Acts 9 · Verse 22

Acts 9:22

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Acts 9:22, King James Version

Acts 9:22 in other translations

BSBBut Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
WEBBut Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
ASVBut Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
YLTAnd Saul was still more strengthened, and he was confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
DARBYBut Saul increased the more in power, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
BBEBut Saul went on increasing in power, and the Jews in Damascus were not able to give answers to the arguments by which he made it clear that Jesus was the Christ.
WebsterBut Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

What does Acts 9:22 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").

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 22. Increased the more in strength. His conviction of the truth of the Christian religion became stronger every day. Hence his moral strength or boldness increased.

And confounded. See Acts 2:6. The word here means confuted. It means also, occasionally, to produce a tumult, or excitement, Acts 19:32, 21:31. Perhaps the idea of producing such a tumult 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 the. Greek, οχριστος. 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.

(e) "more in strength" Ps 84:7 (f) "confounded the Jews" Acts 18:28

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 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).

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…

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Acts 9:22 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.

ΣαῦλοςSaulosSaulG4569
δὲdehoweverG1161
μᾶλλονmallonall the moreG3123
ἐνεδυναμοῦτοenedunamoutowas empoweredG1743
καὶkaiandG2532
συνέχυννενsunechunnenwas confoundingG4797
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ἸουδαίουςIoudaiousJewsG2453
τοὺςtousthoseG3588
κατοικοῦνταςkatoikountasdwellingG2730
ἐνeninG1722
Δαμασκῷ,DamaskōDamascus,G1154
συμβιβάζωνsumbibazōnprovingG4822
ὅτιhotithatG3754
οὗτόςhoutosthisG3778
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὁhotheG3588
χριστός.christosChrist.G5547

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

Cross references for Acts 9:22

  • Acts 18:5

    And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

  • Luke 21:15

    For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

  • Isaiah 40:29

    He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

  • Acts 18:27-28

    And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:27

    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

  • Philippians 4:13

    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

  • Acts 28:23

    And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

  • Acts 6:9-10

    Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

  • Psalms 84:7

    They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

  • Luke 24:44-45

    And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

  • Acts 17:3

    Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

  • Job 17:9

    The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
increased.
Ge 49:24; Job 17:9; Ps 84:7; Isa 40:29; 2Co 12:9,10; Php 4:13
confounded.
6:9,10; 18:27,28; Lu 21:15; 1Co 1:27
proving.
17:3; 18:5; 28:23; Lu 24:44,45

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

Context

  • 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?

  • Acts 9:22

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

  • Acts 9:23

    And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

Read all of Acts 9

Acts 9:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Empero Saulo mucho más se esforzaba, y confundía á los Judíos que moraban en Damasco, afirmando que éste es el Cristo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Mais Saul se fortifiait de plus en plus, et confondait les Juifs qui demeuraient à Damas, démontrant que celui-ci était le Christ.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Saulus aber erstarkte um so mehr und brachte die Juden, die in Damaskus wohnten, in Verwirrung, indem er bewies, daß dieser der Christus ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Saulus autem multo magis convalescebat, et confundebat Judæos qui habitabant Damasci, affirmans quoniam hic est Christus.