Acts 9 · Verse 27

Acts 9:27

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.
Acts 9:27, King James Version

Acts 9:27 in other translations

BSBThen Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
WEBBut Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
ASVBut 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 at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
YLTand Barnabas having taken him, brought him unto the apostles, and did declare to them how in the way he saw the Lord, and that he spake to him, and how in Damascus he was speaking boldly in the name of Jesus.
DARBYBut Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
BBEBut Barnabas took him to the Apostles and gave them an account of how he had seen the Lord on the road, and had given hearing to his words, and how at Damascus he had been preaching in the name of Jesus without fear.
WebsterBut Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to 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.

What does Acts 9:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
27. But Barnabas ... brought him to the apostles--that is, to Peter and James; for "other of the apostles saw I none," says he fourteen years after (Ga 1:18, 19). Probably none of the other apostles were there at the time (Ac 4:36). Barnabas being of Cyprus, which was within a few hours' sail of Cilicia, and annexed to it as a Roman province, and Saul and he being Hellenistic Jews and eminent in their respective localities, they may very well have been acquainted with each other before this [Howson]. What is here said of Barnabas is in fine consistency with the "goodness" ascribed to him (Ac 11:24), and with the name "son of consolation," given him by the apostles (Ac 4:36); and after Peter and James were satisfied, the disciples generally would at once receive him. how he had seen the Lord ... and he--the Lord. had spoken to him--that is, how he had received his commission direct from the Lord Himself.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 27. But Barnabas. Acts 4:36. Barnabas was of Cyprus, not far from Tarsus, and it is not improbable that he had been before acquainted with Saul.

To the apostles. To Peter and James, Gal 1:18,19. Probably the other apostles were at that time absent from Jerusalem.

And declared unto them, etc. It may seem remarkable that the apostles at Jerusalem had not before heard of the conversion of Saul. The following considerations may serve in some degree to explain this:

(1.) It is certain that intercourse between different countries was then much more difficult than it is now. There were no posts; no public conveyances; nothing that corresponded with our modes of intercourse between one part of the world and another.

(2.) There was at this time a state of animosity, amounting to hostility, subsisting between Herod and Aretas. Herod the tetrarch had married the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia, and had put her away.--Josephus, Antiq. b. xviii. chap. v.  1, 2. The result of this was a long misunderstanding between them, and a war; and the effects of that war might have been to interrupt the communication very much throughout all that country.

(3.) Though the Jews at Jerusalem might have heard of the conversion of Saul, yet it was for their interest to keep it a secret, and not to mention it to Christians. But,

(4.) though the Christians who were there had heard of it, yet it is probable that they were not fully informed on the subject; that they had not had all the evidence of his conversion which they desired; and that they looked with suspicion on him. It was therefore proper that they should have a full statement of the evidence of his conversion; and this was made by Barnabas.

(e) "Barnabas took him" Acts 4:36 (f) "at Damascus" Acts 9:20,22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 Barnabas - brought him to the apostles - That is, to Peter and James; for others of the apostles he saw none, Gal 1:19. It appears that he went up at this time to Jerusalem merely to see Peter, with whom he abode fifteen days, Gal 1:18. How it came that the apostles and Church at Jerusalem had not heard of Saul's conversion, which had taken place three years before, is not easy to be accounted for. The following considerations may help; 1. It is certain that intelligence did not travel speedily in those primitive times; there were few open roads, and no regular posts, except those between military stations. 2. Though there were many Jews in Damascus, and several Christians, yet the city was heathen, and under a heathen king, with whom the Jews at Jerusalem could have little commerce. 3. Though Herod had married the daughter of Aretas, yet, as he had put her away, there were great animosities between the two courts, which at last broke out into an open war; this must have prevented all social and commercial intercourse. 4. The Christians were at that time greatly persecuted by the Jews, and therefore the few that dwelt at Damascus could have little connection, if any, with their brethren at Jerusalem. 5. It might be the interest of the Jews at Jerusalem, supposing they had heard of it, to keep the fact of Saul's conversion as quiet as possible, that the Christian cause might not gain credit by it. 6. They might have heard of his conversion; but either did not fully credit what they had heard, or were not satisfied that the person who now presented himself was the man; for it is not likely that all the Christians at Jerusalem had been personally acquainted with Saul.

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 9:27 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.

ΒαρναβᾶςBarnabasBarnabasG921
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐπιλαβόμενοςepilabomenoshaving takenG1949
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ἤγαγενēgagenhe brought [him]G71
πρὸςprostoG4314
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ἀποστόλουςapostolousapostlesG652
καὶkaiandG2532
διηγήσατοdiēgēsatohe relatedG1334
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
πῶςpōshowG4459
ἐνenonG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
ὁδῷhodōroadG3598
εἶδενeidenhe had seenG1492
τὸνtontheG3588
κύριονkurionLordG2962
καὶkaiandG2532
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐλάλησενelalēsenHe had spokenG2980
αὐτῷautōto himG846
καὶkaiandG2532
πῶςpōshowG4459
ἐνeninG1722
ΔαμασκῷDamaskōDamascusG1154
ἐπαρρησιάσατοeparrēsiasatohe had spoken boldlyG3955
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
ὀνόματιonomatinameG3686
τοῦtou<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦ.Iēsouof Jesus.G2424

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

Cross references for Acts 9:27

  • Acts 4:36

    And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

  • Acts 4:29

    And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

  • Ephesians 6:19-20

    And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  • Acts 4:13

    Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

  • Acts 15:25-26

    It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Galatians 2:9

    And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:8

    And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

  • Acts 13:2

    As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

  • Acts 15:35-39

    Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. …

  • 1 Corinthians 9:6

    Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

  • Acts 15:2

    When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

  • Acts 9:20-22

    And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 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? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Barnabas.
4:36; 11:22,25; 12:25; 13:2; 15:2,25,26,35-39; 1Co 9:6; Ga 2:9,13
the apostles.
Ga 1:18,19
how he had seen.
17; 1Co 15:8
and how.
20-22; 4:13,29; Eph 6:19,20

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

Context

  • Acts 9:26

    And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

  • Acts 9:27

    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.

  • Acts 9:28

    And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

Read all of Acts 9

Acts 9:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Bernabé, tomándole, lo trajo á los apóstoles, y contóles cómo había visto al Señor en el camino, y que le había hablado, y cómo en Damasco había hablado confiadamente en el nombre de Jesús.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais Barnabas le prit et le mena aux apôtres, et leur raconta comment, sur le chemin, il avait vu le Seigneur, qui lui avait parlé, et comment il avait parlé ouvertement, à Damas, au nom de Jésus.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Barnabas aber nahm ihn und brachte ihn zu den Aposteln und erzählte ihnen, wie er auf dem Wege den Herrn gesehen habe, und daß derselbe zu ihm geredet, und wie er in Damaskus freimütig im Namen Jesu gesprochen habe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Barnabas autem apprehensum illum duxit ad Apostolos: et narravit illis quomodo in via vidisset Dominum, et quia locutus est ei, et quomodo in Damasco fiducialiter egerit in nomine Jesu.