Acts 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
3 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
κύριος
Lord
G2962
κύριος
Lord
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
6 of 28
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
τί
what
G5101
τί
what
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
7 of 28
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
θέλεις
wilt thou have
G2309
θέλεις
wilt thou have
Strong's:
G2309
Word #:
9 of 28
to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas g1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations),
ποιεῖν
do
G4160
ποιεῖν
do
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
10 of 28
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὅ
G3588
ὅ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κύριος
Lord
G2962
κύριος
Lord
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
13 of 28
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
πρός
said unto
G4314
πρός
said unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
14 of 28
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
15 of 28
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἀνάστηθι
Arise
G450
ἀνάστηθι
Arise
Strong's:
G450
Word #:
16 of 28
to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
17 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
19 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πόλιν
the city
G4172
πόλιν
the city
Strong's:
G4172
Word #:
21 of 28
a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
22 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τί
what
G5101
τί
what
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
25 of 28
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
Cross References
Acts 22:10And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.Acts 10:32Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.Acts 10:22And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.Acts 26:16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;Romans 10:3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.Romans 5:20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:Romans 10:20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.Romans 7:9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.Philippians 2:12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Historical Context
Christ directed Saul into Damascus where Ananias, warned by vision (vv.10-16), would baptize him and restore his sight. This required Saul to trust the very Christians he came to arrest. The three-day gap between encounter and Ananias' visit allowed time for prayer and reflection. Note: some manuscripts omit the verse 6 questions, placing them at verse 5.
Questions for Reflection
- What question has God left unanswered in your life, requiring you to obey the last instruction before receiving the next?
- How does Saul's immediate submission ('what wilt thou have me to do?') model conversion's proper response?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?—Saul's question marks complete surrender: the persecutor becomes disciple, submitting his will to Christ's direction. The Greek 'tremōn' (trembling) indicates physical fear and awe before divine majesty. What wilt thou have me to do? (τί με θέλεις ποιῆσαι;) shows immediate readiness to obey, abandoning his Damascus mission for Christ's alternative plan. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do—Christ provides only initial instructions, requiring Saul to walk by faith. God often reveals his will incrementally, testing obedience at each step.