ETB Acts 9:3-16

Session 10 - p.91 - Calling

The quarterly starts of today with the statement “Many people think of God’s calling only in terms of vocational Christian ministry.”

Ask: How does a person’s vocation connect to his or her calling or purpose in life? (PSG, p. 91)

The question exposes a worldly philosophy. Many will think that it infers the 3 (career, calling & purpose) are the same thing. Scripture tells us differently. We are called by God to know Him, make Him know, and glorify His name, that is our purpose for life whether we acknowledge it or not. Our vocation, however, can be anything at all. Our calling is directly related to our purpose but is specific to us and how He “gifted” us when we accept His Son.

They “should” be connected, but do have to be?

Understand the Context

In Acts 7, while telling the story of Stephen’s execution, Luke introduced his readers to a man named Saul. The angry mob to whom Stephen was proclaiming the gospel did not accept God’s message and believe. Instead, they took Stephen outside of the city to stone him in a misguided and distorted attempt to follow the Mosaic law (Lev. 24:14; Num. 15:35). [LifeWay Adults (2024). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide, Spring 2024]

Remember how Chapter division are a modern addition to the Scripture. Last week’s passage about Philip ended with “he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” The next verse starts a contrast to this.

Acts 9:1 “1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest”

Luke uses Philip as a dramatic contrast to Saul of Tarsus so that the gospel’s power to transform a person is more dramatically seen in Paul of Christ.

In Acts 9, readers find him traveling all the way to Damascus to continue his campaign of terror—all with the blessing of the religious elite in Jerusalem. In contrast to Saul “ravaging” (8:3), Luke reported that “devout men” respectfully buried Stephen and “made great lamentation over him” (8:2). Saul had a plan. But so did Jesus. And when those two plans collided, Saul’s life was transformed forever. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Explore the Text

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?”

The capital of Syria, Damascus appeared throughout the Old Testament. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Damascus was founded by Noah’s great-grandson. During the divided monarchy, the prophet Elisha healed a Syrian general named Naaman despite hostility between Damascus and Samaria (2 Kings 5:2-19). [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Some say it is the oldest city, I don’t know but it is definitely one of them. It has been occupied and kept its name since its founding even though it has been claimed by numerous people groups. This longevity may be attributed to its placement geographically and the numerous trade routes that intersect in the region.

Saul, however, was going not for trade but for religious reasons, even though they were misguided.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 9

Do you know people who seem absolutely hardened to the gospel? Maybe you work with one. Maybe you’re married to one. The Lord has ways of breaking through to them and shining His light on them unpredictably and unexpectedly—even as He did with Saul.

Ask: How does God confront people today about their rejection of Him? In what ways have you observed God’s intervention with someone who opposes Christ? (PSG, p. 93)

saw a light

Opening Up Acts Jesus Appears to Saul (vv. 3–9)

God is always the one who seeks man, not the other way round (see Rom. 3:9–18). The only genuine seeker is God, and man responds to God’s seeking (John 4:23). Sinful man rejects God, and it is only by God’s hand that anyone can come to salvation. There was nothing of Saul that made him appealing to God. In fact, what he was doing was detestable to God.

Some modern interpreters try to explain miraculous events like this with appeals to natural phenomenon. However, Luke did not want his readers to mistake this event. He explicitly noted that the light came from heaven. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

he heard a voice

First the glory in light, then the thunder of His voice. Later when Luke records Paul’s retelling of the story to King Agrippa, the detail of the voice speaking in Hebrew is added.

you persecuting me

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 9

We are the bride of Christ. He’s jealous for us and in love with us. Thus, when we find fault with one another—even if there’s reason—He takes it personally, as any husband would. Next time you want to come down on one who is in love with Jesus Christ, be careful, for in attacking His bride, we attack Him.

Matthew 25:40 “40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Paul later writes several times about the church being the body of Christ and it may have stemmed from Jesus’ own accusation against Saul. He did not say, “my disciples” but “me.” Through the years Paul would be the recipient of these cruelties and consider them all a “fellowship of suffering” with Christ. Paul was blessed with a unique perspective of persecution as he was both a passionate perpetrator and reviled recipient.

Luke & Acts Commentary

Luke shows us not only God’s direct intervention to convert and call his chief missionary to all nations, but he also displays the overwhelming power of the gospel, which can turn a persecuting antagonist into a persecuted protagonist and convert a reluctant church to embrace their former archenemy.

That is something else I had not thought about much either. Not only was Saul changed, but the church was too. It is still changing every time another person accepts Christ and expands His kingdom.

