Bible Strands
Acts 9:23
After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records a moment in Damascus when local Jewish authorities respond to Saul’s successful preaching that Jesus is the Christ. This occurs after an extended period of Saul’s public ministry that intensified opposition.
The words — The verb συνεβουλεύσαντο (sunebouleusanto) literally means "plotted together," denoting a coordinated decision. The phrase ἐπληροῦντο ἡμέραι ἱκαναί (eplērounto hēmerai hikanai) indicates that a sufficient or considerable amount of time elapsed before the conspiracy formed.
The thread — This sequence of prolonged ministry followed by targeted hostility appears in Galatians 1:17, where Saul’s time in Arabia and Damascus precedes his return to Damascus. The pattern of Jewish opposition to gospel proclamation continues in Acts 13:50, where Jewish leaders incite city officials against Paul, and aligns with the broader scriptural record of religious authorities opposing God’s messengers as noted in 1 Thessalonians 2:15.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that effective proclamation naturally provokes organized resistance. It demands a realistic assessment of the opposition faced by faithful witnesses without minimizing the threat or spiritualizing the danger.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
Cross-references
- 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 Thessalonians 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
- Acts 13:50 The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.
- Acts 14:19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.
- Joshua 10:1 Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction—doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them.
- Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
- Acts 9:16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
- Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
- Acts 22:21 Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
- 2 Corinthians 11:26 In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,