Acts 9:22

“But Saul increased the more in strength, etc.] Not of body, but of mind; his gifts and graces, and spiritual light and knowledge increased; his abilities were greater; his fortitude of mind, boldness, and freedom of speech, every day increased: he got more, and new, and fresh arguments, by which he himself was confirmed, and he confirmed others in the truths of Christ. Some copies read, “he was more strengthened in the word”; either in the word of God, having a clearer understanding, and being more confirmed in the truth of it; or in speech, being more ready and powerful in speaking it. And confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus; confuted them, and put them to silence, so that they had…”

“Increased the more in strength - His conviction of the truth of the Christian religion became stronger every day, and hence his moral strength or boldness increased. And confounded - See Acts 2:6. The word here means “confuted.” It means also occasionally “to produce a tumult or excitement,” Acts 19:32; Acts 21:31. Perhaps the idea of producing such a tumor is intended to be conveyed here. Paul confuted the Jews, and by so doing he was the occasion of their tumultuous proceedings, or he so enraged them as to lead to great agitation and excitement - a very common effect of close and conclusive argumentation. Proving that this - This Jesus. Is very Christ - Greek: that this is the Christ. The…”

“9:22-25 Despite the bewilderment of his hearers, Saul so compellingly presented the evidence for the claims of Jesus as Messiah that the non-believing Jews in Damascus found themselves unable to refute it. Apparently this went on for some time (see Gal 1:18), so some of the non-believing Jews launched a plot on his life, but he was spared when some believers let him down out of the city in a large basket. Paul recounts this incident in 2 Cor 11:32-33.”

“increased: Gen 49:24; Job 17:9; Psa 84:7; Isa 40:29; Co2 12:9, Co2 12:10; Phi 4:13 confounded: Act 6:9, Act 6:10, Act 18:27, Act 18:28; Luk 21:15; Co1 1:27 proving: Act 17:3, Act 18:5, Act 28:23; Luk 24:44, Luk 24:45 Acts 9:23”