www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk
The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 9:1-19 Saul's Salvation 9.1 - 2. Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Saul sincerely believed that he was doing God a service by waging war against the followers of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:13-14; 1 Tim. 1:13). As far as he was concerned he was destroying the opposers of worshipping the God of Israel and he did not spare himself in order to rid the world of those who he considered to be heretics. He obtained letters of authority from the high priest to pursue them even to Damascus to bring them back Jerusalem to be dealt with as the high priest saw fit. The expression 'this way' or 'the Way' was an early name given to believers before they were called Christians for they were first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26). No one who had accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour was safe from Saul's hands, whether man, woman or child and his name for persecution became well known to all believers. 9.3 - 4. As he was going along, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul had made his plans well but he had done so without taking God into consideration, for God had made other plans for his life (Ps. 33:10; Prov. 16:9). As he drew near to Damascus God dramatically broke through into his life. Saul who was a child of darkness and had been walking in the dark now floored by the light of heaven that shone around him. Note, it shone around not on him. He was caught in the light and could not escape from the Lord he could not move forward or backward to the right or left only hit the ground! He heard a voice but could see no one and the owner of that voice knew him personally by his name! It not only knew his name but he had been doing and what he was going to do! Although Saul was a scholar in the Old Testament he did not know God for he had thought that it was only men and women he was persecuting but it was in fact the Lord he had been waging war against (Zech. 2:8).
9.5. (NKJV) And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
Although Saul asks who it is that speaks with him, he knows for he calls him Lord. It was at this point that Jesus shows Himself to Saul (1 Cor. 15: 8). He makes known the charge He has against Him that of persecution and that Saul had already been under conviction for the things he had been doing was wrong and that the people he had been hounding had found the truth in the one they called the Christ. He had been battling with his conscience for some time but had refused to listen to it now he was brought face to face with the truth about himself. 9.6. (NKJV) So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." On realising this truth it made him tremble and unable to move. In saying to the Lord, "what do you want me to do" he acknowledged, confessed and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour at this point he became "born again." He was no longer his own but belonged to God (1 Cor. 6: 19 -20) and was therefore under a new commander the Lord Jesus Christ and from now on took orders only from Him (Rom. 6: 18). He was to go to Damascus and wait there for further instructions. 9.7 - 8. (Now the men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one.) Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, his companions brought him into Damascus. Those travelling with Saul heard the voice but saw nothing. When he got up from the ground and opened his eyes Saul was physically blind but had received spiritual sight! 9.9. For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything. He was blind and neither ate nor drank for three days but he prayed (see end of V.11).
Ananias's Obedience and Saul Baptised 9.10. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias," and he replied, "Here I am, Lord." We may be caught unawares but God is ever prepared and thus he had the right man in the right place at the right time that would help Saul, that was Ananias. The Lord appeared in a vision and called him by name (John 10: 3). His quick reaction and the words he used tell us that he was eager to hear what the Lord had to say and that he was readily available to do whatever was required of him. 9.11 - 12. Then the Lord told him, "Get up and go to the street called 'Straight,’ and at Judas' house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again." Like Philip before him he was given specific directions where to go whom he would meet and what he should do. He is also told that Saul already knew of his coming and was waiting for him. 9.13 - 14. But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!"
These instructions caused Ananias to hesitate and doubt and fear crept in. The reputation of Saul's persecution had reached his ears and at first it was a case of send me anywhere else Lord except there. 9.15 - 16. But the Lord said to him, "Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." The Lord sets his mind at rest and takes away all fear from him by assuring him that this Saul is one whom He has called and separated to himself (Rom. 1: 1) to take the Gospel message to the Gentiles to kings (Acts 26: 2) and to the Jews. That Saul would suffer many things for Christ's sake and eventually lose his life for Him (2 Cor. 4: 11; Romans 8:36); Saul (Paul) was eventually put to death by Nero around 66/67 BC. 9.17 - 18. So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, Ananias hesitated no longer but went according as the Lord asked him. He laid his hands upon Saul thus signifying that he identified and accepted him as a brother in the Lord and as he spoke the words Saul received his sight received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and was baptised in water straight away. 9.19. and after taking some food, his strength returned. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, He broke his fast and then spent time in fellowship with the disciples in Damascus. © Derek Williams 2014 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org