Acts 9:2

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

He requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

ᾘτήσατο παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπιστολὰς εἰς Δαμασκὸν πρὸς τὰς συναγωγάς, ὅπως ἐάν τινας εὕρῃ τῆς ὁδοῦ, ὄντας ἄνδρας τε καὶ γυναῖκας, δεδεμένους ἀγάγῃ εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ.

Transliteration

ētēsato from him epistolas to Damaskon pros the synagōgas, hopōs if any he heurē of the hodou, being andras both and gynaikas, dedemenous he might agagē to Ierousalēm.

Grammar Details

• *ētēsato*: aorist, middle, 3rd singular - asked/requested for himself
• *epistolas*: accusative, feminine, plural - letters/epistles
• *Damaskon*: accusative, feminine, singular - Damascus (place name)
• *pros*: preposition + accusative - to/toward
• *synagōgas*: accusative, feminine, plural - synagogues/assemblies
• *hopōs*: conjunction - so that/in order that
• *heurē*: aorist subjunctive, active, 3rd singular - he might find
• *hodou*: genitive, feminine, singular - way/road/path
• *andras*: accusative, masculine, plural - men
• *gynaikas*: accusative, feminine, plural - women
• *dedemenous*: perfect participle, passive, accusative, plural - having been bound/tied
• *agagē*: aorist subjunctive, active, 3rd singular - he might lead/bring

Word Meanings

• *ētēsato*: asked/requested/demanded for himself
• *epistolas*: letters/epistles/written authorizations
• *hodou*: way/road/path/journey (metonym for Christian teaching)
• *dedemenous*: bound/tied/chained/imprisoned
• *agagē*: lead/bring/carry/conduct

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And requested letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  and desyred of him letters to Damasco to ye synagoges: that yf he founde eny of this waye whether they were men or wemen he myght bringe them bounde vnto Ierusalem.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and desyred of him letters to Damascon vnto the synagoges, that yf he foude eny of this waye (whether they were men or wemen) he mighte brynge the bounde vnto Ierusalem.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the Synagogues, that if he found any that were of that way (either men or women) hee might bring them bound vnto Hierusalem.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And desired of him letters to carrye to Damascus, to the synagogues: that yf he founde any of this waye, whether they were men or women, he myght bryng them bounde vnto Hierusalem.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  did ask from him letters to Damascus, unto the synagogues, that if he may find any being of the way, both men and women, he may bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And made a request for letters from him to the Synagogues of Damascus, so that if there were any of the Way there, men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

• World English Bible (2000)

  and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Referenced Verses

• Acts 19:9 : 9 But when some became stubborn and refused to believe, speaking evil of the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them, took the disciples with him, and reasoned daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
• Acts 19:23 : 23 During that time, a great disturbance arose concerning the Way.
• Acts 22:4-5 : 4 I persecuted this Way to the point of death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison. 5 As the high priest and the council of elders can testify, I even obtained letters from them to the brothers in Damascus and went there to bring back these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
• Acts 24:14 : 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in the Law and written in the Prophets.
• Acts 24:22 : 22 Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the proceedings and said, 'When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.'
• Acts 9:14 : 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.
• Acts 13:14-15 : 14 Passing through Perga, they arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath, they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, 'Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, speak.'
• Acts 18:25 : 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
• Acts 26:12 : 12 In this pursuit, I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests.
• Acts 28:17-22 : 17 After three days, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, 'Brothers, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.' 18 They examined me and wanted to release me because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. 19 But when the Jews objected, I felt compelled to appeal to Caesar—not because I had any accusation to bring against my own people. 20 For this reason, I have asked to see you and to speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain. 21 They replied, 'We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers who came here reported or said anything bad about you.' 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.
• Esth 3:8-9 : 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and separated among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws differ from those of every other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not beneficial for the king to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be written to destroy them, and I will weigh out ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out the work, to be deposited in the king’s treasuries." 10 So the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 The king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, as well as the people, to do with them as it seems good to you." 12 On the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s scribes were summoned and an edict was written according to all that Haman commanded. It was addressed to the satraps of the king, to the governors of each province, and to the officials of every people, to each province in its script and to each people in its language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces, ordering the destruction, killing, and annihilation of all the Jews—young and old, children and women—in a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
• Ps 82:2-4 : 2 How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah. 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
• Acts 6:9 : 9 However, some members of the Synagogue of Freedmen (as it was called), consisting of Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia, rose up and began to debate with Stephen.
• Acts 7:19 : 19 This king dealt deceitfully with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to abandon their infants, so they would not survive.