Acts 9:1-19

Last Week and Today

Last week we got the opportunity to study the ministry of Philip where we got to see the saving power of God’s Word.

We saw how God loves the outcasts in society and sends his missionaries to them that they would hear the gospel and find salvation through it.

Today we will be seeing how God can save and use anybody for his purpose, no matter how bad they were or what they had done. GOD CAN AND WILL SAVE ANYBODY!

[Read Scripture]

[Pray]

Verse 1: The Dragon

Acts 9:1 ESV

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

V1a: But Saul,

Though Saul is the first person introduced in this narrative, he is actually not the main character, Christ is the main character

It is all about what Christ has planned, done, and then accomplishes.

Saul:

First introduced at the end of Acts 7 during the stoning of Stephen - he is described as the young man that all of the people stoning Stephen laid their garments in front of.

We then see him in the beginning of Acts 8 where he begins to ravage the church.

After learning of Philip’s ministry in the rest of chapter 8 we now are back following this persecutor.

V1b: still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,

breathing

This word for breathing is specifically used to represent inhaling

We could think of Saul as a dragon or wild beast looking for someone to devour!

against the disciples of the Lord

These were God’s people that Saul was persecuting.

Saul was so mistaken that in his attempt to serve God he was persecuting God’s people.

The word for “Lord” used here in this text, kyrios, is the same word used in the greek Septuagint for not only “a ruler” but also for Israel’s God, Yahweh.

Paul is unknowingly persecuting the people of the God he is trying to serve.

V1c: and went to the high priest

The fact that he is able to go directly to the high priest shows that he must be of a more “noble birth” and come from a family with great influence in the synagogue.

Verse 2: Satan chases

Acts 9:2 ESV

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Damascus - Satan follows

Just as the church was spreading out from Jerusalem, so was the persecution

Where the gospel goes, satan follows trying his best to attack the church and its people.

The way

One of the many names used to identify those who follow Christ in the New Testament. This is derived from John 14:6

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Christ is the only way to salvation.

Verse 3-6: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?

Verses 3-4

Acts 9:3–4 ESV

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Light shown around Saul, and he hears the voice of the Lord

And falling to the ground

God has physically knocked the mighty persecutor of the church off of his feet!

This is the first step of God humbling this man and breaking him down!

God does the same thing to us - he knocks us down so that all we have left is him. When we finally come to the end of ourselves and we hit the ground (rock bottom) do we then find Christ. It was never a proud man who came before our Lord, but rather it was the low and broken hearted who come before him!

One of the best prayers that we can pray for one who we desire to find the Lord is that the Lord would break them down to the point that they have no other choice but to turn to God.

For Christ does not say “Blessed are the proud and boastful” but rather he says “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Saul, Saul

The double name call is used in other places of scripture when God is calling people to service

God calls Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and many others in this way.

It signifies an intimate personal address

Why are you persecuting me?

Any attack that the church receives from the inside or outside is an attack on Christ himself.

When the world attacks and persecutes the church, they are attacking Christ himself.

Our culture at the moment attacks the church as a whole in so many ways - in America we aren’t physically persecuted but we are attacked culturally.

We are named as biggots and hateful because we believe what God has decreed about sexuality, gender, and what is sin and what is not.

What about within the church?

When those who are in the church backbite and gossip - they are attacking Christ himself. To much within the church, we make what goes on in it all about me.

“Its all about me and my preferences”

Think about your favorite restaurant - we all have our favorite food that we like! Well we show up one day and they change the menu! We are left with a few options: either decide that I’m going to get angry cross my arms, complain, and pout. Maybe even leave and go down the street to the another restaurant and tell the owners just how bad the one you just came from is. Maybe you call the manager over and complain to him - but he is just doing what is passed down from corporate. Or even worse we go call all our friends and tell them how bad the restaurant has become!

Sometimes we treat the church like its a restaurant - it becomes a consumer product that we feel we should be able to have it our way!

Well let me remind you of something - the church is not a restaurant and its not about you and what you want.

Its about what Christ wants!

Your pastors and leaders are not here to meet your consumer preferences - we are here to lead you in worship for the glory of God. Let us lead you. We are only doing our best to what we think Jesus wants for this church.

Now that was a long illustration and a lot to swallow - hard to preach - but I say this because when we attack this church, or any true church of God, we attack Christ himself.

Verse 5 - Who are you Lord

Acts 9:5 ESV

5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

At this moment Saul probably did not know much - but he knew it was God speaking to him!

He calls the one addressing him “Lord” - kyrios - this title he uses would be for God.

Jesus identifies himself to Saul - could you imagine what a surprise this would have been to Saul!

The realization that the “Lord” whom he has just named with his own tongue is the one he has been persecuting would have been crushing!

Verse 6 - You will be told what you are to do

Acts 9:6 ESV

6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

God who has just revealed himself to Saul is now giving him direct commands!

Verses 7-9: Saul the Blind

Acts 9:7–9 ESV

7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

God has made this strong man weak - he is continuing to break him that his soul may be saved.

Verses 10-12: The Lord Commands Ananias

Acts 9:10–12 ESV

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “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.”

God has called this humble servant to be the first believer to go see Saul .

This is where we see that God will use anybody at anytime to lead another to Christ.

So we must be ready - always vigilante listening to the the Holy Spirit on where we are to act and go.

Verse 13-14: Are You Sure God?

Acts 9:13–14 ESV

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

Ananias is confused!

God are you sure that it is this guy! This guy came here to kill us!

God’s grace is surprising to us sometimes! However, I want to remind everyone that we were all at one time or another, before Christ saved us, just as lost as Saul.

Verse 15-16: He Must Suffer For The Sake of My Name

Acts 9:15–16 ESV

15 But the Lord said to him, “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.”

God chose Saul for the purpose of being the Apostle to the Gentiles

God chooses those who by human standards do not make any sense!

God is going to use this persecutor of the church to go forth and cary the gospel out to “kings and the children of Israel”

This man who is responsible for the heavy persecution on believers is going to be the one who God uses!

Saul is the ultimate turn around story, no matter how bad you are or how bad you have fallen, God can turn you around.

GOD CAN SAVE ANYBODY.

Suffering

Following Christ does not keep us from suffering - in fact we are told to expect it.

Matthew 16:24 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

When one follows Christ they are denying themselves and surrendering to him - no matter what persecution comes.

Verse 17-19: Saul Baptized

Acts 9:17–19 ESV

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “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.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

This unique experience is so strongly symbolic!

This man so vile and wicked has been washed clean to the point he is going from not only blind to now seeing but he was spiritually blind and now he sees!

Baptized

Notice the first thing he does is get up and be baptized - this is what Christians do, they get baptized they proclaim to the world that they are now following Christ in the most physical way possible.

When they get baptized they are essentially proclaiming “I have been born again, made anew, and I want to be as obedient to my Lord as possible by showing the world the change that has taken place within me.”

The scripture is so clear - if you are a believer - you are called to be baptized just as the Lord was!

Conclusion

Wherever God is at work Satan will Attack

An attack on the Church is an attack on Christ

God can save anyone