Acts 9:1-19a (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 9:1-19a

• So we’ve seen the persecution of the Jerusalem Church begin with the stoning of Stephen, and then spread throughout the city, causing most of the Christians outside of the apostles to flee Jerusalem
• This has also now led to the Church spreading and growing, just like Christ had told the apostles it would before His ascension. 
• Samaria has received the gospel. Philip has converted the Ethiopian Eunuch.
• Now we return to the story of Saul, who is leading the charge against Christianity and is now looking to pursue Christians that have fled Jerusalem during the chaos
• Acts 9:1-2
• Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 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.
  • This is the beginning of the story of the conversion of Paul, which is the most detailed story we find in the entire Book of Acts.
    • Luke includes this story in three different places in the book.
  • Luke describes Saul as breathing threats and murder against the disciples
    • This draws to mind the description of Saul giving approval of the stoning of Stephen at the end of Chapter 7/beginning of Chapter 8
  • He’s still pursuing new targets for his wrath, but not necessarily murder
    • What is he seeking to do? Arrest those participating in the Way, and bring them back to the Sanhedrin where they may receive the death penalty
  • He does this by doing what?
    • Going to the High Priest, probably still Caiaphas at this point, seeking letters to the synagogues in Damascus for permission to arrest those found to be participating in the Way
  • The question is actually whether any evidence supports a situation in which the Sanhedrin had authority over synagogues so far from home.
    • Damascus was about 150 miles from Jerusalem, a six day walk.
    • Luke does not say that the letters were papers of extradition, however, so the letters may simply have been letters introducing Paul and his mission, as well as recommending that such Jews be handed over to him. They wouldn’t have carried any official authority to enforce an arrest
• Acts 9:3-7
• 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.
  • Saul wasn’t far from his intended target, which means he had been on the road for more than 5 days at this point
  • Have you ever been blinded temporarily by a bright flash of a camera or something like that? This event would have been even more intense than that, bringing Saul to his knees
  • At the same time, a voice boomed from heaven, addressing Saul. What did the voice of Christ challenge him with in this interaction?
    • To account for his actions, especially in view of the fact that the persecuting of Christians amounted to the persecuting of Christ
    • Could Paul have had this event in mind when he penned II Corinthians 4:6, “6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
  • Was Paul convinced that he had been permitted to see the resurrected Christ, just as the other apostles had seen Him?
    • I Corinthians 15:3-8: “3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.”
  • Was Saul the only one on the road that experienced this manifestation of Christ?
    • According to Luke’s record, his travel companions heard a noise, but did not understand the conversation or see what Saul saw
    • Saul’s use of Lord here is more than likely a respectful sir, but he soon realized he was being confronted by someone with more power than he had ever experienced in his life
• Acts 9:8-9
• 8 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. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.
  • What physically happened to Saul because of this encounter with Christ?
    • He was blinded, and had to be led by the hand into the city
      • Put yourself in his shoes here. He was a powerful and proud man, who is now humbled and having to be led by the hand after encountering Jesus, whom he has just discovered he was persecuting
    • He also fasted for three days. What does this indicate about Saul
      • How completely devastated his spirit was because of this encounter
      • This period was likely a time for much reflection on what he had witnessed and what it meant regarding his place among the people of God
• Acts 9:10-16
• 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied. 11 “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. 12 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.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
  • Put yourself in Ananias’ place here. What would you have done?
  • He more than likely was not one of the Christians that had fled Jerusalem during the persecution, because Luke describes him as having heard from many people about Saul.
    • He knew of Saul, and his reputation, but doesn’t appear to have first hand knowledge
    • He was still very wary of meeting someone with the reputation of Saul, and maybe even rightfully so
    • He also knew that Saul had authority from the Chief Priests to wreak havoc on those in the Way
  • How did God convince Ananias to go to Saul anyway?
    • He told Ananias what Saul’s mission was going to be, building in a layer of support for Saul after his acceptance of Christ.
• Acts 9:17-19a
• 17 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.” 18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.
  • What happened when Ananias obeyed God’s command and went to find Saul?
    • He laid hands on Saul, and something like scales fell from his eyes
    • Saul also received the Holy Spirit after being immediately baptized, before taking food to regain his strength