God did not choose Saul because He saw something of value in his nature. i. Prophets Clarke's Commentary. Saul was not searching for the Lord or for salvation. a. As Paul puts it in Romans 9:16, So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.. Every truly converted person can say, I once thought that I saw, but I was blind. Before this: Saul had said many prayers, but he had never truly prayed. In this encounter with Jesus, Saul learned the gospel that he would preach his whole life. The Whole Bible The emphatic "yet" is intended to note the remarkable fact, that up to this moment his blind persecuting rage against the disciples of the Lord burned as fiercely as ever. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. He knew they needed to know Jesus in truth, that He is the Son of God. Saul asked. The New Testament From what we do know we can think of him as an average follower of Jesus a certain disciple. April 15, 2018 Narrative Lectionary View Bible Text Commentary on Acts 9:1-19a There is no story in Acts more important than Saul/Paul's call, his encounter with the risen Christ. (Acts 9:17-19) Ananias prays and Saul is healed and receives the Holy Spirit. If Pauls conversion is a pattern, then we can share his experiences. His prayers were more mechanical than spiritual. Lord, what do You want me to do? i. When Jesus called Himself the Son of God, and when others called Him that, it was understood as a clear claim to His deity. He was probably seeking Gods guidance for what he should do next. No one is truly trusting in Christ for salvation who is boasting in himself. Just then a bright light from heaven flashed around them and they all fell to the ground. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues of Damascus. 3. a. c. The churches had peace: This doesnt mean that all persecution had stopped; instead, it means that they had peace in the midst of persecution. Sauls call begins with God disrupting Sauls journey with a vision in which he is embraced by a flashing light from heaven (9:3). They are called disciples (9:1, 10), which means followers or learners of Jesus. Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. in Acts 9:5-6 is accurate, but not in Lukes original text. f. I am Jesus: Though Jesus was a fairly common name in that day, the ascended Jesus of Nazareth needed no further identification. Lesson 22: An Unlikely Conversion (Acts 9:1-19) | Bible.org Wisdom Literature An organic and indissoluble union exists between Christ and His people. After Ananias prayed for him and he regained his sight, the first thing that he wanted to do was not to eat, but to be baptized in obedience to the risen Lord. If the disciples in Jerusalem lacked a little in love, Saul added a little more love to make up for it. John 3:16, Jesus faith love), Select a Beginning Point i. b. I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done:Ananias objections were perfectly logical and well founded. Truly converted people begin to pray in the true sense of the word for the first time. 6:9-11; Gal. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Character of God, Predestination, Soteriology (Salvation), Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. c. But their plot became known to Saul: If Saul now knew what it was to be persecuted for his faith, he also knew the mighty deliverance of God. God knew what He could make of Saul, even when Saul or Ananias didnt know. According to the laws of that time, a tanner had to live at least 75 feet (25 meters) outside a village because of his constant ritual uncleanness. Historical Books At this time, God had not yet revealed that calling to Saul. This wasnt because of honor or reverence for God, it was simply a reaction of survival he was terrified at the heavenly light. We would not blame Ananias for a measure of disbelief such a great, big calling for such an unlikely man. The preacher might consider that sometimes we use faulty barometers to determine whether or not an organization is of God; we decided based on the power and connections that the leader or the organization enjoys, by the membership numbers and by the size and magnificence of the building, but these are superficial criteria. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Yet Peter sensed a specific leading to do just as he had seen Jesus do as recorded in Mark 5:38-43 he put them all out, in the anticipation that God would do for Tabitha what He did for the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue. Yet instead of submitting to Jesus, Saul kicked against the goad and only increased his pain. Saul now was the persecuted instead of the persecutor. Acts 9:24-31 Saul Escapes in a Basket. God considered Saul His chosen vessel long before there appeared anything worthy in Saul to choose. God embraced Saul before God rebuked him. 3. Humanly speaking, Saul was not a likely candidate for salvation. Painters are, in almost every case, wretched commentators. (Clarke), iii. v. Sauls conversion reminds us that God looks for people to cooperate in the conversion of others, even when they are not really necessary, except as a demonstration of the importance of the family of God. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. So the Lord asks, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? (9:4). Named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas: Both the names Dorcas and Tabitha mean deer. This woman was a beloved member of the Christian community in Joppa, because she was full of good works and charitable deeds. iii. iii. We must ask this question with a humble heart, and ask it to God. Better, as elsewhere, food. b. f. