Acts 13:9But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,
The setting
Cyprus, ~47 AD. Paul confronts Bar-Jesus, a false prophet deceiving the Roman governor Sergius Paulus in Paphos, Cyprus.
The emotion here: righteous anger mixed with supernatural boldness
The original word
atenisas (ἀτενίσας) — to fix one's gaze intently, like a laser focus of divine authority
Why it matters
This is the first recorded miracle performed by Paul, marking his emergence as lead apostle
Read with care
What most readers miss in Acts 13:9
Luke switches from 'Saul' to 'Paul' in this exact moment - his ministry identity is born
Common misconceptionPeople think Paul was just angry, but Luke emphasizes he was 'filled with the Holy Spirit' - this was divine confrontation, not human emotion.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Acts 13:9
Bible Genome reading
Acts 13:9 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Acts 13:9 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. The setting is a royal palace. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 15% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include confrontation, power. Notable phrases: Paul filled with the Holy Spirit; fastened his eyes on him.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Acts 13:9 mean to you, today?
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