This verse from Acts 9:24 is a part of the story of Paul's (formerly Saul) conversion and early ministry. Let's break it down:
"but their plot became known to Saul." This refers to a conspiracy against Paul. After his dramatic conversion to Christianity on the road to Damascus, Paul began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues there. His message angered many Jews who opposed the idea of Jesus as the Messiah.
"They watched the gates both day and night" The "they" are the Jews who wanted to kill Paul. They planned to trap him within the city of Damascus and assassinate him. Watching the gates was a strategy to prevent him from escaping. Since cities in that era were walled, controlling the gates was crucial for controlling who entered and exited.
"that they might kill him" This plainly states the intention of those watching the gates. They were waiting for an opportunity to murder Paul.
In essence, the verse means:
Paul's preaching about Jesus in Damascus had enraged some local Jews. They conspired to kill him. To make sure he couldn't escape, they maintained a constant watch at the city gates, waiting for a chance to ambush him.
This verse from Acts 9:24 is a part of the story of Paul's (formerly Saul) conversion and early ministry. Let's break it down:
"but their plot became known to Saul." This refers to a conspiracy against Paul. After his dramatic conversion to Christianity on the road to Damascus, Paul began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues there. His message angered many Jews who opposed the idea of Jesus as the Messiah.
"They watched the gates both day and night" The "they" are the Jews who wanted to kill Paul. They planned to trap him within the city of Damascus and assassinate him. Watching the gates was a strategy to prevent him from escaping. Since cities in that era were walled, controlling the gates was crucial for controlling who entered and exited.
"that they might kill him" This plainly states the intention of those watching the gates. They were waiting for an opportunity to murder Paul.
In essence, the verse means:
Paul's preaching about Jesus in Damascus had enraged some local Jews. They conspired to kill him. To make sure he couldn't escape, they maintained a constant watch at the city gates, waiting for a chance to ambush him.
