Acts 9:4-19 "I AM Jesus" Commissions the Previously Unthinkable

Observations:

1. This is the first of seven visions to be seen by Saul/Paul in Acts (9:4-6; 9:12; 16:9-10 (Macedonian man); 18:9-10 (Corinth); 22:17-21 (at Temple in Jerusalem); 23:11 (Jerusalem in prison); 27:23-24 (on ship)) – five of those visions are of Christ, one of the Macedonian man, one of Ananias.

2. The scene takes place around noon (22:6; 26:13) near Damascus (9:3; 22:6).

3. Saul speaks very little. His recorded speech is in the form of two questions.

a. Who are you, Lord?

b. What shall I do, Lord? (22:10; cf. 9:5 in NASB, KJV, not in ESV, CSB)

4. Jesus initiates the conversation with Saul and speaks four sentences to Saul:

a. Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? (9:4; 22:7; 26:14)

b. I am Jesus (of Nazareth, 22:8), whom you are persecuting (9:5; 22:8; 26:15).

c. It is hard for you to kick against the goads (26:14; omitted from 9:5 in ESV, CSB).

d. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do (9:6 – varied form in 22:10 and 26:16).

5. The traveling company all fell to the ground (26:14), saw the light (22:9) brighter than the sun at high noon (26:13), heard the sound of the voice (9:7) speaking in Hebrew (26:14), but they did not understand the speech (22:9) and were speechless themselves (9:7).

6. Saul was blinded (9:8; 22:11), but those with him were not (9:8; 22:11).

7. Saul does not see, eat, or drink for three days following the encounter (9:9).

8. During this time, Saul is praying (9:11).

9. During this time, God gives Saul a second vision (9:11-12).

10. Jesus speaks at greater length and more specificity with Ananias, a disciple (9:10) who was devout according to the law and well-spoken of by all the Jews of Damascus (22:12)

a. Ananias (9:10)

b. 9:11-12, 11. . . “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

c. 9:15-16, 15 “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

d. 22:14-15, 14 . . . ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

11. Ananias is responsive to the Lord (9:10) and well aware of Saul’s persecuting background and the malicious intent of his present mission (9:13-14).

a. Ananias obeys the command from the Lord (9:17)

b. Ananias comes near enough to Saul to lay hands on him (9:11, 17) and stand by him (22:13)

c. Ananias speaks to Saul

1) About regaining his sight (9:17; 22:13)

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (9:17)

Brother Saul, receive your sight (22:13)

2) About being filled with the Spirit (9:17)

3) About the things to which God has appointed Saul (22:14-15; 26:16-18)

22:14-15, 14 ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

a. Appointed to know the Father’s will (22:14)

b. Appointed to see His Son, the Righteous One (22:14; cf. 3:14; 7:52; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8)

c. Appointed to hear a voice from the mouth of the Righteous One (22:14)

d. Appointed to be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard (22:15)

26:16-18, 16 . . . for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

a. To be a servant and witness to what Christ would show him (26:16)

b. To be sent efficaciously to the Gentiles (26:17; cf. 26:16-18)

9:15-16, 15 “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (cf. 26:16-18).

a. To have ministry before kings and the children of Israel (9:15)

b. To suffer greatly for the sake of Christ’s name (9:16)

4) About being baptized (22:16) as his first step of obedience