Acts 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Acts 9:6 in other translations
| BSB | “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” |
|---|---|
| WEB | But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.” |
| ASV | but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. |
| YLT | trembling also, and astonished, he said, ‘Lord, what dost thou wish me to do?' and the Lord said unto him, ‘Arise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what it behoveth thee to do.' |
| DARBY | But rise up and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. |
| BBE | But get up, and go into the town, and it will be made clear to you what you have to do. |
| Webster | And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. |
What does Acts 9:6 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 9:4-6
4-6. he fell to the earth--and his companions with him (Ac 26:14), who "saw the light" (Ac 22:9). and heard a voice saying unto him--"in the Hebrew tongue" (Ac 26:14). Saul, Saul--a reduplication full of tenderness [De Wette]. Though his name was soon changed into "Paul," we find him, in both his own narratives of the scene, after the lapse of so many years, retaining the original form, as not daring to alter, in…
Barnes' Notes
And astonished. At what he saw.
Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? This indicates a subdued soul; a humbled spirit. Just before he had sought only to do his own will; now he inquired what was the will of the Saviour. Just before he was acting under a commission from the sanhedrim; now he renounced their supreme authority, and asked what the Lord Jesus would have him to do. Just before he had been engaged in a career of opposition to the Lord Jesus; now he sought at once to do his will. This indicates the usual change in the sinner. The great controversy between him and God is, whose will shall be followed. The sinner follows his own; the first act of the Christian is to surrender his own will to that of God, and to resolve to do that which he requires. We may further remark here, that this indicates the true nature of conversion. It is decided, prompt, immediate. Paul did not debate the matter, Gal 1:16; he did not inquire what the scribes and Pharisees would say; he did not consult his own reputation; he did not ask what the world would think. With characteristic promptness--with a readiness which showed what he would yet be--he gave himself up at once and entirely to the Lord Jesus; evidently with a purpose to do his will alone. This was the case also with the jailer, at Philippi, Acts 16:30. Nor can there be real conversion where the heart and will are not given to the Lord Jesus, to be directed and moulded by him at his pleasure. We may test our conversion, then, by the example of the apostle Paul. If our hearts have been given up as his was, we are true friends of Christ.
Go into the city. Damascus. They were near it, Acts 9:3.
And it shall be told thee. It is remarkable that he was thus directed. But we may learn from it,
(1.) that even in the most striking and remarkable cases of conversion, there is not at once a clear view of duty. What course of life should be followed; what should be done; nay, what should be believed, is not at once apparent.
(2.) The aid of others, and especially of ministers, and of experienced Christians, is often very desirable to aid even those who are converted in the most remarkable manner. Saul was converted by a miracle: the Saviour appeared to him in his glory; of the truth of his Messiahship he had no doubt; but still he was dependent on a humble disciple in Damascus to be instructed in what he should do.
(3.) Those who are converted, in however striking a manner it may be, should be willing to seek the counsel of those who are in the church and in the ministry before them. The most striking evidence of their conversion will not prevent their deriving important direction and benefit from the aged, the experienced, and the wise in the Christian church.
(4.) Such remarkable conversions are fitted to induce the subjects of the change to seek counsel and direction. They produce humility, a deep sense of sin and of unworthiness; and a willingness to be taught and directed by any one who can point out the way of duty and of life.
(a) "What will thou have me to do?" Acts 16:30
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 9:1-9
So ill informed was Saul, that he thought he ought to do all he could against the name of Christ, and that he did God service thereby; he seemed to breathe in this as in his element. Let us not despair of renewing grace for the conversion of the greatest sinners, nor let such despair of the pardoning mercy of God for the greatest sin. It is a signal token of Divine favour, if God, by the inward working of his grace…
Acts 9:6 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Acts 9:6
- Acts 22:10
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
- 1 Timothy 1:14-16
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
- Acts 26:16
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
- Romans 7:9
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
- Acts 10:32
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
- Romans 10:20
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
- Romans 10:3
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
- Acts 9:15-16
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
- Acts 16:29-30
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
- Acts 11:13-14
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
- Galatians 1:15-16
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
- Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
16:29; 24:25,26; 1Sa 28:5; Isa 66:2; Hab 3:16; Php 2:12
Lord, what.
2:37; 16:30; 22:10; Lu 3:10; Ro 7:9; 10:3; Jas 4:6
Arise.
15; 26:16; Eze 16:6-8; Mt 19:30; Ro 5:20; 9:15-24; 10:20; Ga 1:15,16
1Ti 1:14-16
and it.
10:6,22,32; 11:13,14; Ps 25:8,9,12; 94:12; Isa 57:18
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Acts 9:5
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
- Acts 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
- Acts 9:7
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Acts 9:6 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | El, temblando y temeroso, dijo: Señor, ¿qué quieres que haga? Y el Señor le dice: Levántate y entra en la ciudad, y se te dirá lo que te conviene hacer. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Mais lève-toi, et entre dans la ville; et il te sera dit ce que tu dois faire. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Stehe aber auf und geh in die Stadt, und es wird dir gesagt werden, was du tun sollst. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Et tremens ac stupens dixit: Domine, quid me vis facere? |