Acts 9 · Verse 20

Acts 9:20

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 9:20, King James Version

Acts 9:20 in other translations

BSBSaul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
WEBImmediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.
ASVAnd straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
YLTand immediately in the synagogues he was preaching the Christ, that he is the Son of God.
DARBYAnd straightway in the synagogues he preached Jesus that he is the Son of God.
BBEAnd straight away, in the Synagogues, he was preaching Jesus as the Son of God.
WebsterAnd immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

What does Acts 9:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 9:20-22
20-22. 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").

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. And straightway. Immediately. This was an evidence of the genuineness of his conversion, that he was willing at once to avow himself to be the friend of the Lord Jesus.

He preached Christ. He proclaimed and proved that Jesus was the Christ. See Acts 9:22. Many manuscripts read here Jesus instead of Christ. Griesbach has adopted this reading. Such is also the Syriac, the Vulgate, and the Ethiopic. This reading accords much better with the subject than the common reading. That Christ, or the Messiah, was the Son of God, all admitted. In the New Testament the names Christ and Son of God are used as synonymous. But the question was, whether Jesus was the Christ, or the Son of God, and this Paul showed to the Jews. Paul continued the practice of attending the synagogues; and in the synagogues any one had a right to speak, who was invited by the officiating minister. Acts 13:15.

That he is the Son of God. That he is the Messiah.

(+) "straitway" "immediately"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Preached Christ in the synagogues - Instead of ΧριϚον, Christ, Ιησουν, Jesus, is the reading of ABCE, several others of high importance, together with the Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Slavonic, and Vulgate. The great question to be determined, for the conviction of the Jews, was that Jesus was the Son of God. That the Christ, or Messiah, was to be the Son of God, they all believed. Saul was now convinced that Jesus, whom they had crucified, and who had appeared to him on the way, was the Son of God, or Messiah; and therefore as such he proclaimed him. The word Christ should be changed for Jesus, as the latter is, without doubt, the genuine reading. The first offers of the grace of the Gospel were uniformly made to the Jews. Saul did not at first offer Jesus to the heathens at Damascus; but to the synagogues of the Jews.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 9:10-22

A good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to Christ's feet with those words, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And never did Christ leave any who were brought to that. Behold, the proud Pharisee, the unmerciful oppressor, the daring blasphemer, prayeth! And thus it is even now, and with the proud infidel, or the abandoned sinner. What happy tidings are these to all who understand the nature and power of…

Read the full comment on Acts 9:10-22 →

Acts 9:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
εὐθέωςeutheōsimmediatelyG2112
ἐνeninG1722
ταῖςtaistheG3588
συναγωγαῖςsunagōgaissynagoguesG4864
ἐκήρυσσενekērussenhe was proclaimingG2784
τὸνton<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦν,IēsounJesus,G2424
ὅτιhotithatG3754
οὗτόςhoutosHeG3778
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὁhotheG3588
υἱὸςhuiosSonG5207
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.¶theouof God.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 9:20

  • John 20:28

    And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

  • Galatians 2:20

    I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

  • Galatians 1:23-24

    But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.

  • 1 John 4:14-15

    And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

  • John 20:31

    But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

  • Romans 1:4

    And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

  • Acts 9:27-28

    But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

  • Matthew 26:63-66

    But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

  • Acts 9:22

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

  • John 1:49

    Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

  • Psalms 2:7

    I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

  • Matthew 4:3

    And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
straightway.
27,28; Ga 1:23,24
that.
8:37; Ps 2:7,12; Mt 26:63-66; 27:43,54; Joh 1:49; 19:7; 20:28,31
Ro 1:4; Ga 2:20; 1Jo 4:14,15; Re 2:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 9:19

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

  • Acts 9:20

    And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

  • Acts 9:21

    But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

Read all of Acts 9

Acts 9:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y luego en las sinagogas predicaba á Cristo, diciendo que éste era el Hijo de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et aussitôt il prêcha Jésus dans les synagogues, disant que lui est le Fils de Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und alsbald predigte er in den Synagogen Jesum, daß dieser der Sohn Gottes ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et continuo in synagogis prædicabat Jesum, quoniam hic est Filius Dei.