Acts, Chapter 9
© Copyright 2007 Darroll Evans, all rights reserved

 

Acts 9:1-9
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

 

Saul (the pre-conversion Paul) was furious with those who followed Christ.  He went to the High Priest in his rage, and asked permission to go to the Synagogues in Damascus looking for those Christians. 

 

At that time, all Christians were part of Judaism and worshipped in Synagogues.  Saul wanted to arrest Christians as heretics and bring them to Jerusalem.


As he came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven appeared to him. It shone all around him.  Saul fell down, and heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Paul answered back, “Lord, who are You?”

 

Paul, although he was quite religious, did not know God the Father, nor did he know Christ Jesus the Son.

 

Earlier, in His earthly ministry, Jesus told his critics, “You neither know Me, nor my Father! If you had known Me, you would have known My Father too” (John 8:19).

 

At this time in Acts, the Lord replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. It is difficult for you to kick against the sharp goads.”

 

Many teach that Saul was persecuting the Church.  Christ told Paul that he was actually persecuting Him!  In our day, those who seek to persecute Christians are actually persecuting Christ Himself!  We are the body of Christ!

 

Saul was flabbergasted!  He asked, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

 

And the Lord responded, “get up, go into the city, and there you shall learn what you must accomplish (Gr. dei poiein-dei poiein).”

 

Those with Saul were speechless.  They heard a voice, but did not see anyone.


As ordered, Saul got up. When he opened his eyes, he found that he was blind, and needed someone to lead him to Damascus.  He was blind for three days (an interesting period of time).  During that time, he neither ate nor drank anything.

 

Acts 9:10-19
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

 

In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias.  The Lord came to him in a vision. 


The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to Straight Street. Inquire at the Judas’ house about a man named Saul, of Tarsus. He is praying, and has seen a vision of you coming, putting your hands on him, so that he may receive his sight.


Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard how much harm he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem, and he has come here with authority from the chief Priests to arrest all of us who call on Your name.”

But, the Lord told him, “Go to him anyway! He is My chosen vessel.  He was chosen to carry My name to the Gentiles, and kings, and also to the children of Israel. I will show him the things he must suffer for my name's sake.”

 

Please notice the order of Paul’s mission.  It was primarily to Gentiles, then to the rulers of society, and finally to the Jewish people.

So, Ananias went to the house, and putting his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, Jesus who appeared to you sent me, so that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

 

Notice that Ananias called Saul “brother” prior to his baptism and being sent out on his mission.

Immediately the scales fell from his eyes, and he received sight. He arose, and was baptized.

After that Saul ate something to regain his strength. He spent several days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

 

Acts 9:20-23
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

 

Then, Saul preached Christ in the synagogues, saying that He is the Son of God. All that heard him were amazed!

 

They said, “Isn’t this the one who traumatized those that called on that name in Jerusalem? And, didn’t he come here with the intent of arresting some to take them to the chief priests?”


But, Saul increased in spiritual strength, and confounded the Jews that lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After that, the Orthodox Jews planned to kill him.

 

Acts 9:24-26
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

 

However, their plan was known of Saul. They watched the gates of the city to gain an opportunity to kill him.

The disciples took him by night, and let him down over the wall in a basket. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples there, but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a now disciple.

 

Acts 9:27-30
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

 

However, Barnabas took him in, and brought him to the Apostles.  Barnabas declared that Saul had seen the Lord on his way to Damascus, and that the Lord, Jesus, had spoken to him.  He told how he boldly preached the crucified and risen Christ in Damascus. Finally, they accepted Saul.

Saul spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and debated the Hellenistic Jews, so they too planned to murder him. When the Christian brothers (Messianic Jews) learned of their plans, they took him to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus.

 

Tarsus was Saul’s hometown. He would be safer there than in Israel.

 

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

 

Then the Churches throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria were strengthened.  They lived in respect of the Lord, and were comforted by the Holy Spirit.  They grew!

 

Acts 9:32-35
32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Eventually, as Peter was passing throughout the area, he came to the saints at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed.


Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ has made you whole! Arise! Make you bed! Immediately, he arose.

As result, all those that dwelt in Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Acts 9:37-43
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

 

Meanwhile, at Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas or Gazelle. That woman was full of good works and alms-giving.

 

She got sick, and died. They people of the town laid her in an upper chamber. Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples heard that Peter was there. So, they sent for him, asking that he hasten to them.

Peter hurried to Joppa. When he arrived, they brought him to the room where her body lay.  All the widows were weeping, showing the coats and garments, which Dorcas made for them, while she was alive.

Peter asked them to leave the room, and kneeling down, and praying, Peter said, “Tabitha, get up. And, she opened her eyes.” 

 

When she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand, and lifted her up.  Then, Peter presented her to them alive.

That was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord, after Peter stayed several days in Joppa with Simon the Tanner.

 

The last verse, and the mention of Simon the tanner, is actually the beginning of the story of Cornelius’ conversion.  It belongs at the beginning of the next chapter.

 

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