Act 9:13 | RWP | e4.org | How much evil ( οσα κακα ). How many evil things. Saul's reputation ( ) as a persecutor had preceded him. To thy saints ( τοις αγιοις ). Dative of disadvantage. "Used here for the first time as a name for the Christians" (Knowling), but it came to be the common and normal (Hackett) term for followers of Christ ( , ; ; , etc.). This common word is from το αγος , religious awe or reverence and is applied to God's name ( ), God's temple ( ), God's people as set apart for God ( ; ; , etc.). Ananias in his ignorance saw in Saul only the man with an evil reputation while Jesus saw in Saul the man transformed by grace to be a messenger of mercy.

‏ Acts 9:13

How much evil ( οσα κακα ). How many evil things. Saul's reputation (26:10) as a persecutor had preceded him.

To thy saints ( τοις αγιοις ). Dative of disadvantage. "Used here for the first time as a name for the Christians" (Knowling), but it came to be the common and normal (Hackett) term for followers of Christ (9:32, 41; 26:10; 1Co 1:2, etc.). This common word is from το αγος, religious awe or reverence and is applied to God's name (Lu 1:49), God's temple (Mt 24:15), God's people as set apart for God (Lu 1:70; 2:23; Ro 1:7, etc.). Ananias in his ignorance saw in Saul only the man with an evil reputation while Jesus saw in Saul the man transformed by grace to be a messenger of mercy.