Acts 9:25-27

9:25 But his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening ¹  in the wall by lowering him in a basket. ² 

Saul Returns to Jerusalem

9:26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, ³  he attempted to associate ⁴  with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe ⁵  that he was a disciple. 9:27 But Barnabas took ⁶  Saul, ⁷  brought ⁸  him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, that ⁹  the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly ¹⁰  in the name of Jesus.

[9:25]  ¹ tn The opening in the wall is not specifically mentioned here, but the parallel account in 2 Cor 11:33 mentions a “window” or “opening” (θυρίς, quris) in the city wall through which Paul was lowered. One alternative to introducing mention of the opening is to translate Acts 9:25 “they let him down over the wall,” as suggested in L&N 7.61. This option is not employed by many translations, however, because for the English reader it creates an (apparent) contradiction between Acts 9:25 and 2 Cor 11:33. In reality the account here is simply more general, omitting the detail about the window.

[9:25]  ² tn On the term for “basket” used here, see BDAG 940 s.v. σπυρίς.

[9:26]  ³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[9:26]  ⁴ tn Or “join.”

[9:26]  ⁵ tn The participle πιστεύοντες (pisteuonte") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.

[9:27]  ⁵ tn Grk “taking Saul, brought him.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενος (epilabomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[9:27]  ⁶ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[9:27]  ⁷ tn Grk “and brought,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

[9:27]  ⁸ tn Grk “and that,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

[9:27]  ⁹ tn On this verb which is used 7 times in Acts, see BDAG 782 s.v. παρρησιάζομαι 1. See also v. 28.