Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 9]
the eyes of Saul, but that it felt that way to him as his sight
returned, "as if" (\h•s\). Medical writers use the word \lepis\
for pieces of the skin that fall off (Hobart, _Medical Language
of St. Luke_, p. 39). Luke may have heard Paul tell of this vivid
experience. {Was baptized} (\ebaptisth•\). First aorist passive
indicative. Apparently by Ananias (22:16) as a symbol of the
new life in Christ already begun, possibly in the pool in the
house of Judas as today water is plentiful in Damascus or in
Abana or Pharpar (Furneaux), better than all the waters of Israel
according to Naaman (2Ki 5:12).
9:19 {Was strengthened} (\enischuth•\). First aorist passive
indicative of \enischu•\, to receive strength (\ischus\),
comparatively late verb and here only in the N.T. save Lu 22:43
where it is doubtful. Poor verse division. This clause belongs in
sense to verse 18. {Some days} (\h•meras tinas\). An indefinite
period, probably not long, the early period in Damascus before
Saul left for Arabia (Ga 1:13-24).
9:20 {He proclaimed Jesus} (\ek•russen ton I•soun\). Imperfect
indicative, inchoative, began to preach. Jesus, not Christ, is
the correct text here. He did this first preaching in the Jewish
synagogues, a habit of his life when possible, and following the
example of Jesus. {That he is the Son of God} (\hoti houtos estin
ho huios tou theou\). This is Paul's platform as a Christian
preacher, one that he always occupied to the very end. It was a
complete reversal of his previous position. Jesus had turned him
completely around. It is the conclusion that Saul now drew from
the vision of the Risen Christ and the message through Ananias.
By "the Son of God" Saul means the Messiah of promise and hope,
the Messianic sense of the Baptist (Joh 1:34) and of Nathanael
(Joh 1:49) for Saul is now proclaiming his faith in Jesus in
the very synagogues where he had meant to arrest those who
professed their faith in him. Peter laid emphasis on the
Resurrection of Jesus as a glorious fact and proclaimed Jesus as
Lord and Christ. Paul boldly calls Jesus the Son of God with full
acknowledgment of his deity from the very start. Thomas had come
to this place slowly (Joh 20:28). Saul begins with this truth
and never leaves it. With this faith he can shake the world.
There is no power in any other preaching.
9:21 {Were amazed} (\existanto\). Imperfect middle indicative of
\exist•mi\. They continued to stand out of themselves in
astonishment at this violent reversal in Saul the persecutor.
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