Acts 9:14

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) All that call on thy name.—Here again we have to trace the growth of a new terminology. The description of the disciples of the Lord Jesus as those who called upon or invoked His name, had its origin in the words of Joel cited by St. Peter (Acts 2:21), and afterwards by St. Paul (Romans 10:13). It is used again in Acts 9:21, and afterwards in 1Corinthians 1:2; 2Timothy 2:22. It may be noted further (1) that the same word is used of calling upon the Father (1Peter 1:17), and of calling on Christ (here and Acts 7:59); and (2) that this also, like the term “saints” discussed in the fore going Note, passed from Ananias to St. Paul.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:10-22 A good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to Christ's feet with those words, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And never did Christ leave any who were brought to that. Behold, the proud Pharisee, the unmerciful oppressor, the daring blasphemer, prayeth! And thus it is even now, and with the proud infidel, or the abandoned sinner. What happy tidings are these to all who understand the nature and power of prayer, of such prayer as the humbled sinner presents for the blessings of free salvation! Now he began to pray after another manner than he had done; before, he said his prayers, now, he prayed them. Regenerating grace sets people on praying; you may as well find a living man without breath, as a living Christian without prayer. Yet even eminent disciples, like Ananias, sometimes stagger at the commands of the Lord. But it is the Lord's glory to surpass our scanty expectations, and show that those are vessels of his mercy whom we are apt to consider as objects of his vengeance. The teaching of the Holy Spirit takes away the scales of ignorance and pride from the understanding; then the sinner becomes a new creature, and endeavours to recommend the anointed Saviour, the Son of God, to his former companions.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I have heard by many ... - This was in the vision, Acts 9:10. The passage of such a train of thoughts through the mind was perfectly natural at the command to go and search out Saul. There would instantly occur all that had been heard of his fury in persecution; and the expression here may indicate the state of a mind amazed that such a one should need his counsel, and afraid, perhaps, of entrusting himself to one thus bent on persecution. All this evidently passed in the dream or vision of Ananias, and perhaps cannot be considered as any deliberate unwillingness to go to him. It is clear, however, that such thoughts should have been banished, and that he should have gone at once to the praying Saul. When Christ commands, we should suffer no suggestion of our own thoughts, and no apprehension of our own danger, to interfere.

By many - Probably many who had fled from persecution, and had taken refuge in Damascus. It is also evident Acts 9:14 that Ananias had been apprised, perhaps by letters from the Christians at Jerusalem, of the purpose which Saul had in view in now going to Damascus.

To thy saints - Christians; called saints ἅγιοι hagioi because they are holy, or consecrated to God.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. here he hath authority, &c.—so that the terror not only of the great persecutor's name, but of this commission to Damascus, had travelled before him from the capital to the doomed spot.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Here Ananias shows the strengh of his excuse; for flesh and blood cried in him, as in Moses, Exodus 4:13, Send by him whom thou wilt send.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And here he hath authority from the chief priests,.... His fury and madness against the saints did not stop at Jerusalem, but he had received a commission from the sanhedrim to go to Damascus, where he now was:

to bind all that call on thy name; to take up all such persons and put them in bonds, and carry them bound to Jerusalem, whom he should find either praying to Christ, as God, as the first Christians used to do, and which is no inconsiderable proof of the deity of Christ; or professing the name of Christ, or were called by it.

Geneva Study Bible

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 9:14. ὧδε hic et huc (Blass), Acts 9:21—τοὺς ἐπικ. τὸ ὄνομά σου—note the repeated pronoun and compare 1 Corinthians 1:2 s where ἐπικ. is closely joined with ἄγιοι. and on the whole phrase see above Acts 2:21

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

14. all that call on thy name] To call on Christ is the same as to be a believer in Him. The expression is used as an apposition to “saints” in 1 Corinthians 1:2, and thence we see what in the Pauline language was meant by the word “saints.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 9:14. Τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους τὸ ὄνομά σου, who call upon Thy name) A description of Christians: Acts 9:21; 1 Corinthians 1:2. By this phrase the LXX. for the most part express that Hebrew one בשם קרא.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - Upon for on, A.V. That call upon thy name. So also ver. 21; Romans 10:12, 13; 1 Corinthians 1:2; and above, Acts 7:59, this same phrase describes the believer who makes his prayer to the Lord Jesus and trusts in his Name for salvation. Acts 9:14