Acts 9:5–9 ESV

5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 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.

While Luke only mentioned Jesus’s voice, Paul also talked about seeing a vision of Jesus (1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8). [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Who are you, Lord

I don’t know if this was an acknowledgement of Jesus’ as The Lord, or just addressing someone with the power to appear before him.

Jesus first confronts Saul with his sin “why are you”, this may be an honest answer of the pharisee not realizing who this is and how he has been harming him. Jesus does not “call him” to follow him or do any work for him at this time. Saul is a highly intelligent man and having his world turned upside down would require some time for him to “think things through.” Jesus doesn’t even tell Saul what his sin is or tell him to repent because he knows the man will think of nothing else for the rest of his life.

I am Jesus

Devout Jews do not say or even write God’s name in order to avoid the possibility or blaspheming His name. I would think that hearing this person say “I AM” in Hebrew would be a shock, and yet it was true. This would be another thing the Saul would have to think through and come to grips with its truth. Much like Moses did after his burning bush encounter.

The Applied New Testament Commentary Saul’s Conversion (9:1–9)

Then, according to Acts 22:10, Saul asked Jesus, “What shall I do, Lord?” Here we see the first step in Saul’s conversion. Now Saul was ready to do what the Lord wanted. He had given up his own desires and purposes. True conversion always means a change of a person’s mind and will (see Romans 12:2).

Romans 12:2 “2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Believer’s Bible Commentary C. The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus (9:1–31)

Now with crushing force, Saul learns that Jesus is not dead at all, but that He has been raised from the dead and has been glorified at the right hand of God in heaven! It was this sight of the glorified Savior that changed the entire direction of his life.

Remember also that as a Pharisee, and though he believed in a resurrection had probably never experienced it. Now here is Jesus, whom he knew was dead, standing before and over him, conversing and commanding him. Something else this man would have to reconcile in his mind.

you will be told what you are to do

When someone has said that to you in the past, how did you react?

What did you do while you waited?

Saul was a Pharisee, steeped in legalism and adhering to every ‘jot and tittle” of the law. When he was told this, it appears he took it quite literally and did not do anything but sit and pray until he was told “what to do.”

While Saul did not physically die on the road to Damascus, Jesus’s command to rise provides a picture of spiritual resurrection. Saul’s old life of persecuting Christians had passed. His new life as a church-planting missionary, theologian, writer, and pastor was beginning. In Philippians 3, Paul stated all that he was before Christ was loss compared to knowing Christ. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

stood speechless

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 9

Saul’s experience recalls imagery of the OT callings of Moses, Samuel, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Here, Luke ties the Damascus Road experience more closely to Daniel’s visions in which people were aware of a supernatural presence they could not see (Dan 10:7).

Daniel 10:7 “7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.”

If these men were not well-educated Jews, they may not have understood the Hebrew being spoken. Either way, divinely or linguistically, they heard but did not see the source of the voice. I don’t know which would be more impactful, hearing a voice without a source or hearing and understandable, disembodied voice.

his eyes were opened, he saw nothing

Several commentaries talk about Saul being in physical “darkness” after being blinded, but the God I worship does not deal or dwell in darkness.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 9

Saul’s physical blindness may be the result of the intense glory of Jesus’ appearance, or it may be an outward manifestation of his own spiritual blindness that he (ironically) has just begun to see for the first time. It could also be Jesus’ way of humbling Saul.

In Chapter 22 Paul tells the crowd that he could not see because of the “brightness of the light.” This seems to suggest that it was not darkness that he saw, but an overwhelming light. Every now and then when the sunlight comes into my eye from the side at just the right angle it refracts on the cataracts forming, I experience a kind of “white out.” What Saul experienced was even greater for it was all of Christ’s Glory that was burned into his eyes. Something else that he would have to think about and may not have been able to escape even when he closed his eyes.

for three days he was without sight

Three days is a significant theme in Scripture. Jonah, Jesus, and now Saul were changed in those three days.

Leviticus 21:18 “18 For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long,”

This would be something that Saul would dwell on during these three days. He would have had the same mentality of blindness that Jesus’ disciples did before He taught them otherwise.

John 9:2 “2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?””

Saul’s blindness would have been a physical confirmation to him that he was in a deeply sinful state.

Exalting Jesus in Acts The Risen Jesus Commissions Saul (9:10–19a)

This Jesus, whom Saul once thought a phony, showed himself in power. Jesus also humbles Saul by blinding him, forcing the tough guy to be led by the hand. And Jesus further humbles him by sending him to Damascus to await instructions. All of this helps Saul realize that he isn’t in charge.

