Acts 9:21 - All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”
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What does "Acts 9:21" mean?
This verse (Acts 9:21) refers to the immediate reaction of the Jewish community in Damascus upon hearing Saul (who would later be known as Paul) preaching about Jesus as the Messiah. They are astonished because:
They know Saul's history: Saul was previously a notorious persecutor of Christians. He was famous (or infamous) for his zealous campaign to arrest and imprison followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. The "havoc" he made refers to the widespread fear and disruption he caused within the early Christian community.
He was on a mission to continue his persecution: The people in Damascus are aware that Saul came to their city with the explicit purpose of arresting Christians and taking them back to Jerusalem to be punished by the chief priests. This was his official mission sanctioned by the religious authorities.
His radical transformation is unbelievable: The fact that Saul, the persecutor, is now preaching the very faith he once tried to destroy is utterly shocking. It seems impossible that someone so opposed to Christianity could have changed so dramatically.
In essence, the verse highlights the dramatic and unexpected nature of Saul's conversion. It emphasizes the power of God to transform even the most ardent opponents of the faith into its most passionate advocates. The amazement and skepticism of the Damascus community serve to underscore the magnitude of the miracle that had occurred in Saul's life.
Acts 9:21 - All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”
What does "Acts 9:21" mean?
This verse (Acts 9:21) refers to the immediate reaction of the Jewish community in Damascus upon hearing Saul (who would later be known as Paul) preaching about Jesus as the Messiah. They are astonished because:
They know Saul's history: Saul was previously a notorious persecutor of Christians. He was famous (or infamous) for his zealous campaign to arrest and imprison followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. The "havoc" he made refers to the widespread fear and disruption he caused within the early Christian community.
He was on a mission to continue his persecution: The people in Damascus are aware that Saul came to their city with the explicit purpose of arresting Christians and taking them back to Jerusalem to be punished by the chief priests. This was his official mission sanctioned by the religious authorities.
His radical transformation is unbelievable: The fact that Saul, the persecutor, is now preaching the very faith he once tried to destroy is utterly shocking. It seems impossible that someone so opposed to Christianity could have changed so dramatically.
In essence, the verse highlights the dramatic and unexpected nature of Saul's conversion. It emphasizes the power of God to transform even the most ardent opponents of the faith into its most passionate advocates. The amazement and skepticism of the Damascus community serve to underscore the magnitude of the miracle that had occurred in Saul's life.