Acts Chapter 9 - Charles
In chapter 9 we see the miraculous conversion of Saul.
Interestingly the name "Saul" means 'desired.'
At this point in time... what Saul was doing to the believers... he was anything but desired.
☆ Acts 9:1...
"And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest.."
Saul was a very nasty little man, making threats with every breath that he took and was eager to destroy every Christian.
He was present at the stoning of Stephen, and he would have heard all that Stephen said...
□ "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you."
□ "Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of Whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."
Saul was a Pharisee and he would have been very angry along with all the other Pharisees and Sadducees, hearing what Stephen had said against them.
Saul went to the high priest in Jerusalem.
☆ Acts 9:2...
"And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem."
He made a special request for letters addressed to the synagogues of Damascus requiring their cooperation in the persecution of all believers found there, both men and women, that he could take away in chains and bring them back to Jerusalem.
Saul was very zealous in what he did to the Christians.
"if he found any of this way"... this is an interesting phrase, particularly the words "of this way." He doesn't use the term Christian or believer... but those of this way.
The way of the Lord, implies the whole of the worship due to Him, and prescribed by Himself. The way or path in which He wills men to walk, that they may get safely through life, and finally attain everlasting happinres.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Saul is an interesting character with the following background...
☆ Philippians 3:5-6.
"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel (a Jew), of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church. Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."
☆ Acts 22:3...
"He was born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel (a highly respected and honoured Rabbi), and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God..."
☆ Acts 9:3...
"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven..."
Saul's life is about to do a complete about turn.
God has him earmarked for something he could and would never ever have imagined.
Saul was journeying and getting very close to his destination (Damascus), when suddenly a bright light from heaven shone all around him.
Saul literally saw the light and... is about to spiritually see the light!
☆ Acts 9:4...
"And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
The very startled Saul must have been travelling on a horse, because he fell to the ground and... in the midst of that extremely bright light...
he heard an audible voice saying to him...
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
When you touch and hurt God's kids... you touch and hurt God.
All of Saul's ravings and rantings against the believers was against God as well.
So... here we have God bailing up Saul.
☆ Acts 9:5...
"And he said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus Whom you persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.'"
Saul replied, "Who are You Lord?"
The Lord answered saying, "I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the pricks"...
That unusual expression simply means, "You can't continue resisting me without getting hurt... you won't win!"
Jesus is saying, that,
should Saul go on to persecute Him and His people, to oppose His Gospel, in doctrine and miracles, he will find himself on this issue greatly hurt by it, and can not rationally expect to succeed against so powerful a Person.
"Who are You Lord?"...
I believe Saul knew straight away Who it was that was challenging him... the Lord God!
If he had asked, "Who are you?"
That would have indicated that he didn't know who it was speaking to him.
But he said, "Who are You Lord?"
The fact he used the word "Lord," tells me he knew exactly Who it was challenging him.
Saul knew what he was doing. He knew that he was persecuting and hurting Christians.
It's obvious that the Lord would be on his case... and He was!
☆ Acts 9:6...
"And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will You have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do."
The Lord certainly had Saul's undivided attention.
Shaking in his boots and completely gobsmacked, Saul asks... "Lord, what do you want me to do?"
Saul probably thought that the Lord would tell him to stop persecuting the Christians. And that's all.
But... the Lord tells him to get up onto his feet and go into the city, where he'll receive further instructions as to what he's to do.
Saul would now be wondering why the Lord couldn't tell him straight away.
Go into the city? What sort of surprise is awaiting him?
God is multi tasking... making sure that several people get into the picture to know what is going to happen to Saul... and help him get there.
To tell Saul only... others would never have believed him.
☆ Acts 9:7...
"And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man."
The men who were with Saul on this journey, stood gobsmacked... mouths wide open.
They all heard the voice speaking to Saul, but saw nobody.
Saul was not making up what he heard. He had several witnesses.
☆ Acts 9:8...
"And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus."