Acts 9:10–16 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.” 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.” 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.”

a disciple

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 9

It’s interesting that the Lord used a man named Ananias to be the instrument of Saul’s recovery and that Ananias was to go to the house of Judas. Ananias and Judas are two names that are infamous in the New Testament.

God not only redeems the man Saul in these verses but those infamous names as well.

We are not told in Scripture how this Ananias so far from Jesus’ direct ministry became a believer, or if he was one of the “dispersed” ones, but we know was “devout” from Paul’s description later. Saul’s letter of extradition probably included his name.

Here I am, Lord

This phrase would be recognized by Luke’s Jewish readers coming from Abraham, Samuel and Isaiah.

A lot of Luke’s stories emphasize contrasts. This “Lord” was definitely a recognition and acceptance of Jesus’ as The Lord. This man’s fellowship with the Lord was so complete that there was no question of “who are you?” These are the kinds of men that I desire to be like when I struggle to discern if it is the Lord’s “prompting” or just my wishful thinking.

Rise and go

Luke also uses similarities to emphasize actions and contrasts. Both men were told to rise and go, as both had been in a position of submission. Saul’s was out of fear, Ananias’ out of love and respect.

Lord, I have heard

Ananias expressed some initial hesitation, knowing Saul’s plans. Ananias’s reluctance was not rebuked, but it was not coddled either. Jesus understood Ananias’s question, but He did not back down. He simply restated His command and that seemed to satisfy Ananias. God is patient, but His commands are not suggestions or negotiations open to debate. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Ask: What fears sometimes make us hesitate to obey God’s directions? (PSG, p. 98)

If Ananias had not obediently come and laid hands on Saul, he would have remained sightless. [Lifeway Adults (2024). Explore the Bible: Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Summer 2024. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

That is an incredible thought about the far-reaching aspects of our sins. Ananias’ disobedience could have prevented over half of the New Testament being written. We do not know and cannot conceive of how far our disobedience to God’s calls in our lives may reach.

Chosen instrument

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 9

God revealed his purpose for Saul to Ananias first. This ensured that Saul would have a support network in place once he learned of his new purpose in life. Otherwise, imagine Saul coming to Ananias and delivering the news. Ananias would have scoffed, assuming he let Saul close enough to speak.

God reassured Ananias, explaining that He would use Saul to share the gospel with the Gentiles and kings. The wording here is significant. By saying of mine, Jesus affirmed that Saul belonged to Him, just as we do. Also, Jesus chose Saul for a specific mission. He did not deserve to be chosen, but it was Jesus’s sovereign choice. He has also chosen us for His purposes. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

These statements about Saul coming from the Lord would have significantly alleviated Ananias’ reluctance. The are multiple times in Scripture and a few in my life where God has “acknowledged” the fear but then provided a way through them with obedience.

How much he must suffer

Paul’s life would indeed bear out this prophecy. His commitment to Jesus would lead to all kinds of suffering for Jesus’s sake. That suffering would include physical beatings and lashings, but Paul would also experience the emotional weight of caring for the churches he helped establish. That burden would lead to its fair share of concerns and sleepless nights (2 Cor. 11:16-33). [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

That was a good reminder to me that all “suffering” is not physical.

Apply the Text

Acts §22 Saul’s Conversion (Acts 9:1–19a)

As a devout Pharisee Paul must often have prayed. But perhaps for the first time he was learning the difference between “saying prayers” and praying (the believer’s response to God’s grace to him in Christ). The proud Pharisee of Jesus’ parable had taken the other man’s place (Luke 18:9–14). This passage brings home the importance of prayer both for Paul himself and in the mission of the church. At every critical point in the story, we find people praying (10:2, 9; 13:2, 3; 14:23; 16:13, 16, 25; 20:36; 21:5; 22:17–21; 27:35; 28:8; see also the disc. on 1:14). It is also the first of several passages in which visions are associated with prayer (cf. 10:2–6, 9–17; 22:17–21; 23:11; cf. also 16:9, 10; 18:9, 10; 26:13–19). Whatever else we make of this phenomenon, we must allow that it expresses the conviction that in each case the prayer was answered (see disc. on 1:14)

Ask: Do you most relate to Saul or Ananias? Why?

Apply: Point out that both of them give believers an example to follow. Note that Saul teaches us to be humble and patient, while Ananias shows us how to trust God and overcome fear as we serve Him. Invite the group to confide experiences of God’s calling in their lives.

Ask: How did you know the Lord was calling you? What confirmation did you find from Scripture and Christian friends? (PSG, p. 99)