Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 9]
{Made havock} (\porth•sas\). First aorist active participle of
\porthe•\, to lay waste, an old verb, but only here and Ga
1:13,23 by Paul, an interesting coincidence. It is the old
proverb about Saul among the prophets (1Sa 10:12) revived with
a new meaning (Furneaux). {Had come} (\el•luthei\). Past perfect
indicative active. {Might bring} (\agag•i\). Second aorist
(effective) active subjunctive of \ag•\ with \hina\ (purpose).
{Bound} (\dedemenous\). Perfect passive participle of \de•\.
Interesting tenses.
9:22 {Increased the more} (\m•llon enedunamouto\). Imperfect
passive indicative of \endunamo•\, to receive power (late verb),
progressive increase in strength as opposition grew. Saul's
recantation stirred controversy and Saul grew in power. See also
Paul in Php 4:13; 1Ti 1:12; 2Ti 2:1; 4:17; Ro 4:20. Christ, the
dynamo of spiritual energy, was now pouring power (Ac 1:8) into
Paul who is already filled with the Holy Spirit (Ac 9:17).
{Confounded} (\sunechunnen\). Imperfect active indicative of
\sunchunn•\ (late form of \sunche•\, to pour together, commingle,
make confusion.) The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were
confused. {Proving} (\sunbibaz•n\). Present active participle of
\sunbibaz•\, old verb to make go together, to coalesce, to knit
together. It is the very word that Luke will use in 16:10 of
the conclusion reached at Troas concerning the vision of Paul.
Here Saul took the various items in the life of Jesus of Nazareth
and found in them the proof that he was in reality "the Messiah"
(\ho Christos\). This method of argument Paul continued to use
with the Jews (Ac 17:3). It was irresistible argument and
spread consternation among the Jews. It was the most powerful
piece of artillery in the Jewish camp that was suddenly turned
round upon them. It is probable that at this juncture Saul went
into Arabia for several years (Ga 1:12-24). Luke makes no
mention of this important event, but he leaves ample room for it
at this point.
9:23 {When many days were fulfilled} (\H•s epl•rounto h•merai
hikanai\). Imperfect passive indicative of \pl•ro•\, old and
common verb, were in process of being fulfilled. How "many"
(considerable, \hikanai\, common word for a long period) Luke
does not say nor does he say that Saul spent all of this period
in Damascus, as we know from Ga 1:16-18 was not the case. Paul
there states definitely that he went away from Damascus to Arabia
and returned there before going back to Jerusalem and that the
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