Acts 9:19-22

Acts 9:19-22

[19] And  when he had received  meat,  he was strengthened.  Then  was  certain  days  with  the disciples  which were at  Damascus.  [20] And  straightway  he preached  in  the synagogues,  that  he  the Son  of God.  [21] But  all  that heard  him were amazed,  and  not  this  he that destroyed  them which  called on  name  Jerusalem,  and  came  hither  intent,  that  he might bring  them  bound  unto  the chief priests?  [22] But  Saul  the more  in strength,  and  confounded  the Jews  which  dwelt  at  Damascus,  proving  that  this  very Christ. 

What does Acts 9:19-22 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

How Acts 9:19-20 fit into the chronology of events in Saul"s life is not perfectly clear. They could fit in any number of ways. We should probably understand "immediately" in a general sense. As soon as Saul became a Christian he began to contend that Jesus was the Messiah when he attended synagogue worship, which he did regularly (cf. Acts 13:5; Acts 13:14; Acts 14:1; Acts 17:2; Acts 17:10; Acts 17:17; Acts 18:4; Acts 18:19; Acts 19:8). This proclamation was the result and evidence of his being filled with the Holy Spirit ( Acts 9:17) as well as the result of his conversion.
Saul later wrote that immediately following his conversion he did not consult with others about the Scriptures but went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus ( Galatians 1:15-17). "Arabia" describes the kingdom of the Nabateans that stretched south and east from Damascus beyond Petra. Damascus was in the northwest sector of Arabia. After Saul"s conversion and baptism he needed some time and space for quiet reflection and communion with God. He had to rethink the Scriptures, receive new understanding from the Lord, and revise his Pharisaic theology. Song of Solomon , like Moses, Elijah, and Jesus before him, he retired into the wilderness. These were Saul"s "Arabian nights." [1]
This is the only mention in Acts of someone proclaiming Jesus as the "Son of God" (but cf. Acts 13:33). This fact reflects the clear understanding of Jesus that Saul had even shortly after his conversion. As used in the Old Testament, this title referred to Israel ( Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11:1), Israel"s anointed king ( 2 Samuel 7:14; Psalm 89:26), and Messiah ( Psalm 2:7). Saul recognized that Jesus was the Son of God predicted there. He used this title of Jesus frequently in his epistles ( Romans 1:3-4; Romans 1:9; Romans 5:10; Romans 8:3; Romans 8:29; Romans 8:32; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 15:28; 2 Corinthians 1:19; Galatians 1:16; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 4:4; Galatians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).