Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagoguesSaul's immediate action following his conversion highlights the transformative power of his encounter with Christ. The synagogues were central to Jewish religious life, serving as places of worship, teaching, and community gathering. Saul's choice to begin his ministry there underscores his initial mission to the Jewish people, aligning with
Romans 1:16, where the gospel is "first to the Jew." This setting also reflects Saul's background as a Pharisee, familiar with Jewish law and customs, making the synagogues a strategic starting point for his ministry.
declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
This declaration is significant as it directly addresses the identity of Jesus, affirming His divine nature. The title "Son of God" is a messianic term rooted in Old Testament prophecy, such asPsalm 2:7, which speaks of the Messiah as God's anointed king. Saul's proclamation aligns with the early church's teaching about Jesus' divinity, as seen in passages likeJohn 1:34 andMatthew 16:16. This bold statement would have been controversial and provocative in the synagogues, challenging traditional Jewish expectations of the Messiah and asserting Jesus' unique relationship with God. Saul's message reflects a deep theological understanding that Jesus is not merely a teacher or prophet but the divine Son, central to the Christian faith.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Saul (Paul)Formerly a persecutor of Christians, Saul experienced a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. After his conversion, he became a fervent preacher of the Gospel.
2.
SynagoguesThese were Jewish places of worship and community gathering. Saul, being a Jew and a former Pharisee, had access to these venues to preach.
3.
Proclamation of JesusSaul's immediate action after his conversion was to declare Jesus as the Son of God, a significant shift from his previous beliefs.
Teaching Points
Immediate ObedienceSaul's immediate proclamation of Jesus after his conversion highlights the importance of prompt obedience to God's calling. When God reveals truth to us, we should act on it without delay.
Transformation Power of the GospelSaul's radical transformation from persecutor to preacher demonstrates the transformative power of the Gospel. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace.
Boldness in WitnessingSaul's boldness in declaring Jesus as the Son of God in the synagogues, places where he once sought to persecute Christians, challenges us to be bold in our witness for Christ, even in difficult or hostile environments.
Understanding Jesus' IdentityRecognizing Jesus as the Son of God is central to the Christian faith. This acknowledgment is foundational for our relationship with Him and our understanding of His work in our lives.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Acts 9:20?
2.How does Acts 9:20 demonstrate the power of a transformed life in Christ?
3.What can we learn from Saul's immediate preaching about our own witness for Jesus?
4.How does Saul's boldness in Acts 9:20 inspire your personal evangelism efforts?
5.What Old Testament prophecies support Saul's declaration that "He is the Son of God"?
6.How can you apply Saul's example to share Christ in your community today?
7.How does Acts 9:20 demonstrate the transformative power of faith in Jesus?
8.Why is Saul's immediate preaching in Acts 9:20 significant for early Christian evangelism?
9.What does Acts 9:20 reveal about the identity of Jesus as the Son of God?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 9?
11.Acts 9:20–28: Is there historical or archaeological evidence outside the Bible supporting Paul’s quick acceptance by early Christians?
12.What led to Paul's imprisonment?
13.If Acts 14:21–23 truly records church appointments in multiple cities, why is there no archaeological evidence of these early churches?
14.What happened during Saul's Damascus Road conversion?What Does Acts 9:20 Mean
Saul promptly– The word “promptly” in the captures how little time passes between Paul’s baptism (Acts 9:18–19) and his public ministry.
– His quick obedience mirrors his later words, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19).
– Scripture consistently commends immediate response to God’s call: Levi leaves everything to follow Jesus at once (Luke 5:27–28), and Paul himself speaks of preaching Christ “immediately” after God revealed His Son to him (Galatians 1:15–16).
– A changed heart naturally produces swift action (2 Corinthians 5:17). When God saves, delay is out of place.
began to proclaim Jesus– Paul’s first instinct is proclamation, not private reflection. Like Philip in Samaria who “proclaimed the Christ” (Acts 8:5), Paul centers his message on Jesus Himself, not on abstract ideas.
– The focus is the Person, aligning with Paul’s later statement, “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23).
– His own dramatic conversion becomes the platform for witnessing, similar to John who writes, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you” (1 John 1:3).
– True faith is never silent; it overflows in words that direct others to the Savior (2 Corinthians 4:5).
in the synagogues– Paul goes first to the very places where he once hunted believers (Acts 9:1–2). Grace turns former battlegrounds into mission fields.
