Acts 9:19

Modern

…and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Traditional

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Literal

…and having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was some days with the disciples in Damascus.

Latin

Et cum accepisset cibum, confortatus est. Fuit autem cum discipulis qui erant Damasci per dies aliquot.

Greek

English

…and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road is central to the story in Acts. Luke tells the story three times (also 22:1–21; 26:1–29). Paul (Saul) mentions this experience several times in his letters (1 Corinthians 15:8–10; Galatians 1:11–17; Philippians 3:4–11; see 1 Timothy 1:12–17). Saul’s conversion was his call as a prophet and commission as an apostle (Acts 9:15; 22:15, 21; 26:15–18). No one is beyond God's power to reach, save, and use for holy purposes. Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). God prepared Paul through his training, childhood, and experience to play a unique role in proclaiming the gospel to the wider world as the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13; see 1 Corinthians 15:9; 2 Corinthians 12:11–12; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 3:8).

Theme notes and profiles

Acts 26:20
First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
Galatians 1:17
…nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
1 Samuel 30:12
…a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. So he ate and was revived, for he had not had any food or water for three days and three nights.
Ecclesiastes 9:7
Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:
Acts 11:26
…and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
Acts 27:33–36
Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.
1 Samuel 10:10–12
When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied along with them.

Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles, author of many NT epistles

Damascus: Ancient city, capital of Syria, important in biblical history