“And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.”
He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.—Saul's chosen controversy partners are the Hellenistic Jews (Greek-speaking diaspora Jews), the same group that opposed Stephen (Acts 6:9). This suggests Saul inherits not Stephen's martyrdom but the mission to reach the very communities that killed the first martyr. The death plot against Saul parallels the death plot against Stephen, extending the persecution pattern.
Church Fathers on Acts 9:29
And he spoke, and disputed with the Hellenists. Acts 9:29 So then the disciples were afraid of him, and the Apostles did not trust him; by this therefore he relieves them of their fear. With the Hellenists: he means those who used the Greek tongue: and this he did, very wisely; for those others, those profound Hebrews had no mind even to see him. But they, it says, went about to slay him: a token, this, of his energy, and triumphant victory, and of their exceeding annoyance…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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