Saul lifted himself off the ground. When he opened his eyes, he could see absolutely nothing.
The men with him, had to lead him by the hand into the city of Damascus.
The first lesson Saul had was in... humility.
☆ Acts 9:9...
"And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink."
For three whole days Saul was without sight... BLIND! During this time he didn't eat or drink. I'd say he would have been in a state of shock, and was wondering what it was that God had in store for him.
The three days of blindness and fasting almost seem to be symbolic of Saul dying to self... before being resurrected to a new life... a new destiny, a new identity in God.
☆ Acts 9:10-12...
"And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
And 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 prays...
And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."
Meanwhile, in down town Damascus, the Lord was doing some further preparations with Saul's "conversion."
In Damascus, there lived a certain disciple by the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to him and told him to... "Go to a street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas... for... a Saul of Tarsus who is praying to me right now.
He has seen you in a vision coming to him and placing your hand on him so he might receive his sight."
☆ Acts 9:13-14...
"Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem:
And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Your name."
I don't think Ananias was very impressed, because he said to the Lord, "I have heard from a lot of sources, how evil this man is, and the awful things he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. He has authority from the chief priests to put into chains all those that call upon Your Name."
☆ Acts 9:15-16...
"But the Lord said unto him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
For I will show him how great things he must suffer for My Name's sake."
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go and do what I say. For Saul is My chosen instrument to take My message to the nations and before kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for Me."
When Saul was present at Stephen's stoning, the executioners placed their garments at his feet.
That act is almost (to me anyway) symbolic of God earmarking Saul to be the replacement (His chosen instrument) for Stephen.
Exactly as God said, Saul who became Paul, took and preached the Word to the nations, before kings and to Israel.
And Paul did suffer much for the Lord... during his ministry he was beaten, stoned, scourged, shipwrecked, put in irons, imprisoned, starved, reviled, run out of cities, defamed...
But look at his attitude now...
☆ Philippians 3:8...
"... I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ..."
☆ Acts 9:17-18...
"And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."
Ananias obeyed the Lord, found the address in Straight Street, went inside and laid hands on Saul saying, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus Who came and appeared to you as you were coming to Damascus, has sent me so... that you would receive back your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."
Instantly (it was as though scales fell from his eyes) Paul could see clearly again and was immediately baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Note how Ananias called Saul... "Brother Saul..." He had a total trust in what the Lord said to him regarding Saul now... even though, Ananias had heard many adverse comments about the man.
And see what the prayer of faith does... instantly he could see... immediately he was baptised and filled with the Holy Ghost.
☆ Acts 9:19...
"And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus."
Saul had a meal and his strength returned.
For a certain number of days he stayed with the disciples who were in the city of Damascus.
☆ Acts 9:20...
"And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God."
What happened next is truly amazing.
Straightway... he preached in the local synagogues... that Christ was the Son of God.
Wow... what a transformation!!
Preaching Christ in the synagogue would have truly riled up the Jews.
But Saul did.
How did he know what to say?... What argument did he present to prove Christ was the Son of God?
Only three days plus earlier, he was throwing into prison those who believed and preached that Christ is the Son of God.
I believe that God miraculously revealed to Saul everything that he needed to know about His Son Jesus.
I believe Saul instantly saw Jesus in all the Old Testament Scriptures. The lights went on...
All the arguments he used to preach against Christ, were transformed by God into arguments to preach for Christ.
This revelation could have been received when he was... "blind and fasting for three days" and/or when he was "with the disciples which were at Damascus"... "for certain days."
In the book of Galatians we are told how Saul "learnt" the bulk of what he preached and taught...
☆ Galatians 1:12...
"For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
☆ Galatians 1:17...
"Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."
The bulk of Paul's teaching... came straight from the Lord Himself... by direct revelation from God.
Teaching not tainted by man's personal thoughts, ideas, biases, views...
Revelation from God cannot be argued with.
