Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.
- BSB When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
- NKJV When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
- NASB Now when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
- NLT When the believers heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
For his safety the believers sent Saul to Tarsus, his home city. The church wisely protects him for future service.
Overview
Sensing the danger, the brothers escort Saul to Caesarea and send him home to Tarsus. This withdrawal is not retreat but providential preservation for the wider mission ahead. God times Saul's seasons of ministry and waiting according to his sovereign plan.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Acts 8:40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
- Acts 9:11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
- Acts 11:25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
- Gal 1:21Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
- Acts 17:15And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
- Acts 9:24–25But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
- Acts 17:10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
- Matt 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
- Matt 16:13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 9:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.