Acts 9:1
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "yet breathing out threats and murder" isn't just a strong metaphor for Saul's anger; it suggests his very life force was consumed by this destructive passion, as if it were the literal air he inhaled and exhaled. This intense, all-encompassing hatred is what propelled him to seek official authority from the high priest, demonstrating the systematic nature of his persecution.
Still consumed by his violent opposition to Jesus' followers, Saul obtains official authority from the high priest to travel to Damascus. This journey is part of a wider, systematic persecution aimed at eradicating the nascent Christian movement, which had recently seen Stephen's martyrdom and the scattering of believers. Saul's actions are driven by a zealous, albeit misguided, desire to uphold Jewish tradition, even extending his reach to cities beyond Jerusalem.
Saul wasn't just against Christians; he was consumed by it. How does the language used to describe him reveal the intensity of his hatred?
The original Greek phrase here, "yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter" (ἔτι ἐμπνέων ἀπειλῆς καὶ φόνου), is incredibly vivid. It doesn't just mean he was angry; it suggests that these threats and murderous intentions were his very atmosphere. It was as if his lungs drew in and exhaled hostility, a complete immersion in his opposition to the early church.
This imagery paints a picture of someone whose entire being is consumed by a passion, not for God, but for the destruction of God's people. It highlights the depth of his commitment to his cause, a zeal that would later be radically redirected by God's grace.
Why did Saul need to go to the high priest? What does this tell us about the religious and political landscape of the time, and how the early Christians were viewed?
Saul's decision to go to the high priest reveals a crucial aspect of the religious and political structure. The high priest, as the head of the Sanhedrin, held significant authority, even over Jewish communities in other cities like Damascus.
This wasn't just a personal crusade; Saul sought official sanction. He obtained letters from the high priest, which essentially empowered him to arrest any followers of 'the Way' – the early, self-given name for Christians. This name itself highlights their distinctiveness; they weren't just another sect, but a specific path or way of life centered on Jesus.
This journey underscores how the early church was perceived: as a threat to the established religious order, requiring official action and inter-city authority for its suppression.
Understand the original words
Saulos · Greek Noun
A Pharisee and Roman citizen who became a key apostle, originally known for his fierce persecution of the early Christian church before his dramatic conversion.
pneōn · Greek Verb
To inspire or express intense hostility, malice, or intent to harm, often used figuratively to describe a person's constant state of agitation or rage.
mathētas · Greek Noun
The students or followers of a teacher; in the New Testament, it refers specifically to the followers of Jesus Christ who learn from Him and live according to His teachings.
Kyriou · Greek Noun
The divine title used to express the sovereign authority, ownership, and deity of God or Jesus Christ, indicating one to whom absolute obedience and worship are due.
Saul’s pursuit of Christians extended to cities like Damascus due to the broad jurisdictional authority granted to the High Priest by Roman law, allowing him to act as a leader for Jewish communities throughout the Roman Empire.
c. AD 30-33
Martyrdom of Stephen
Stephen, a Hellenistic Jew and one of the early deacons in Jerusalem, is stoned to death by a mob incited by Saul. This event marks the beginning of a severe persecution against the early Church in Jerusalem.
c. AD 33-37
Saul's Persecution of the Church
Following Stephen's death, Saul actively persecutes the followers of Jesus. He imprisons believers, forces them to renounce their faith, and pursues them relentlessly, even outside Jerusalem.
c. AD 34-37
Political Instability in Syria and Judea
A period of unrest including the deposition of Pontius Pilate and changes in Roman administration in the region. This political flux may have influenced the jurisdictional reach of Jewish authorities in surrounding territories like Damascus.
c. AD 37
High Priest Theophilus Appointed
Vitellius, the Roman governor of Syria, replaces Jonathan with his brother Theophilus as High Priest in Jerusalem. Theophilus would have overseen the Sanhedrin's authority in religious matters.
This passage, a prophecy about the tribe of Benjamin, uses wolf-like imagery ('Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf') that ancient commentators saw as a foreshadowing of Saul's fierce, predatory zeal against the early church, mirroring the intensity described in Acts 9:1.
Matthew 26:3This verse describes the alliance between the chief priests and the high priests against Jesus. It provides a parallel to Saul's collaboration with the high priest, showing how religious authorities united against Jesus and later against His followers.
Philippians 3:5Paul later boasts about being 'of the tribe of Benjamin,' connecting back to the prophecy in Genesis and highlighting his intense, zealous nature that he once applied to persecuting Christians but later transformed in service to Christ.
Acts 26:9-11In his own defense before King Agrippa, Paul recounts his fervent persecution of the church, stating, 'I persecuted this Way to the death, both men and women, binding and delivering to prison.' This passage directly echoes and expands upon the 'breathing threats and murder' described in Acts 9:1, offering a first-hand account of his zeal.
1 Timothy 1:13Paul himself describes his past actions, saying he was 'formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man.' This self-reflection underscores the extreme hostility and violent intent that characterized his actions as described in Acts 9:1.
ellicottActs 9:1: "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,"
IX. (1) Yet breathing out threatenings.—The “yet” implies a considerable interval since the death of Stephen, probably coinciding with the time occupied by the mission-work of Philip in the previous chapter. During this interval the persecution had probably been continuing. The Greek participle, literally, breathing-in, is somewhat more emphatic than the English. He l…
expositorsActs 9:1: "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,"
elete_me Acts 9:1-6 Chapter 2 THE CONVERSION OF THE PERSECUTOR. Acts 8:3 ; Acts 9:1-6 WE have in the last chapter traced the course of St. Paul’s life as we know it from his own reminiscences, from hints in Holy Scripture, and from Jewish history and customs. The Jewish nation is exactly like all the nations of the East, in one respect at least. They are all intensely…
The phrase "yet breathing out threats and murder" isn't just a strong metaphor for Saul's anger; it suggests his very life force was consumed by this destructive passion, as if it were the literal air he inhaled and exhaled. This intense, all-encompassing hatred is what propelled him to seek official authority from the high priest, demonstrating the systematic nature of his persecution.
Still consumed by his violent opposition to Jesus' followers, Saul obtains official authority from the high priest to travel to Damascus. This journey is part of a wider, systematic persecution aimed at eradicating the nascent Christian movement, which had recently seen Stephen's martyrdom and the scattering of believers. Saul's actions are driven by a zealous, albeit misguided, desire to uphold Jewish tradition, even extending his reach to cities beyond Jerusalem.
Still consumed by his violent opposition to Jesus' followers, Saul obtains official authority from the high priest to travel to Damascus. This journey is part of a wider, systematic persecution aimed at eradicating the nascent Christian movement, which had recently seen Stephen's martyrdom and the scattering of believers. Saul's actions are driven by a zealous, albeit misguided, desire to uphold Jewish tradition, even extending his reach to cities beyond Jerusalem.
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archierea · Greek Noun
The highest religious official in Judaism, serving as the head of the Sanhedrin and the primary mediator in temple worship and legal matters.
c. AD 37-38— this verse
Saul's Journey to Damascus
Saul, still filled with violent opposition to Christianity, travels to Damascus to arrest Jewish believers there, carrying letters of authority from the High Priest.
c. AD 37-38
Saul's Conversion on the Road to Damascus
On the road to Damascus, Saul has a transformative encounter with the risen Jesus, leading to his immediate conversion and blinding. This event marks a radical shift in his life and mission.
"But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest" — The phrase "yet breathing out threats and murder" isn't just a strong metaphor for Saul's anger; it suggests his very life force was consumed by this destructive passion, as if it were the literal ai…
