Acts 9:20-31

I. Seven Themes of Acts

A. God the Father orchestrates (Acts 5:38-39)

B. Through Christ, who lives and rules

C. Through the empowering Spirit

D. Causing the word to multiply

E. Bringing salvation to all

F. Forming the church which

G. Witnesses to the ends of the earth

II. Bringing Salvation to All

A. Salvation in Acts

But even among pagans, the military victory of a nation was the victory of their gods. Luke follows this pattern and uses salvation to denote earthly realities, but these earthly realities have heavenly sources.

First, Luke consistently ties salvation to “the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 15:9; 22:16; 26:18).

Second, in Acts very little evidence subsists that Rome, Caesar, or the nations are the enemies. In fact, they are all invited into this salvation Jesus has accomplished. The enemies are sin, death, and the spiritual forces, which embody themselves in prideful and jealous leaders and corrupt all people from within. John Barclay is surely right to say Paul does not “oppose Rome as Rome, but opposes anti-God powers wherever and however they manifest themselves on the human stage.”

In Acts, salvation is needed because of rebellion against Jesus (2:23; 3:13–15; 7:51–53), idolatry (17:29–31), and the future wrath of God (Luke 3:7, 9, 17). This applies to all people, both Jews and Gentiles. Salvation is therefore centered on the Davidic King, described as a gift of God, proclaimed to the nations, and results in incorporation into the people of God.

Salvation brought status-inversion, where the lowly and outcast are raised up and promised liberation. This coheres with Jesus’s paradigmatic and keynote speech in the Nazareth synagogue:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18–19)

In Peter’s Pentecost speech, the enthronement of the Davidic King and the arrival of the Spirit compel Peter to quote from Joel 2:32, saying, “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

Built off this salvation preaching is the narrative embodiment of this theme in Acts 3–4. Though the term “save/salvation” is not used in Acts 3, Peter employs the term when he responds to the temple leaders’ accusations, saying, “Are we being examined for healing/saving this man?” (4:9 my translation). Healing is salvation. They are the same Greek word.

In Pisidian Antioch, the predominant focus is on his message of King and Savior Jesus. The concepts “savior” and “salvation” get particular focus (13:23, 26, 47)—presenting this as a message about a superior Savior. Some of the Jews reject Paul’s message, so he says he and his companions have been sent to the Gentiles. He then quotes from Isaiah 49:6 and links his mission back to Acts 1:8:

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” (Acts 13:47)

III. Acts 9:20-31

1. Saul Proclaims Jesus in Damascus (vv. 20-22)

Acts 9:20–22 “And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”

Saul immediately begins preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God (v. 20).

The people are astonished, questioning how the former persecutor of Christians is now their advocate (v. 21).

Saul grows increasingly powerful, confounding the Jews in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ (v. 22).

2. Saul Escapes a Plot to Kill Him (vv. 23-25)

Acts 9:23–25 “When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.”

After many days, the Jews conspire to kill Saul (v. 23).

The plot becomes known to Saul, who learns that the city gates are being watched day and night (v. 24).

Saul’s followers help him escape by lowering him in a basket through an opening in the city wall (v. 25).

3. Saul’s Reception in Jerusalem (vv. 26-28)

Acts 9:26–28 “And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.”

Saul attempts to join the disciples in Jerusalem, but they are afraid and skeptical of his conversion (v. 26).

Barnabas advocates for Saul, recounting his encounter with Jesus and bold preaching in Damascus (v. 27).

Saul is accepted and moves freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord (v. 28).

4. Another Plot Against Saul’s Life (vv. 29-30)

Acts 9:29–30 “And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.”

Saul debates with Hellenistic Jews, who seek to kill him (v. 29).

The believers learn of the threat and send Saul to Caesarea and then to Tarsus for safety (v. 30).

5. The Church Experiences Peace and Growth (v. 31)

Acts 9:31 “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”

The church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoys peace and is strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the church grows in numbers.

IV. Discussion Questions

1. Transformation and Mission

Saul immediately began proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God.

How does his transformation encourage us to trust in God's power to change lives?What mission has God placed on your heart, and how are you pursuing it?

2. Overcoming Fear and Building Trust

The disciples in Jerusalem were initially afraid of Saul.

How can we overcome fear or skepticism when welcoming others into our community of faith?Who in your life might need encouragement or advocacy, like Saul received from Barnabas?

3. Facing Challenges in Faith

Saul faced threats and opposition for boldly preaching Christ.

How do you handle challenges or opposition in your faith journey?What role does the church community play in supporting believers during difficult times?