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
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
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
At that time, all Christians
were part of Judaism and worshipped in Synagogues. Saul wanted to arrest Christians as heretics
and bring them to
As he came near
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
Acts 9:10-19
10 And there was a certain disciple at
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
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
In
The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to
Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard how much harm he has done to Your saints
at
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
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
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
But, Saul increased in spiritual strength, and confounded the Jews that lived
in
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
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
When Saul came to
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
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
However, Barnabas took him
in, and brought him to the Apostles.
Barnabas declared that Saul had seen the Lord on his way to
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
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
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.