Acts 9:1-31
Following the stories of two Hellenist believers, Stephen and Philip, Luke records the story of Saul’s conversion. This may mean that Saul was considered a Hellenist, being born outside of Israel, though at least in part, raised in Jerusalem.
We have seen that Saul was present and approving at the stoning of Stephen. (Acts 7) He went on to persecute the church, even going house to house to draw Jewish believers off to prison. (8:1-3)
Next, Saul got permission from the high priest to go to Damascus and arrest believing Jews for imprisonment in Jerusalem. These may have been believers who fled the persecution in Jerusalem.
On the way to Damascus, though, the Lord Jesus appeared to Saul in glorious light. It made him fall to the ground and eventually blinded him. He saw Jesus in heaven and Jesus spoke to him. In Galatians 1:16, Paul said the Father was pleased to reveal his son to me. The vision of Jesus is part of his claim to apostleship. In 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 he said “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he (Jesus) appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles…”.
Jesus said “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (4) This tells us that the persecution of Christians and the church is persecution of Jesus.
Paul did not know, or at least recognize, Jesus, and asked “who are you, Lord”. (5) He did not know who this person was, but assumed his divinity since he appeared in glory and in heaven. Jesus identified himself and issue a command to Saul. He commanded him to go into the city, where he would be told what to do. (6) Saul was blind and did not eat for three days. (8)
During this time of blindness, Saul had a vision. He saw a man named Ananias who could come and lay hands on him and restore Saul’s sight. (12) So, Jesus had assured him of the return of his sight and gave him confidence to receive Ananias.
Jesus then appeared in a vision to a disciple named Ananias. (10) Jesus’ appearance to Ananias is reminiscent of the Lord’s call to Samuel. Jesus called him by name, and Ananias answered “here I am, Lord”. (10) The Lord gave him instructions to go lay hands on Saul to restore his sight.
Ananias was understandably reluctant. He told Jesus he had heard how Saul had done much evil to the saints in Jerusalem. (13) This is a way of saying “are you sure you want me to do that, Lord?” We often think difficult or dangerous people are out of the reach of the Lord and want to avoid them.
Jesus, though, called Saul his “chosen instrument” to preach to the Gentiles, kings, and the Jews. (15) Jesus would also show Saul how much he must suffer for Jesus’ sake. Paul would later write that God set him apart before he was born. (Galatians 1:15)
Ananias obeyed and went immediately to Saul. He laid hands on him and Saul was healed and filled with the Holy Spirit. (17) His sight was restored. He immediately was baptized. (13)
Saul also immediately began to preach, declaring that Jesus is the Son of God in the local synagogues. People were confused, for they knew he had come to persecute Christians. Yet, he was preaching Christ. Nonetheless, he grew in power. The Jews could not win debates with him.
It was not long before Saul’s radical conversion and preaching aroused the anger of the Jews. They plotted to kill him. They expected him to leave the city and waited at the gates to ambush him. But believers lowered him from the city walls during the night and he got away. God called him and protected him.
Luke next recorded Saul’s trip to Jerusalem. (26) In this passage, it seems like Paul went directly from Damascus to Jerusalem. But Paul’s account in Galatians 1 shows us that there was an interval of about three years, during which he had gone to Arabia.
The disciples in Jerusalem were as afraid of him as the disciples in Damascus had been. But Barnabas makes his second appearance in Acts. First, he sold property to help the poorer believers. Here he helps Saul by explaining his conversion and his preaching in Damascus. He was truly a “son of Encouragement”. Saul then began to preach boldly. (28)
In Jerusalem, Paul argued against the very Hellenists he had helped to execute Stephen. (29) Again, his enemies sought to kill him. And again, the disciples helped him to escape. (30)
At this point, things settled down. The church had peace. It grew. Believers walked in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. (31)
The Lord grows his church both in turmoil and in peace. Believers are to live in faith in either scenario.
If you live where the church is at peace, work hard to make disciples and grow the church, knowing the Lord has given you this time when you can witness for him without persecution. If you live where the church is persecuted, work hard to make disciples, knowing the Lord has and will continue to grow his church even when times are tough. Godspeed.
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