authority, power, character, and identity of the Lord Jesus. It signifies that Saul was not just mentioning Jesus, but operating under His commission and fully representing Him. His message carried Jesus' own divine authority.
  • Lord Jesus: A Christological declaration, asserting Jesus' divine lordship and Messiahship. For Jews, Kurios (Lord) often carried Septuagintal echoes of the divine name, Yahweh, making this a bold claim indeed.
• and disputed against: (Greek: συνεζήτει πρὸς, synezētei pros).
  • συνεζήτει (syzēteō): Imperfect tense, "he was debating/discussing/disputing." Implies vigorous, sustained intellectual engagement, typical of synagogue interactions where theological arguments were common. It suggests a serious contention of ideas and doctrines.
  • πρὸς (pros): "against" or "with," in this context implying adversarial debate or argument.
• the Grecians: (Greek: τοὺς Ἑλληνιστάς, tous Hellēnistas).
  • Refers to Greek-speaking Jews, distinct from Hebraioi (Hebrew/Aramaic-speaking Palestinian Jews) and Hellēnes (Gentile Greeks). These were often diaspora Jews who had moved to or were visiting Jerusalem, with their own synagogues and distinct cultural outlooks, although still fiercely committed to Judaism. Stephen had previously encountered lethal opposition from this very group in Acts 6:9. Saul himself, from Tarsus of Cilicia, was a Hellenist, making this a dispute within his own former cultural-religious milieu.
• but they went about to slay him: (Greek: ἐζήτουν ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν, ezētoun anelein auton).
  • ἐζήτουν (ezētoun): Imperfect tense, "they were seeking," "they habitually sought." Implies persistent intent and active plotting rather than a sudden impulse.
  • ἀνελεῖν (anaireō): "to take away," "to destroy," "to kill." The same verb used for Stephen's death (Acts 7:28) and Herod's intent to kill Peter (Acts 12:2). This signifies a deliberate plot to murder Saul. It demonstrates the profound and often violent opposition provoked by the gospel.

• "And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus": This phrase captures the essence of early Christian witness—proclaiming Christ with unshakeable courage, deriving authority and power directly from Him, embodying a radical transformation from a persecutor to a fervent preacher.
• "disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him": This progression reveals the characteristic pattern of gospel reception: robust theological engagement leading, not always to conviction, but sometimes to desperate, violent rejection when intellectual arguments fail against divine truth. The specific targeting of Hellenists highlights a particularly volatile segment of Judaism regarding Christian claims.

Acts 9 29 Bonus section

The immediate plot to kill Saul, coming right after his conversion and return to Jerusalem, underscores the extreme religious fervor and opposition that characterized Jerusalem at that time. It reinforces the theological and practical understanding that following Christ would inevitably lead to suffering and danger. Saul's debate with the Hellenists likely involved discussions on the interpretation of messianic prophecies, the resurrection, and the implications of a crucified Messiah—themes that formed the core of apostolic preaching and were deeply offensive to many Jews who did not believe Jesus was the Christ. For Saul, who was from Cilicia (a Hellenistic region) and trained in the strictest Jewish tradition (Phil 3:5-6), these were precisely the debates he would have been most equipped to engage in, drawing on his profound knowledge of the Law and prophets.

Acts 9 29 Commentary

Acts 9:29 vividly portrays the transformative power of God on Saul and the immediate, fierce resistance encountered by the gospel. Saul, once a vehement persecutor, now fearlessly preaches the very Messiah he sought to eradicate. His method, public disputation in synagogues, was a common rabbinic practice. His audience, the Hellenistic Jews, were familiar territory for intense debate, as seen with Stephen. Saul's conversion brought no exemption from suffering; instead, it plunged him into the same trials his Lord and fellow believers faced. When his opponents could not defeat his arguments by reason or scripture, they resorted to violence, seeking to silence the messenger by murder. This underscores a foundational truth of the New Testament: faithful proclamation of Christ often leads to persecution, demonstrating the truth of Jesus' words about His followers being hated for His name's sake. This episode serves as a powerful validation of Ananias's earlier prophecy about how much Saul would suffer for Christ's name (Acts 9:16).