Acts Chapter 9:1-31

Acts 9:1-31

Acts 9:1–31 CSB

Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied. “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.” All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?” But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plot. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall. When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

The Damascus Road

Let’s recap what we know about Saul so far. He is a young man (Acts 7:58) He agreed with putting Steven to death (Acts 8:1) He was actively trying to end Jesus’ following and followers (Acts 8:3) So what we see here at the beginning of this passage seems about right for Saul.

What does it mean that Saul was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord?

Acts 26:9-10

Acts 26:9–10 CSB

In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them.

What is significant about the followers of Jesus being called “the Way?”

John 14:6

John 14:6 CSB

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

Way - Method of doing something; road, track or path

There was definitely something different about them. It is the most often used description of believers in the early church. More used that Christian. I like the fact that they weren’t called followers of a way…but THE WAY.

Why do you think that Jesus tells Saul that Saul is personally persecuting Him?

John 17:24-26

John 17:24–26 CSB

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation. Righteous Father, the world has not known you. However, I have known you, and they have known that you sent me. I made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.”

1 Corinthians 12:26

1 Corinthians 12:26 CSB

So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

When Jesus addresses Saul, He repeats his name. God did the same when addressing Abraham when he was going to sacrifice Isaac and Moses at the burning bush. Also, the reaction of falling to the ground is similar to other times when the Lord appeared to prophets in Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation. This is a crucial moment in the history of the church.

Why do you think Saul did not eat or drink for three days?

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 9

What materials these for spiritual exercise during those three days of total darkness, fasting, and solitude! On the one hand, what self-condemnation, what anguish, what death of legal hope, what difficulty in believing that in such a case there could be hope at all; on the other hand, what heartbreaking admiration of the grace that had “pulled him out of the fire,” what resistless conviction that there must be a purpose of love in it, and what tender expectation of being yet honored, as a chosen vessel, to declare what the Lord had done for his soul, and to spread abroad the savor of that Name which he had so wickedly, though ignorantly, sought to destroy—must have struggled in his breast during those memorable days!

Ananias’ Obedience

A few observances to begin with here. There seems to be some congruity with the first part of this narrative. In verse 1 we see Saul breathing threats and murder against the disciples…in verse 10 we see Ananias introduced as a disciple. In verse 4 we see Jesus call out to Saul who does not know Him and Saul respond with who are you. In verse 10 Jesus calls out His disciple Ananias and Ananias responds Here I am Lord. Both are commanded by Jesus to get up and go.

Why do you suppose Jesus chose Ananias to heal Saul?

Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah 6:8 CSB

Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

Exodus 3:4

Exodus 3:4 CSB

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.

1 Samuel 3:4

1 Samuel 3:4 CSB

Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”

Genesis 31:11

Genesis 31:11 CSB

In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’

Ananias answered Jesus like a man who knew what the answer was supposed to be. Obviously, he was a man that God knew would eventually do what was asked. We also don’t know how this affected Ananias and his relationship with the Lord. I would assume that it would have grown immeasurably. Jesus spoke directly to him and he played a great part in the history of the Way. The story is focused on Paul for most of the rest of this book, but imagine the life and ministry of Ananias after this encounter with the Lord and with Paul!

What does Ananias’ response to the Lord’s command tell us about him?

The disciples in Damascus more than likely knew of the threat based upon the response that Ananias gave. There must have been great fear during this time for them as they had left Jerusalem due to the persecution for their faith. There is also a bit of doubt that perhaps he did not actually hear from the Lord. Ananias needed some confirmation that what he was hearing was actually Jesus. Either way, the response from the Lord shows His love, grace and mercy! He does not rebuke Ananias for questioning, but affirms His request emphatically and tells him why Paul is so important!

I also want to comment on the fact that this is the first time we see the word saints used to describe the followers of Jesus. the word means holy ones. This identification is important to see that there was already a teaching and knowledge of the nature and transformation that takes place upon putting faith in Jesus Christ as savior. We see in much of Paul’s writings this description used for us as believer’s. Though Paul gets credit for the teaching of these truths to the church at large, these were ideas that were divinely given to the apostles before Paul’s conversion.

How might Ananias have felt about Jesus choosing Paul to be the one to share the Gospel with the Gentiles?

Although it isn’t recorded, there was probably some internal questioning from Ananias. Have there been times that you might have seen someone get credit that you think was not rightly deserved or get a promotion or something that they did not deserve? That must be natural. This goes back to the earlier question as to why Ananias was chosen. Jesus chose the man who would follow through with the request because of his devotion to the Way. That must guide us in all of our interactions with others. Sometimes you might do all the hard work and pour into someone and see that they went to camp or something and surrendered to Jesus. That must be celebrated and not diminished because you did not lead them in a prayer.

What do you think Saul’s reaction was to Ananias showing up (besides being baptized?)

He had spent 3 days praying and fasting without his sight after this supernatural encounter with Jesus.

Saul Preaching the Good News!

What was Saul’s message in the Temple and why is that impressive?

Saul was transformed immediately. He was baptized immediately. He recieved the Holy Spirit immediately. He shared the Gospel immediately. He had so many built in excuses as to why he would kind of take it slow. He went in feet first and did not let up. We see that he persists through all kinds of adversity in his ministry and it starts right here at the beginning.

We see in verse 22 that Saul grew stronger, what does that say about where he started?

We see that Paul, a rockstar in the early church, had to grow. We all start in the same place…as long as we continue to grow we are on the right path to serving the Lord.

1 corinthians 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 CSB

Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

Can we say that in all honesty? Are we imitating Christ?