Acts 9:22-23

9:22 But Saul became more and more capable, ¹  and was causing consternation ²  among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving ³  that Jesus ⁴  is the Christ. ⁵ 

Saul’s Escape from Damascus

9:23 Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotted ⁶  together to kill him,

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¹ tn Grk “was becoming stronger,” but this could be understood in a physical sense, while the text refers to Saul’s growing ability to demonstrate to fellow Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. The translation “to become capable” for ἐνδυναμόω (endunamow) is given in L&N 74.7, with this specific verse as an example.

² tn Or “was confounding.” For the translation “to cause consternation” for συγχέω (suncew) see L&N 25.221.

³ tn Or “by showing for certain.”

⁴ tn Grk “that this one”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” Note again the variation in the titles used.

sn See the note on Christ in 2:31.

⁶ sn Fitting the pattern emphasized earlier with Stephen and his speech in Acts 7, some Jews plotted to kill God’s messenger (cf. Luke 11:53-54).