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Acts 9:20

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 9:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 9:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
18And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
19and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.
20And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
21And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.
22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him:
← Acts 9:19Acts 9:21 →
← Full Chapter 9 Acts Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, etc.] The Syriac version adds, “of the Jews”; that is, which were in Damascus, (<440902>Acts 9:2) from whence it appears, that he was immediately, as soon as converted, qualified for the work of preaching the Gospel: nor did he confer with flesh and blood, or stand disputing and debating with himself and carnal reason, what was best for him to do; but as soon as he knew Christ himself, he preached him to others, and whom he always made the subject of his ministry; and particularly, that he is the Son of God; the only begotten of the Father, the eternal Son of God, truly and properly God, of the same nature and essence with God his Father,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“preached Christ . . . that he is the Son of God--rather, "preached Jesus," according to all the most ancient manuscripts and versions of the New Testament (so Act 9:21, "all that call on this name," that is, Jesus; and Act 9:22, "proving that this Jesus is very Christ").”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And straightway - Immediately. It was an evidence of the genuineness of his conversion that he was willing at once to avow himself to be the friend of the Lord Jesus. He preached Christ - He proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ. See Acts 9:22. Many manuscripts read here Jesus instead of Christ. Griesbach has adopted this reading. Such is also the Syriac, the Vulgate, and the Ethiopic. The reading accords much better with the subject than the common reading. That Christ, or the Messiah, was the Son of God, all admitted. In the New Testament the names Christ and Son of God are used as synonymous. But the question was whether Jesus was the Christ, and was therefore the Son of God, and this Paul…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:20-21 immediately he began preaching about Jesus: The genuineness of Saul’s encounter with the risen Christ is attested by the enthusiasm and boldness of his preaching. Saul’s outspoken declaration provoked astonishment, for he was the very man who had created such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“straightway: Act 9:27, Act 9:28; Gal 1:23, Gal 1:24 that: Act 8:37; Psa 2:7, Psa 2:12; Mat 26:63-66, Mat 27:43, Mat 27:54; Joh 1:49, Joh 19:7, Joh 20:28, Joh 20:31; Rom 1:4; Gal 2:20; Jo1 4:14, Jo1 4:15; Rev 2:18 Acts 9:21”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification