Acts 9:22 Meaning and Explanation
“But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Saul grows ever stronger and confounds the Jews of Damascus, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
What Does Acts 9:22 Mean?
The trained mind that once argued against the church now argues for her Lord. “Proving” pictures laying passages side by side — law, prophets, psalms — until they meet in Jesus of Nazareth: the promised Messiah and the crucified Teacher are one. His hearers cannot answer the case, and his strength only increases.
Saul’s gifts are not discarded at conversion; they are redirected. The learning gathered at Gamaliel’s feet, the debater’s skill, the relentless energy — all of it now serves the gospel it once attacked. Christ does not erase what we are; he claims it. The strongest argument in Damascus was a converted man with the Scriptures open.
Acts 9:22 in the Original Language
symbibazo (συμβιβάζω), 'proving' -- literally to knit together, joining scripture to scripture until the conclusion stands.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 9:22
What does Acts 9:22 mean?
Saul grows ever stronger and confounds the Jews of Damascus, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.