– The synagogue was the heart of Jewish life; speaking there shows Paul’s commitment to reach his fellow Israelites, fulfilling “to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16).
– This pattern continues throughout Acts (13:5; 17:1–2): he reasons from Scripture, meeting people where they are.
– Jesus had foretold that His followers would be witnesses “in the synagogues” (Matthew 10:17), and Paul’s ministry confirms that promise.
declaring, “He is the Son of God.”– Paul’s message is crystal clear: Jesus isn’t merely a teacher or prophet; He is God’s unique Son.
– This confession aligns with Peter’s earlier declaration, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
– John revolves his Gospel around the same truth so that readers may believe “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31).
– Paul’s preaching of Jesus’ divine Sonship immediately elevates Christ above all human religious categories (Hebrews 1:2–3).
– The statement is daring in a synagogue context, yetActs 9:22 says Paul “grew stronger and confounded the Jews… proving that Jesus is the Christ,” showing Scripture itself supports the claim (e.g.,Psalm 2:7;Isaiah 9:6).
summaryActs 9:20 pictures the newborn apostle moving straight from conversion to bold witness. His immediate obedience, Christ-centered message, strategic choice of venue, and uncompromising proclamation of Jesus’ divine Sonship model what authentic Christian testimony looks like: swift, focused on Jesus, aimed at people where they are, and anchored in the truth that the risen Lord is truly the Son of God.
(20)
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues.--The "straightway" as interpreted by the inference drawn in the previous Note, must be taken to refer to the Apostle's first public appearance in the synagogues of Damascus after his return from Arabia. The tense of the verb implies that the work was continued for some length of time. What he had to proclaim was, first, that the Christ was actually and verily the Son of God no less than the Son of David; and, secondly, that Jesus of Nazareth had been shown to be the Christ. The better MSS., however, give the reading,
preached Jesus. The line of reasoning we may assume to have been identical with that of
Acts 13:16-41. It is not without interest to remember here also that the Samaritans had a synagogue of their own at Damascus, and that he may thus have preached to them, so following in the footprints of Philip and taking his first step in the great work of breaking down the barriers that divided Israel from the world.
Verse 20. -
In the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus for he
preached Christ in the synagogues, A.V. and T.R. The preponderance of manuscript authority, and the
ὄνομα of ver. 21, and the
ὅτι οϋτός ἐστιν ὁ Ξριστός of ver. 22, seem conclusive in favor of
Jesus rather than
Christ. As regards the expression
straightway, we must understand it as descriptive of Saul's action upon his return from Arabia. Is it possible that St. Luke uses it with the same meaning as he may have heard St. Paul use it in when speaking of his Damascus preaching, in the same sense as St. Paul actually does speak in
Galatians 1:17, viz. as expressing that he did not wait for authority from the apostles, but at once, fresh from the Divine call, and having a direct commission from Christ himself, entered upon his apostolic ministry? If the Epistle to the Galatians was written A.D. , it would be just about the time that St. Luke joined St. Paul, and might be commencing to collect materials for his history. So that the phrase in the Galatians and the phrase in this twentieth verse might really be the expression of one thought committed to paper by St. Paul on the one hand, and uttered in the ear of Luke on the other. It is a confirmation of this view that in 2 Corinthians, written about the same time, there is also an account of Saul's escape from Damascus
. In the synagogues; the very synagogues (ver. 2) to which the letters of the high priest were addressed, empowering him to arrest either man or woman who called upon the Name of Jesus, and bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem to be tried before the Sanhedrim. No wonder they were amazed.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
[Saul] promptly began to proclaimἐκήρυσσεν(ekēryssen)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2784:To proclaim, herald, preach. Of uncertain affinity; to herald, especially divine truth.JesusἸησοῦν(Iēsoun)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424:Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.theταῖς(tais)Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.synagogues,συναγωγαῖς(synagōgais)Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4864:From sunago; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish 'synagogue'; by analogy, a Christian church.[ declaring ],ὅτι(hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.“Heοὗτός(houtos)Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.isἐστιν(estin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.theὁ(ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.SonΥἱὸς(Huios)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207:A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.of God.”Θεοῦ(Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
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NT Apostles: Acts 9:20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the (Acts of the Apostles Ac) 