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus: Saul was now numbered among the disciples of Jesus, and became friends with those he had previously tried to imprison or kill. God almost owes an apology to oxen! Acts 9 CSB - The Damascus Road - Now Saul was still - Bible Gateway But there is no such thing as a truly born-again person who lacks a growing sense of his own sinfulness. (Acts 9:36-38) Dorcas from Joppa dies. This begins a faith walk for Saul. i. j. He was Saul of Tarsus, the young, successful, energetic rabbi. They perhaps thought that Saul was part of an elaborate and extended plot; they perhaps wondered why he went off by himself for a while in Arabia; or just as likely, they probably were reluctant to embrace such a dramatic conversion without seeing it with their own eyes. Forget it!. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:19 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org God wants to only use brokenness as a prelude to filling. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. Saul, who has been blinded by Gods revelatory disruption of his journey, is told to continue on into Damascus where he will be given further instructions. c. Arise and go: Gods instructions to Ananias were clear, but curiously, God told Ananias about Sauls vision in Ananias own vision. Instead, it appears to have "fueled the fire" of his zeal to crush Christianity. While some may be deeply convicted of sin before conversion, to show them their great need, others may experience it more in depth in the years that follow. Acts 9:1-22 NIV - Saul's Conversion - Bible Gateway We know more from what Paul says about this experience in Acts 22:3-11, Acts 26:12-18, 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 15:8. 2:21). The Bibles Tab is found in the Tools feature on Bible pages: Note: MLA no longer requires the URL as part of their citation standard. i. 3:5). Acts 9 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete) Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. vi. However, they presumed that God needed instruction, or at best, counsel. Here is where he received the Holy Spirit and was healed from his blindness, which was spiritual blindness as much as physical blindness. Acts 9 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity God is able to convert the most unlikely of sinners. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said, Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ii. As we seek to serve others, God brings more strength to us. The repetition of his name shows the Lords tender concern for him, as when He said, Martha, Martha, or Simon, Simon, or Jerusalem, Jerusalem (Luke 10:41; 22:31; 13:34). And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. He asked and received letters from the high priest authorizing his mission. The Gospels Saul's Conversion. Saul had condoned the murder of Stephen (8:1-3); he made it his calling to exterminate all those belonging to the way (9:2). This is often the character of Gods direction in our lives. i. Luke noted that Tabitha was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. d. Behold, he is praying: This indicated a true change of heart in this man famous for persecuting the disciples of Jesus. In theory, it wasnt absolutely necessary that God use a man like Ananias for this work in Sauls life. But the surrendered heart asks, Lord, what do You want me to do?. What he formerly did not see, he now did see. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point He will go blind, being led by his companions, into a city where he is known as and is expected to arrive as the persecutor of the way, as the enemy of Jesus, the Christ. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, (Hebrew/Greek Search by English Definition), * 'Number Delimiters' only apply to 'Paragraph Order', Search verses, phrases, and topics (e.g. c. And heard a voice saying to him: According to F.F. b. We should also notice the why and see that Jesus asked why are you persecuting Me?. c. He is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name: God had a call upon the life of Saul. )The unbelieving Jews acted at Ephesus as at Thessalonica, and tried to wreak their hatred against St. Paul by stirring up suspicion among the . i. But now, he is dependent on one of the Lords people to regain his sight. Yet we should expect disciples of Jesus to receive Gods Word like Ananias did. And, they are brothers (9:17). In response to the luminous divine embrace, Paul fell to the ground. e. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My names sake: This was a sobering addition to the great call God put upon the life of Saul. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. iv. They begged Peter to come, perhaps asking when Dorcas was still alive or had just died. * [9:1-19] This is the first of three accounts of Paul's conversion (with Acts 22:3-16 and Acts 26:2-18) with some differences of detail owing to Luke's use of different sources. But best of all, Jesus tells Saul, You have been persecuting Me! By persecuting the church, Saul was persecuting Jesus Himself, the Head of His body, the church. He insisted in Galatians 1:11-12, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. We should remind ourselves that Dorcas was not resurrected; she was resuscitated to her old life, where she would die again. Some people are full of good works and charitable deeds, but they are only full of them in their minds and hearts. Luke states (9:1) that Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him: It seems strange that Christians in Jerusalem were so suspicious of Saul even three years after his conversion. It is true that young Christians shouldnt hastily be put in positions of authority in the church (1 Timothy 3:6), but you dont need a position of authority to serve God and to tell others about Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. ii. General Epistles What was formerly gain to him now was loss. His resurrection confirmed Him as being Israels Messiah and Lord of all the earth. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. Neither Saul nor the Ethiopian Eunuch met or was introduced to Jesus in Jerusalem or in the Temple precincts. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here I am, Lord. So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. The greatest missionary and theologian of church history had been truly converted. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles: Thank God for people like Ananias and Barnabas, who will welcome people into the family of God with simple friendship. What he formerly thought that he saw, he no longer saw. The preacher might consider that if our sense of a calling permits us to inflict violence against others who do not believe as we believe, then that call is not from God; that in committing violence against others in defense of our own religion is not a part of the calling and justice of God. God informs Ananias that Saul will expect him because he has foreseen, in a vision, Ananias coming to him and laying hands on him. Acts 19:9 Commentaries: But when some were becoming hardened and 11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. Those who are in the flesh cannot [not will not, but cannot] please God (Rom. The closer we walk in the light, the more that light reveals the dirtiness of our sinful hearts. Saints are set apart from the world at large; they are distinctive. 1. To preach that Jesus is the Son of God is also to preach the perfection of His life, and especially His work for us on the cross. Sauls conversion reminds us that at its core, salvation is something God does in us. The Lord also appeared to Ananias in a vision, instructing him too to get up and go and lay his hands upon Saul of Tarsus (9:10-12). He is praying from the heart, really seeking God. (1) Yet breathing out threatenings. Now Peter was letting Jesus lead him. vi. It would be comparable to hearing that Saddam Hussein had gotten converted and had become an evangelist to the Arabs! a. 1. Blind Saul could not see the love on Ananias face, so he communicated it through his touch and his voice. The Conversion of St. Paul. A truly converted person is no longer his own; he has been bought with a price. She would have enjoyed heaven better! When we are newly converted, we still understand the way people who dont yet know Jesus think. Truly converted people love the fellowship of the saints, because we are members of one another and of our exalted Head. Following Jesus is a way of living as well as believing. We are not told that Ananias told Saul about baptism. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank: It seems that Saul was so shaken by the experience that he was unable to eat or drink for three days. Acts 9:1-19 NKJV - The Damascus Road: Saul Converted - Bible Gateway Perhaps he took his example from Phinehas, who in the Book of Numbers killed an immoral man and woman with a spear, and God honored his action by halting a plague. Paul's experience was not visionary but was precipitated by the appearance of Jesus, as he insists in 1 Cor 15:8. Spake evil of that way before the multitude. At the same instant, Saul got a glimpse of Jesus in His glory (9:17, 27), but the brightness of the light caused him to go temporarily blind. What does Acts 9:1 mean? | BibleRef.com And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. We dont know who started these churches, how they did it, or all the great works of God which took place in these young churches. i. Peter simply tried to do as Jesus did. b. Imploring him not to delay in coming to them: Peter wasnt in Joppa when Tabitha died. He wasnt seeking Jesus when Jesus sought him. Godwho calls us into service, Transform us as you transformed Paul. Humility is not optional. Three days later the Lord spoke to the godly Ananias, who only appears in Scripture at this story. Sauls willingness to serve the Lord was a contributing factor in the fact he increased all the more in strength. ii. i. Better (the verb implying continuous action), when some were growing hardened and disobedient. range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed He wants to use you in His great cause of discipling the nations. Acts 9:36-40 Dorcas. Just as the angel of the Lord instructed Philip to Get up and go, the Lord told Ananias to Get up and go. Sometimes we respond to a call without knowing exactly what we are walking into or what the consequences of our call will be, but we just know we must get up and go. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!". "Acts: Understanding the Bible Commentary Series" (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1990). Just as Jonah was three days and nights in the belly of the great fish, so Saul was three days and nights in the dark. Studies in the Book of Acts: Acts 9:1-20 - Grace Communion Seminary He needed confirmation along the way that God was guiding him, and God gave him ways to confirm this. When someone harms us, he is harming our Lord. Acts 9:1-19 In-Context - Bible Study Tools Half say that religions other than Christianity are equally good and true. One-third believe in reincarnation and astrology. The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, The teaching of the Holy Spirit takes away the scales of ignorance and pride from the understanding; then the sinner becomes a new creature, and endeavours to recommend the anointed Saviour, the Son of God, to his former companions. Though he was no doubt blessed and benefited from that time, he received his message by direct revelation from Jesus on the road to Damascus. a. Saul asks, Who are You, Lord? He got an immediate answer: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Saul instantly realized that Jesus was alive from the dead, as all of His followers had been asserting. 2. Acts 9:1-19 verse by verse - Saul on the Road to Damascus - Simply Bible The churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria: Acts 9 began with a zealous man breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1).