Acts 9 · Verse 24

Acts 9:24

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
Acts 9:24, King James Version

Acts 9:24 in other translations

BSBbut Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
WEBbut their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,
ASVbut their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him:
YLTand their counsel against him was known to Saul; they were also watching the gates both day and night, that they may kill him,
DARBYBut their plot became known to Saul. And they watched also the gates both day and night, that they might kill him;
BBEBut Saul got knowledge of their design. And they kept watch day and night on the roads out of the town, so that they might put him to death:
WebsterBut their laying in wait, was known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

What does Acts 9:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 9:24-25
24-25. they watched the gates night and day to kill him--The full extent of his danger appears only from his own account (2Co 11:32): "In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me"; the exasperated Jews having obtained from the governor a military force, the more surely to compass his destruction.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. But their laying await. Their counsel; their design.

Was known of Saul. Was made known to him. In what way this was communicated we do not know. This design of the Jews against Saul is referred to in 2Cor 11:32, 33, where it is said, "In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king kept the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me; and through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped their hands."

And they watched the gates. Cities were surrounded by high walls; and of course the gates were presumed to be the only places of escape. As they supposed that Saul, apprized of their designs, would make an attempt to escape, they stationed guards at the gates to intercept him. In 2 Cor. xi. 32, it is said that the governor kept the city for the purpose of apprehending him. It is possible that the governor might have been a Jew, and one, therefore, who would enter into their views. Or if not a Jew, the Jews who were there might easily represent Saul as an offender, and demand his being secured; and thus a garrison or guard might be furnished them for their purpose. See a similar attempt made by the Jews recorded in Mt 28:14.

(b) "watched the gates" 2Cor 11:26, Ps 21:11, 37:32,33

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 They watched the gates day and night to kill him - At this time Damascus was under the government of Aretas, king of Arabia, who was now at war with Herod, his son-in-law, who had put away his daughter in order to marry Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. As Herod was supported by the Romans, Saul's enemies might intimate that he was in league with them or Herod; and, as the gates of the city were constantly watched and shut, that no spy might enter, and no fugitive get away, they thought it would be easy to apprehend him; and doubtless got orders for the different officers at the gates to be on the look-out that he might not be permitted to escape.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 9:23-31

When we enter into the way of God, we must look for trials; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape. Though Saul's conversion was and is a proof of the truth of Christianity, yet it could not, of itself, convert one soul at enmity with the truth; for nothing can produce true faith, but that power which new-creates the heart. Believers are apt to be too…

Read the full comment on Acts 9:23-31 →

Acts 9:24 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.

ἐγνώσθηegnōsthēbecame knownG1097
δὲdehoweverG1161
τῷtō<the>G3588
ΣαύλῳSaulōto SaulG4569
ἡhētheG3588
ἐπιβουλὴepiboulēplotG1917
αὐτῶν.autōnof them.G846
παρετηροῦντοparetērountoThey were themselves watchingG3906
δὲdenowG1161
τὰςtastheG3588
πύλαςpulasgatesG4439
ἡμέραςhēmerasby dayG2250
τεteandG5037
καὶkaialsoG2532
νυκτός,nuktosnight,G3571
ὅπωςhopōsso thatG3704
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ἀνέλωσιν·anelōsinthey may execute;G337

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

Cross references for Acts 9:24

  • 2 Corinthians 11:32

    In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

  • Acts 25:3

    And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

  • Acts 20:19

    Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

  • Acts 20:3

    And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

  • Psalms 21:11

    For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

  • Acts 17:10-15

    And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. …

  • Acts 23:30

    And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

  • Acts 25:11

    For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cesar.

  • Acts 9:29-30

    And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

  • Acts 23:12-21

    And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. …

  • Psalms 37:32-33

    The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

  • Acts 14:5-6

    And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
their.
29,30; 14:5,6; 17:10-15; 23:12-21; 25:3,11; Jud 16:2,3; 2Co 11:32
And they.
Ps 21:11; 37:32,33

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

Context

  • Acts 9:23

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

  • Acts 9:24

    But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

  • Acts 9:25

    Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Read all of Acts 9

Acts 9:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas las asechanzas de ellos fueron entendidas de Saulo. Y ellos guardaban las puertas de día y de noche para matarle.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais leur complot fut connu de Saul. Et ils surveillaient aussi les portes, jour et nuit, pour le tuer.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es wurde aber dem Saulus ihr Anschlag bekannt. Und sie bewachten auch die Tore sowohl bei Tage als bei Nacht, damit sie ihn umbrächten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Notæ autem factæ sunt Saulo insidiæ eorum. Custodiebant autem et portas die ac nocte, ut eum interficerent.