For several days⁴¹ he was with the disciples in Damascus, ^9:20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,⁴² saying, “This man is the Son of God.”⁴³^9:21All⁴⁴ who heard him were amazed and were saying, “Is this not⁴⁵ the man who in Jerusalem was ravaging⁴⁶ those who call on this name, and who had come here to bring them as prisoners⁴⁷ to the chief priests?” ^9:22But Saul became more and more capable,⁴⁸ and was causing consternation⁴⁹ among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving⁵⁰ that Jesus⁵¹ is the Christ.⁵²

Saul’s Escape from Damascus

^9:23Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotted⁵³ together to kill him, ^9:24but Saul learned of their plot against him.⁵⁴ They were also watching⁵⁵ the city gates⁵⁶ day and night so that they could kill him. ^9:25But his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening⁵⁷ in the wall by lowering him in a basket.⁵⁸

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Footnotes

41 Grk “It happened that for several days.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
42 See the note on synagogue in .
43 The ὅτι (hoti) is understood to introduce direct (“This man is the Son of God”) rather than indirect discourse (“that this man is the Son of God”) because the pronoun οὗτος (houtos) combined with the present tense verb ἐστιν (estin) suggests the contents of what was proclaimed are a direct (albeit summarized) quotation. This is the only use of the title Son of God in Acts. The book prefers to allow a variety of descriptions to present Jesus.
44 Grk “And all.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
45 The Greek interrogative particle used in this verse (οὐχ, ouch) expects a positive reply. They all knew about Saul’s persecutions.
46 Normally, “destroying,” but compare 4 Macc 4:23; 11:4 and πορθέω for examples from Koine papyri. See also πορθέω.
47 Grk “bring them bound”; the translation “bring someone as prisoner” for δεδεμένον ἄγειν τινά (dedemenon agein tina) is given by δέω 1.b.
48 Grk “was becoming stronger,” but this could be understood in a physical sense, while the text refers to Saul’s growing ability to demonstrate to fellow Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. The translation “to become capable” for ἐνδυναμόω (endunamoō) is given in L&N 74.7, with this specific verse as an example.
49 Or “was confounding.” For the translation “to cause consternation” for συγχέω (suncheō) see L&N 25.221.
50 Or “by showing for certain.”
51 Grk “that this one”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
52 Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” Note again the variation in the titles used. See the note on Christ in .
53 Fitting the pattern emphasized earlier with Stephen and his speech in Acts 7, some Jews plotted to kill God’s messenger (cf. Luke 11:53–54).
54 The words “against him” are implied, as suggested by L&N 30.71.
55 Or “guarding.” This is a negative term in Luke-Acts (Luke 6:7; 14:1; 20:20).
56 The word πύλη (pulē) may refer to a house door or gate, or to the large gates used in a palace, temple, or city wall. Here the context clearly indicates a reference to the latter, so the translation “city gates” is used.
57 The opening in the wall is not specifically mentioned here, but the parallel account in 2 Cor 11:33 mentions a “window” or “opening” (θυρίς, thuris) in the city wall through which Paul was lowered. One alternative to introducing mention of the opening is to translate Acts 9:25 “they let him down over the wall,” as suggested in L&N 7.61. This option is not employed by many translations, however, because for the English reader it creates an (apparent) contradiction between Acts 9:25 and 2 Cor 11:33. In reality the account here is simply more general, omitting the detail about the window.
58 On the term for “basket” used here, see σπυρίς.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”

All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plot. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.

NLTNew Living Translation

Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.

Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”

Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

and after taking food, he regained his strength. And he was with the disciples in Damascus several days.

And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “This one is the Son of God!” And all who heard him were amazed, and were saying, “Is this not the one who was wreaking havoc in Jerusalem on those who call upon this name, and had come here for this reason, that he could bring them tied up to the chief priests?” But Saul was increasing in strength even more, and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this one is the Christ.

And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted to do away with him. But their plot became known to Saul, and they were also watching the gates both day and night so that they could do away with him. But his disciples took him at night and let him down through the wall by lowering him in a basket.

KJV 1900King James Version

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

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

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