[When we witness to the unsaved who appear to be very intellectual and ask difficult questions... bind the "strongman" or "stronghold" of man's intellect and specifically pray and ask God to open their hearts and minds and reveal to them the truths of God's Word.]
☆ Acts 9:21...
"But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this Name in Jerusalem, and came here for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?"
All who heard Saul preach were truly amazed... "Isn’t this the same man who persecuted Jesus' followers so bitterly in Jerusalem?" they asked. "And we understand that he came here to arrest them all and take them in chains to the chief priests in Jerusalem."
Remember, that when God chooses a "vessel" for His purposes, He will prepare and He will input into that "vessel" for His service.
Saul was filled with the Holy Ghost... Who will equip, Who will empower and Who will enable him.
☆ Acts 9:22-23...
"But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him..."
Saul became more and more fervent and persuasive in his preaching, and confused the Jews in Damascus.
They could not argue or debate Saul's proofs that Jesus was indeed Christ the Messiah.
And it wasn't long before the Jews agreed amongst themselves to get Saul and kill him... he had become a threat to them.
It really didn't take long for Saul to suffer the same persecution he had inflicted upon the believers.
☆ Acts 9:24-25...
"But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket."
The Jews watched the city gates day and night with plans to waylay Saul and "take him out."
Fortunately, Saul was aware of their diabolical plans. Discernment? Word of knowledge?
The disciples helped him escape from the city by taking him by night and letting him down the wall hidden in a basket.
The disciples are obviously beginning to feel comfortable with Saul now and are more than prepared to help him escape from the death threats made by the antagonistic Jews.
Saul is proving his worth as a very capable preacher of the Gospel... and teacher of the Word... here in Damascus anyway... because "back at the ranch" in Jerusalem...
☆ Acts 9:26...
"And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple."
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he made an attempt to join up with the disciples. Unfortunately they were all afraid of him and... they didn't believe he was a disciple... instead, they thought he was faking it.
I can understand their suspicions.
Maybe the news of what happened in Damascus hadn't come to these disciples.
You can also see now... Saul's need to be taught by straight revelation from the Lord Himself.
☆ Acts 9:27...
"But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus."
However... along comes Barnabas (son of rest -consolation).
He takes Saul to the apostles and tells them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus... how the Lord spoke to Saul and how Saul had preached so boldly in the Name of Jesus in the synagogues of Damascus.
Barnabas was to become a very reliable and close companion of Saul in his up and coming ministry.
You could call them, "God's Dynamic Duo."
☆ Acts 9:28-29...
"And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him."
Then they accepted Saul, and after that, he was constantly with the believers...
Saul preached boldly and persuasively in the name of the Lord Jesus.
But then some Greek-speaking Jews with whom he had argued, plotted to murder him.
By the way, some stage later, Saul spends time in Greece and Macedonia establishing churches there... at Corinth and Thessalonika.
☆ Acts 9:30...
"Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus."
When the brethren found out about this plot to kill Saul, they took him to Caesarea, and then sent him to his hometown of Tarsus.
Interesting... why to Tarsus?
Well, it is Saul's hometown.
It's very likely he is wanting to share his amazing testimony with the people he knows there.
☆ Acts 9:31...
"Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."
The churches throughout Judaea, Galilee and Samaria now had rest, very likely because the Lord had dealt with Saul the "deadly" persecutor of believers.
For the church... it's now time to regroup, reassess and reset.
Time to grow in "the faith"... and knowing exactly what you believe in.
Good things were taking place...
■ The churches were being edified... growing in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness and blessedness.
■ The believers were walking in the fear of the Lord...
□ Keeping a continually tender conscience...
□ Abhorring all sin...
□ Having respect to every Divine precept...
□ Dreading to offend Him from whom the soul has derived its being and its blessings.
Without this "beneficial" fear of God there never can be any guarded (holy) walking.
The fear of God and holiness go hand in hand.
■ Believers were walking in the comfort of the Holy Ghost...
