Acts 9:1

King James Version (KJV)

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Translations

Acts 9:1 - Amplified Bible

MEANWHILE SAUL, still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

Acts 9:1 - American Standard Version

But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Acts 9:1 - Bible in Basic English

But Saul, still burning with desire to put to death the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

Acts 9:1 - Darby Bible

But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest

Acts 9:1 - English Standard Version

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

Acts 9:1 - King James Version

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Acts 9:1 - La Biblia de las Americas

Saulo, respirando todavìa amenazas y muerte contra los discìpulos del Señor, fue al sumo sacerdote,

Acts 9:1 - The Message

All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master’s disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.

Acts 9:1 - New American Standard Bible

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

Acts 9:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Saulo (Pablo), respirando todavìa amenazas y muerte contra los discìpulos del Señor, fue al sumo sacerdote,

Acts 9:1 - World English Bible

But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

Acts 9:1 - Young's Living Translation

And Saul, yet breathing of threatening and slaughter to the disciples of the Lord, having gone to the chief priest,

Acts 9:1 - Additional Comments

Paul was converted around 33-34 AD. See http://www.xenos.org/classes/chronop.htm.
Saul was his Hebrew name, and Paul was his Roman name. He was born in Tarsus, a free city of the Romans, and himself a freeman of that city. His father and mother were both native Jews; therefore he calls himself a Hebrew of the Hebrews; he was of the tribe of Benjamin. His education was in the schools of Tarsus first, which was a little Athens for learning; there he acquainted himself with the philosophy and poetry of the Greeks. Then he was sent to the university at Jerusalem, to study divinity and the Jewish law. His tutor was Gamaliel, an eminent Pharisee. His learning was great. He had a trade (tent-making), which was common with those among the Jews who were bred scholars, for the earning of their keep, and the avoiding of idleness.
Breathing - deep, agitating emotion as you breathe rapidly & violently when you feel this way. And he breathed the threats and murder, meaning it sustained him, and was part of everything he did.
Paul intensely desired to kill as many Christians as possible (men or women - vs 2). He tried to get them to blaspheme (26:11) so he could kill them, thinking he was doing a service to God. This is similar to terrorists who kill innocent people thinking they are serving God. This was foretold by Jesus in John 16:2.
Paul went to the high priest in Jerusalem - Annas (4:6). Saul had the heritage and knowledge and power to make him into probably the most feared anti-Christian in that day.
Why was Saul to vehemently against Christians? I'm guessing he had a passion to uphold the things of God and for truth. This passion was misguided, and when he learned the truth, this same passion was what enabled him to become so great for God. Everything he did, he did with passion. What are you passionate about? What would it take for you to become great for God?

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