Acts 9:1-2
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)
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The original Greek word for "breathing" here, empneōn, literally means "breathing in." This isn't just a casual mention of anger; it depicts Saul as being so consumed by his hatred that it was the very atmosphere he inhaled, the essence of his existence. This emphasizes the profound, all-encompassing nature of his zeal before his encounter with Christ.
Saul, still consumed by rage after Stephen's death, actively sought to eradicate the followers of Jesus, viewing their movement as a dangerous heresy. He was so fervent in his opposition that he obtained official authority from the high priest, likely to travel to Damascus and arrest any believers there. This action sets the stage for his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the road to that city, a pivotal moment that would utterly transform his life and mission.
Saul wasn't just against Christians; he was consumed by his opposition. What does it mean to 'breathe out threats and murder'?
The phrase 'yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter' vividly describes Saul's intense, all-consuming passion.
A Constant State
This wasn't a fleeting anger. The original Greek suggests he was inhaling and exhaling this hostility – it was his very atmosphere. He lived and breathed opposition to the early followers of Jesus.
More Than Just Disapproval
'Threatenings and slaughter' points to a deep-seated desire not just to intimidate, but to destroy. This was a zealous, violent hatred that fueled his every action. He saw himself as acting righteously, even serving God, by eradicating this new movement.
A Pattern of Intensity
Saul's zeal wasn't new. Even before this moment, he had 'made havoc of the church' (Acts 8:3), imprisoning believers and even consenting to Stephen's death. This journey to Damascus was a continuation of that intense, destructive mission.
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Why did Saul go to the high priest? What does this tell us about the organized opposition to the early church?
Saul's decision to approach the high priest reveals the structured nature of the opposition against early Christians.
Seeking Official Sanction
By going to the high priest, Saul was seeking official authorization for his mission to Damascus. This wasn't just a personal vendetta; it was an attempt to leverage religious and political authority to suppress the followers of Jesus.
A United Front (of Opposition)
Though Saul was a Pharisee and the high priest (likely a Sadducee) came from a different religious faction, they united in their opposition to this new movement. This shows how the perceived threat of Christianity bridged existing religious divides.
The 'Way' as a Threat
The early followers of Jesus were known as 'the Way.' This name signified their belief in Jesus as the sole path to God. This exclusive claim was seen as a direct challenge to the established religious order, prompting such drastic measures.
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 application to the High Priest for letters to Damascus wasn't merely a personal initiative; it reflected the Sanhedrin's authority over Jewish communities in the Diaspora, a power sanctioned by Roman law. This shows how deeply ingrained Saul's religious authority was, making his transformation all the more dramatic.
c. AD 30-33
Martyrdom of Stephen
Stephen, a Hellenistic Jewish Christian, is stoned to death in Jerusalem. Saul of Tarsus, a young Pharisee, is present and approves of this execution, marking the beginning of his intense persecution of the early church.
c. AD 33-37
Intensified Persecution in Jerusalem
Following Stephen's death, a severe persecution erupts in Jerusalem. Saul takes a leading role, arresting Christians and often overseeing their punishment in synagogues. This period likely included the event described in Acts 8:3, where Saul 'ravaged' the church.
c. AD 37
Roman Political Changes in Syria
The Roman governor of Syria, Vitellius, deposes Caiaphas as High Priest and replaces him with Jonathan, son of Annas. Political instability and shifts in Roman administration affected the region, potentially impacting the Jewish leadership's ability to act.
c. AD 37
Appointment of High Priest Theophilus
Vitellius soon replaces Jonathan with his brother, Theophilus, as High Priest. It is likely to this Theophilus that Saul would have applied for letters to the synagogues in Damascus.
c. AD 37— this verse
Saul's Journey to Damascus
Still filled with rage and seeking to arrest Christians, Saul travels from Jerusalem to Damascus, a significant journey of about 136 miles. He seeks authorization from the High Priest to apprehend believers in Damascus.
c. AD 37
Vision and Conversion of Saul
As Saul nears Damascus, he experiences a blinding vision of the resurrected Jesus. This encounter radically transforms him from a fierce persecutor into a devoted follower of Christ.
This verse directly quotes Saul's own testimony about his past zeal in persecuting the church, echoing the intense, perhaps even self-righteous, fervor described in Acts 9:1.
Galatians 1:13Paul recalls his former life as a persecutor, stating he 'attempted to destroy it' (the church). This powerfully illustrates the 'threatenings and slaughter' that Saul was 'breathing out' in Acts 9:1, showing the depth of his opposition.
1 Timothy 1:13In this passage, Paul describes himself as formerly a 'blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent,' which vividly captures the spirit and actions of Saul before his conversion as depicted in Acts 9:1.
Matthew 26:59-60This passage shows the high priests and the whole council seeking false testimony against Jesus. Saul's going to the high priest in Acts 9:1 highlights his alignment with the religious authorities who were actively working against Jesus' followers.
Acts 26:11During his defense before Agrippa, Paul admits to 'punishing them often in all the synagogues and trying to force them to blaspheme.' This detailed confession powerfully reinforces the 'threatenings and slaughter' mentioned in Acts 9:1, revealing the systematic nature of his persecution.
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 original Greek word for "breathing" here, empneōn, literally means "breathing in." This isn't just a casual mention of anger; it depicts Saul as being so consumed by his hatred that it was the very atmosphere he inhaled, the essence of his existence. This emphasizes the profound, all-encompassing nature of his zeal before his encounter with Christ.
Saul, still consumed by rage after Stephen's death, actively sought to eradicate the followers of Jesus, viewing their movement as a dangerous heresy. He was so fervent in his opposition that he obtained official authority from the high priest, likely to travel to Damascus and arrest any believers there. This action sets the stage for his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the road to that city, a pivotal moment that would utterly transform his life and mission.
Saul, still consumed by rage after Stephen's death, actively sought to eradicate the followers of Jesus, viewing their movement as a dangerous heresy. He was so fervent in his opposition that he obtained official authority from the high priest, likely to travel to Damascus and arrest any believers there. This action sets the stage for his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the road to that city, a pivotal moment that would utterly transform his life and mission.
"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 original Greek word for "breathing" here, empneōn, literally means "breathing in." This isn't just a casual mention of anger; it depicts Saul as being so consumed by his hatred that it was the…
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