□ By Him shedding abroad the love of God in their hearts...
□ By reminding the believers of the teachings of Christ...
□ By applying covenant blessings and Gospel promises to their souls...
□ Leading the believers into fellowship with the Father, and with the Son.
□ He refreshed and revived the spirit of God's people.
□ The Holy Spirit comforted...
□ By guiding them into all truth...
■ And... the churches were multiplied.
The number of believers increased... and so were the number of churches.
☆ Acts 9:32-35...
"And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you whole: arise, and make your bed. And he arose immediately.
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord."
Next we see a little of Peter...
And so... Peter traveled from place to place to visit the believers. In his travels, he came to some who were living in the town of Lydda.
There he found a man named Aeneas who was sick with the palsy (a form of paralysis) and had been bedridden eight years.
I would say that his paralysis was in his legs and couldn't stand.
That's why he was in bed those eight years.
Peter spoke to him and said, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ is going to make you whole again. Get up now and make your bed."
Aeneas immediately got up.
All the people living at Lydda and Saron who saw Aeneas' amazing healing, turned to the Lord.
Signs and wonders... miracles... healings... preaching the Gospel... salvations!
There is healing in the precious Name of Jesus.
Healing back then and healing now! ☆ Isaiah 53:5...
Those stripes that Jesus bore for our healing have never ever lost power.
This amazing miracle... brought about amazing salvations.
☆ Acts 9:36-37...
"Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber."
We are now in Joppa, where there lived a certain disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas). She was a believer who was always doing kind things for other people, especially for the poor.
It so happened, that she was very sick and died.
Her friends washed her body and then laid her upstairs.
☆ Acts 9:38-39...
"And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them."
Good news travels fast.
When they learned that Peter was nearby in the town of Lydda, and the miracle that happened there, they sent two men to beg him to come as quickly as possible with them to Joppa.
Peter accompanied the two men back to Joppa. When he arrived they took him upstairs to where the body lay. In the room there were many widows weeping, and they showed Peter the beautiful coats and garments Dorcas had made.
☆ Acts 9:40-41...
"But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up."
But... Peter told them all to vacate the room and then kneeled down and prayed.
Peter had seen His Master do the same with Jairus' daughter.
He didn't have the mind of God in this matter, and therefore prayed. He chose to be private and alone.
He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up!"
She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, sat up.
It is interesting to note, that when the apostles prayed for the sick or the dead... it was not so much wordy praying.... it was more a short command to "Get up!"... "Rise up!"... in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus did the same when calming a storm... "Peace be still!"
And the raising of Lazarus from the dead... "Lazarus, come forth!"
Would we be confident and trusting enough to pray like that today?
☆ Acts 9:41-42...
"And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord."
Peter helped Tabitha to get up.
When he called the saints and widows together... he presented her to them... alive and well.
This miracle, that happened to a person of note, spread like wildfire throughout Joppa... with the result, that many believed in the Lord Jesus.
☆ Acts 9:43...
"And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner."
And so, the apostle Peter stayed many days in this town with Simon a tanner.
Peter would have taken advantage of the good impression made on the people's minds by the miracle. He preached to them the great truths of Christianity, and thus established them in the faith.
It is rather surprising though, that Peter would stay with a tanner. A person who dealt in hides whether of clean or unclean animals, was not held in high repute among the Jews.
************
And so terminates what has been called the first period of the Christian Church, which began at the day of Pentecost, and continued to the resurrection of Dorcas... a period of about eight years.
During the whole of this time the Gospel was preached to the Jews only.
Salvation was of the Jews... theirs were the fathers, the covenants, and the promises, and from them came Christ Jesus. It was right that they should have the first offer of a salvation which, while it was a light to lighten the Gentiles, was to be the glory of the Israeli people.
When they utterly rejected it, then the apostles turned unto the Gentiles.
Among them the Christian Church was founded, and thus the reprobates became the elect, and the elect became reprobates.
Selah!