Acts 9
If you knew you were going to lose your sight tomorrow, what would you do today? In Acts 9 Luke records the interaction of Saul with Jesus - a life changing experience. Let us begin with Acts 9:1-2...
"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
What do we know about Saul – prior to his conversion to Paul? Some members of the early Church had fled to Damascus (in modern day Syria) about 150 miles away. Saul's mission is to arrest Christians and return them to Jerusalem to be imprisoned. Jesus had another idea and had a very personal meeting with Saul. We continue reading Luke's narrative at verse 5:
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 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. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything."
Jesus has a way of getting our attention, does he not? Why would God use a man like Saul? What character traits do you think God saw in Saul? Why do you think God used such a dramatic event to gets Saul’s attention? What is significant about the three days that Saul/Paul was blind? What do you think Saul/Paul thought about during those three days? What do you think Paul learned from this experience? What we do know is that Saul complied with the directive given him. Continue reading at verse 10:
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 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. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
I love how honest Ananias is toward God. What impresses you about Ananias? What do we learn from his reaction to the Lord's request? What can we learn from Ananias? Which of your character traits can God use? Continue reading at verse 15:
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Even though Ananias expresses concerns, when God tells him to go, he goes. This is the obedience that God wants from us. Three days ago Saul met Jesus. This day he is filled with the Holy Spirit after speaking to Ananias. While we cannot “know” the timeline of Saul’s confession of faith what might be a reasoned assumption based upon Luke's narrative? Continue reading at verse 20:
20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
What was the source of Saul/Paul’s power in verse 22? What is ironic about verses 23-24? Have you ever done something that caused you to have a bad reputation? Saul has a terrible reputation. How does one change their reputation? Continue reading at verse 26:
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
It is 136 miles from Jerusalem to Damascus. In the first century this would be a 5-7 day walk. If people sought to kill him, how can he escape? What do we learn about Barnabas in this passage? What is the lesson for us? In good times and in hard times, the Church continues to grow! In Galatians 1:21-22 Paul writes, "Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preaches the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me." We do not know exactly how many years Saul, now Paul, was in Tarsus. Clearly, God was working on him during this time and the church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and growth. What we do know is that Paul spends some time in Tarsus, his home, and Luke returns the focus of his narrative to Peter. Continue reading at verse 32:
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
What is the result of Peter’s visit to Lydda? Note that after Saul’s conversion and move to Tarsus, he is not heard from for some time – perhaps a few years. In any case, Luke quickly shifts his narrative to the ministry of Peter. This focus on Peter continues until the Counsel of Jerusalem in chapter 15.
Joppa is now the city of Tel Aviv. Modern day Tel Aviv is similar to any large city in America. However, in Jonah 1:3-4 we learn, "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Continue reading at verse 39:
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon."
What do we learn about Dorcas (Tabitha)? What was the key to raising Tabitha/Dorcus? How was this different from Aeneas? How is Peter's ministry now much like Jesus' ministry? Have you experienced God’s healing in your life?