2 Corinthians 11:32

2 Corinthians 11:32

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

a. NLT: When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me.

b. NIV: In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.

c. YLT: In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king was watching the city of the Damascenes, wishing to seize me,

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  In Damascus, the city governor acting under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus [on purpose] to arrest me,

e. Worrell Translation: In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarder the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me;

f. Wuest Translation: In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king kept a constant guard over the city of the Damascenes in an effort to apprehend me,

1. “In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:”

a. In [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

b. Damascus [Strong: 1154 Damaskos dam-as-kos' of Hebrew origin (1834); Damascus, a city of Syria:--Damascus.]

c. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. governor [Strong: 1481 ethnarches eth-nar'-khace from 1484 and 746; the governor (not king) of a district:--ethnarch.]

e. [under] Aretas [Strong: 702 Aretas ar-et'-as of foreign origin; Aretas, an Arabian:--Aretas.]

f. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

g. king [Strong: 935 basileus bas-il-yooce' probably from 939 (through the notion of a foundation of power); a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively):--king.]

h. kept…with a garrison [Strong: 5432 phroureo froo-reh'-o from a compound of 4253 and 3708; to be a watcher in advance, i.e. to mount guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates); figuratively, to hem in, protect:--keep (with a garrison).]

i. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

j. city [Strong: 4172 polis pol'-is probably from the same as 4171, or perhaps from 4183; a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size):--city.]

k. of the Damascenes [Strong: 1153 Damaskenos dam-as-kay-nos' from 1154; a Damascene or inhabitant of Damascus:--Damascene.]

l. desirous [Strong: 2309 thelo thel'-o or ethelo eth-el'-o, in certain tenses theleo thel-eh'-o, and etheleo eth-el-eh'-o, which are otherwise obsolete apparently strengthened from the alternate form of 138; to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas 1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in:--desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)).]

m. to apprehend [Strong: 4084 piazo pee-ad'-zo probably another form of 971; to squeeze, i.e. seize (gently by the hand (press), or officially (arrest), or in hunting (capture)):--apprehend, catch, lay hand on, take.]

n. me [Strong: 3165 me meh a shorter (and probably originally) from of 1691; me:--I, me, my.]

1). This is reflecting back during the first few years after Paul’s conversion. Saul/Paul spent 3 years in Damascus where his preaching became so convincing and irrefutable they planned to kill him. The governor’s name is not given but the king’s name is. It appears the Jewish community convinced the governor to arrest Saul/Paul.

a). Acts 9:22-25  But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

9:23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

9:24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.