Acts 9:2

Acts 9:2

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.

a. ASV: 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.

  

b. YLT: 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.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus [authorizing him], so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way [of life as determined by faith in Jesus Christ], he might bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.

1. “And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues…”

a. And desired [Strong: 154 aitéō, ahee-teh'-o; of uncertain derivation; to ask (in genitive case):—ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.]

b. of [Strong: 3844 pará, par-ah'; a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):—above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, × friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, × his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side…by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with.]

c. him [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. letters [Strong: 1992 epistolḗ, ep-is-tol-ay'; from G1989; a written message:—"epistle," letter.]

e. to [Strong: 1519 eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:—(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, +continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, +perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.]

  

g. Damascus [Strong: 1154 Damaskós, dam-as-kos'; of Hebrew origin (H1834); Damascus, a city of Syria:—Damascus.]

h. to [Strong: 4314 prós, pros; a strengthened form of G4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):—about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, × at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), × together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]

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. synagogues [Strong: 4864 synagōgḗ, soon-ag-o-gay'; from (the reduplicated form of) G4863; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish "synagogue" (the meeting or the place); by analogy, a Christian church:—assembly, congregation, synagogue.]

2. “...that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women…”

a. that [Strong: 3704  hópōs, hop'-oce; from G3739 and G4459; what(-ever) how, i.e. in the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual):—because, how, (so) that, to, when.]

b. if [Strong: 1437 eán, eh-an'; from G1487 and G302; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty:—before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever).]

c. [he] found [Strong: 2147 heurískō, hyoo-ris'-ko; a prolonged form of a primary εὕρω heúrō hyoo'-ro, which (together with another cognate form) εὑρέω heuréō hyoo-reh'-o is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect; to find (literally or figuratively):—find, get, obtain, perceive, see.]

d. any [Strong: 5100 tìs, tis; an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:—a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), ×wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).]

e. of this [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. way [Strong: 3598 hodós, hod-os'; apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively, a mode or means:—journey, (high-)way.]

h. whether [Strong: 5037 té, teh; a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of G2532):—also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.]

i. they were [Strong: 5607 ṓn, oan; present participle of G1510; being:—be, come, have.]

j. men [Strong: 435 anḗr, an'-ayr; a primary word (compare G444); a man (properly as an individual male):—fellow, husband, man, sir.]

k. or [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

l. women [Strong: 1135 gynḗ, goo-nay'; probably from the base of G1096; a woman; specially, a wife:—wife, woman.]

3. “...he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”

a. [he might] bring [them]  [Strong: 71 ágō, ag'-o; a primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specially) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce:—be, bring (forth), carry, (let) go, keep, lead away, be open.]

b. bound [Strong: 1210 déō, deh'-o; a primary verb; to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively):—bind, be in bonds, knit, tie, wind.]

c. unto [Strong: 1519 eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:—(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, +continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, +perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.]

d. Jerusalem [Strong: 2419 Hierousalḗm, hee-er-oo-sal-ame'; of Hebrew origin (H3389); Hierusalem (i.e. Jerushalem), the capitol of Palestine:—Jerusalem.]

1). This was basically authority to go to a synagogue in a foreign city, and bring anyone who were involved in this sect “this way”, back to Jerusalem to stand trial before the Sanhedrin.

2). F. F. Bruce, Paul Apostle Of The Heart set Free, p.72. “When the Jewish state won independence under the Hasmoneans, it had powerful patrons in the Romans, who let the countries surrounding Judea know this and demanded that Judea should be granted the rights of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. Thus, a letter delivered in 142 B.C. concludes with the [following] requirement [from 1 Maccabees 15:21]. Therefore if any scoundrels have fled to you from their country [Judea], hand them over to the high priest Simon, so that he may punish them according to their law.”