The phrase "still breathing threats and murder" isn't just about Saul's anger; it suggests his very life and purpose were consumed by hatred for believers. This indicates a deep-seated commitment to his mission, making his subsequent transformation all the more profound.
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The narrative has just depicted the persecution of the early church in Jerusalem following Stephen's martyrdom, with Saul playing a key role in this crackdown. Now, the story shifts focus to Saul's relentless pursuit of these followers of Jesus, showing him actively seeking authority from the high priest to continue his destructive mission even beyond Jerusalem. This immediate context highlights Saul's extreme zeal for destroying the nascent Christian movement before his dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus.
Saul wasn't just angry; he was consuming anger. What does this intense hostility reveal about his state of mind and heart before Damascus?
The verse paints a vivid picture of Saul's relentless pursuit of Christians. The phrase 'yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter' isn't just a turn of phrase; it signifies an all-encompassing passion and intent.
A Breath of Hatred
Luke uses a powerful image here, likening Saul's state to an atmosphere he breathes. His very life force, his energy, was poured into threatening and planning destruction against Jesus' followers. It wasn't a casual dislike; it was a deep-seated, active animosity.
Beyond Simple Anger
This wasn't mere annoyance. It implies a systematic and zealous dedication to eradicating this new movement. He wasn't just reacting; he was proactively seeking ways to inflict harm and bring about the 'slaughter' of believers. This intense focus highlights how deeply entrenched his opposition was.
Saul didn't act alone. Who did he approach for authorization, and what does this tell us about the religious and political landscape of the time?
Saul's journey to the high priest reveals a crucial aspect of the early persecution: it was not just a spontaneous outburst of zeal but a movement sanctioned by religious authority.
Seeking Official Sanction
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By going to the high priest, Saul was seeking official permission and authority to extend his persecution. This wasn't an action taken in the shadows; it was an official mission granted by the highest religious office in Judaism at the time.
A Unified Front (of Opposition)
This collaboration between a zealous Pharisee like Saul and the high priest (often a Sadducee) shows a striking, albeit negative, unity. Despite their theological differences, they united against what they perceived as a threat to their religious order. The high priest, as the head of the Sanhedrin, had the authority to issue letters that would allow Saul to arrest believers even in distant cities like Damascus.
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.
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.
hodos · Greek Noun
The early name used by the followers of Jesus to describe the Christian faith, emphasizing it as the exclusive path of salvation and the divine way of living revealed by Christ.
Saul's journey to Damascus wasn't a spontaneous act but occurred within a broader context of escalating persecution and shifting political powers in the Roman Empire and Judea, highlighting the deeply entrenched opposition to the early Christian movement.
c. AD 30-33
Martyrdom of Stephen
Stephen, a Hellenistic Jewish Christian, is stoned to death for blasphemy after preaching about Jesus. Saul of Tarsus plays a prominent role in this event, guarding the cloaks of those who stoned him.
c. AD 33-37
Early Persecution of Christians
Following Stephen's death, Saul actively persecutes the early followers of Jesus, imprisoning many and driving them out of Jerusalem, leading to the spread of the 'Way' throughout Judea and Samaria.
c. AD 34-37
Political Instability in Syria and Damascus
The region around Damascus experiences political upheaval, with shifts in Roman and Nabataean Arab control, creating a complex environment for religious authority.
c. AD 36-37
High Priesthood Changes in Jerusalem
The Roman legate Vitellius deposes High Priest Caiaphas and appoints Jonathan, son of Annas, and then Jonathan's brother Theophilus, impacting the leadership structure that could issue decrees.
c. AD 37— this verse
Saul's Journey to Damascus
Saul, still fiercely committed to eradicating the Christian movement, obtains official authorization from the High Priest Theophilus to travel to Damascus to arrest believers.
c. AD 37
Conversion of Saul on the Road to Damascus
A blinding light and the voice of Jesus confront Saul on his journey, leading to his dramatic conversion and transformation into a follower of Christ.
Paul himself describes his pre-conversion life, stating he 'persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it,' which powerfully echoes the fierce intent described in Acts 9:1.
Philippians 3:6Paul, reflecting on his past zealous actions against Christians, describes himself as 'progressing in Judaism beyond many of my own age, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers,' highlighting the intensity of his commitment to the cause he was pursuing.
1 Timothy 1:13Paul's own testimony of being 'a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent opponent' provides a direct retrospective on the very kind of destructive energy described in Acts 9:1.
Matthew 26:59-60This passage shows the high priests and the whole council seeking false testimony against Jesus, illustrating the corrupt authority and religious opposition that Saul was aligning himself with.
Genesis 49:27The prophecy about Benjamin being 'a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey, and at evening dividing the spoil' is often seen as a symbolic foreshadowing of Saul's fierce and predatory nature, later transformed by Christ.
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 "still breathing threats and murder" isn't just about Saul's anger; it suggests his very life and purpose were consumed by hatred for believers. This indicates a deep-seated commitment to his mission, making his subsequent transformation all the more profound.
The narrative has just depicted the persecution of the early church in Jerusalem following Stephen's martyrdom, with Saul playing a key role in this crackdown. Now, the story shifts focus to Saul's relentless pursuit of these followers of Jesus, showing him actively seeking authority from the high priest to continue his destructive mission even beyond Jerusalem. This immediate context highlights Saul's extreme zeal for destroying the nascent Christian movement before his dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus.
The narrative has just depicted the persecution of the early church in Jerusalem following Stephen's martyrdom, with Saul playing a key role in this crackdown. Now, the story shifts focus to Saul's relentless pursuit of these followers of Jesus, showing him actively seeking authority from the high priest to continue his destructive mission even beyond Jerusalem. This immediate context highlights Saul's extreme zeal for destroying the nascent Christian movement before his dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus.
"But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring the…" — The phrase "still breathing threats and murder" isn't just about Saul's anger; it suggests his very life and purpose were consumed by hatred for believers. This indicates a deep-seated commitment to…
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Last reviewed October 2026
