Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 9]
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9:1 {Yet} (\eti\). As if some time elapsed between the death of
Stephen as is naturally implied by the progressive persecution
described in 8:3. The zeal of Saul the persecutor increased
with success. {Breathing threatening and slaughter} (\enpne•n
apeil•s kai phonou\). Present active participle of old and common
verb. Not "breathing out," but "breathing in" (inhaling) as in
Aeschylus and Plato or "breathing on" (from Homer on). The
partitive genitive of \apeil•s\ and \phonou\ means that
threatening and slaughter had come to be the very breath that
Saul breathed, like a warhorse who sniffed the smell of battle.
He breathed on the remaining disciples the murder that he had
already breathed in from the death of the others. He exhaled what
he inhaled. Jacob had said that "Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf"
(Ge 49:27). This greatest son of Benjamin was fulfilling this
prophecy (Furneaux). The taste of blood in the death of Stephen
was pleasing to young Saul (8:1) and now he revelled in the
slaughter of the saints both men and women. In 26:11 Luke
quotes Paul as saying that he was "exceedingly mad against them."
9:2 {Asked} (\•it•sato\). First aorist middle indicative, the
indirect middle, asked for himself (as a favour to himself).
Felten notes that "Saul as a Pharisee makes request of a
Sadducee" (the high priest) either Caiaphas if before A.D. 35,
but if in 36 Jonathan, son of Caiaphas or if in 37 Theophilus,
another son of Caiaphas. {Letters} (\epistolas\). Julius Ceasar
and Augustus had granted the high priest and Sanhedrin
jurisdiction over Jews in foreign cities, but this central
ecclesiastical authority was not always recognized in every local
community outside of Judea. Paul says that he received his
authority to go to Damascus from the priests (Acts 26:10) and
"the estate of the elders" (22:5), that is the Sanhedrin. {To
Damascus} (\eis Damaskon\). As if no disciples of importance
(outside the apostles in Jerusalem) were left in Judea. Damascus
at this time may have been under the rule of Aretas of Arabia
(tributary to Rome) as it certainly was a couple of years later
when Saul escaped in a basket (2Co 11:32). This old city is the
most enduring in the history of the world (Knowling). It is some
150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Acts: Chapter 9)