“But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.—Saul's growth in power (dynamis) is both pneumatic (Spirit-empowerment) and intellectual; his rabbinical training now serves the gospel. He 'proves' (symbibazō, 'brings together,' 'demonstrates') from Jewish Scripture that Jesus fulfills messianic expectations. This pattern—taking the opponent's own textual tradition and showing how it testifies to Christ—becomes his lifelong apologetic method.
Church Fathers on Acts 9:22
And he was with the disciples which were at Damascus certain days. And straightway in the synagogues he preached Jesus, that He is the Son of God. Acts 9:20 See, straightway he was a teacher in the synagogues. He was not ashamed of the change, was not afraid while the very things in which he was glorious afore-time, the same he destroyed. Even from his first appearance on the stage here was a man, death-dealing, ready for deeds of blood: do you see what a manifest sign (was…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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