What Does Acts 9:29 Mean in the King James?
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
In Jesus’ name describes the nature Paul speaks from, and the verse shows that carrying it does not shield him from violence.
THE MEANING
This verse speaks to the moment when your open witness carries the nature of Jesus. It holds that witness beside the danger it meets: the Grecians seek to kill him. Being associated with Jesus does not make a person immune to violence.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that speaking in Jesus’ name guarantees physical safety: here, the name marks the nature of the witness while lethal opposition remains real.
THE ROOT
ὄνομα
onoma
GROWS FROM
ὀνομ-
onom-
Name or designation; in use, the identity, reputation, or authority carried by the named person.
Here, being in the name of the Lord Jesus points to speech aligned with and representing who he is, not a verbal charm. The verse keeps the consequence plain: that witness meets an attempt to kill the speaker.
ALSO GROWS
onomazō: to name or mention
ὀνομάζω
The same word family carries the act of naming, linking the name to the person being represented.
onomastos: named or renowned
ὀνομαστός
A name can also carry the reputation attached to a person, illuminating how speaking in Jesus’ name represents his nature.
παρρησιαζόμενος
parrēsiazomenos
GROWS FROM
παρρησία
parrēsia
Openness or freedom to speak plainly.
“boldly” in this verse is parrēsiazomenos. The boldness here is open speech, not hidden conviction or a private formula. That openness is set directly beside the attempt to silence the speaker.
ALSO GROWS
parrēsia: openness or freedom of speech
παρρησία
The noun names the quality carried by Paul’s open speaking.
parrēsiazomai: to speak openly or boldly
παρρησιάζομαι
This verb is the word family of the speech described in the verse.
συνεζήτει
synezētei
GROWS FROM
ζητέω
zēteō
To seek or inquire; with σύν (syn), to engage together in inquiry or discussion.
The English “disputed” foregrounds conflict, while the Greek word retains the sense of inquiry and discussion. The next clause makes clear that this exchange does not stay harmless: the response becomes an attempt at killing.
ALSO GROWS
zēteō: to seek or inquire
ζητέω
This is the underlying verb carried within the word for disputing.
zētēsis: inquiry or questioning
ζήτησις
The related noun keeps the exchange within the language of seeking and questioning.
syzētēsis: discussion or dispute
συζήτησις
This related form shows how shared inquiry can also become contentious discussion.
THE PATTERN
Open witness to what is resisted can be recognized by some and make the speaker a target for others.
Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.THE THREAD
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.Jesus describes his name as something manifested, made visible in who he is and how he speaks. Acts 9:29 shows that name carried into open witness, with the danger of that witness left plainly in view.
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