A Study in The Book of Acts
The New Testament Church in Action
Part 9
Saul/Paul
This week we are in Acts chapter 9.
Acts 9: 1-5: 1. Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2. and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3. And as he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'' 5. And he said, "Who are You, Lord?'' And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.''
This is a very familiar event to Christians, it is the conversion of Saul, the Pharisee. As we saw in Acts Chapter 7: 58, when Stephen was stoned to death, his killer laid their coats at the feet of Saul.
Who was Saul? He was born in Tarsus which is now modern-day Turkey. He was a Greek speaking Jew and a Roman citizen. His father was a Pharisee and at age thirteen he was sent to Jerusalem to study under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. He was very devout. He was probably in Jerusalem when Jesus was present. He was very zealous in the persecution of the new believer, known then as “followers of the Way.” This makes sense as Jesus said, “I am the way..”
John 1:6: 6. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Saul was a zealot; he evens confesses this in Philippians. Being a Pharisee, he did not believe in the resurrection, despite being a Greek speaking Jew, He was a Hebrew through and through. Paul tells us of His zeal in Philippians.
Philippians 3: 4-6: 4. though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5. circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6. concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
As Paul says, He was a Jew among Jews, circumcised on the eighth day, of the tribe of Benjamin and a Pharisee, blameless where the “law” was concerned. But totally ignorant of the truth.
So, as Saul, which means destroyer in Hebrew, is traveling from Jerusalem to Damascus, to persecute the believers, He is suddenly halted by the light from Heaven. Which causes him to fall from his horse on His face. Saul hears the voice of the Lord saying, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?” And His answer is, “Who are you, Lord?”
Being a well-educated, “religious Pharisee”, he knew in and believed in visions. He knew He was in the presence of God, but not in the presence of the Lord Jesus.
Jesus answers Saul and says, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting..” the remainder of this verse is in many translations but left out of many.
What does it mean to kick against the “goads or pricks?” A goad was a long pointed stick used to herd cattle. “Kicking against the goads” was a common saying among farmers in this time period. It is referring to resisting the inevitable. Going against the flow. If you are being prodded along with a pointed stick and you decide to resist, and go against it, you will be hurt. This is what Jesus is asking Saul, why are you going against the inevitable? Many scholars believe Saul was already resisting the pull of the Holy Spirit and this is why he was so zealous in His persecution.
Acts 9: 6-9: 6. So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?'' And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.'' 7. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
We all know the story, when Saul got up, he was blind. This is both physical and symbolic. It is representative of the physical effect of gazing into the Heavenlies and seeing Jesus face to face, but it is also a physical representation of Saul’s spiritual blindness. He was spiritually blind and now physically blind as a result. I am glad God loves me, He cares for me, He called me. I am thankful that he did not physically blind me as a result of my spiritual blindness and stupidity. Amen?
Now enters Ananias. I am only going to read a few of the scriptures here.10-11:
Acts 9: 10-11: 10. 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.'' 11. 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.
Who is Ananias? He was a believer in Damascus. According to Act 22:12: 12. "Then one, Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,
He was a devout educated man, knowing the word available at the time and living it as best he could. He was also obedient. I also believed He regularly spoke with the Lord, as he immediately recognized The Lord’s voice when he heard it. The Lord called and Ananias immediately responded, “here I am. Lord.” How many of us today can say we always respond to God’s voice like this?
In the next verses the Lord tells him to go to Saul. Now, Ananias questions this by saying, 12. "Then one, Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, “ Lord, this guy is really bad, he has come to kill the believers, are you sure this is the guy you want me to go see?’
However, the Lord reassures Ananias and he is obedient to the word of the Lord and does what he is instructed to do. Lay hands on Saul and lead him to Christ.
Acts 9: 17-18
- 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.'' 18. Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Saul is healed, saved, baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. He immediately goes to the local synagogue and preaches the word. He decides to go by his Roman name, given him at birth, Paul, which in Latin, means small or humble.
The rest of this chapter tells us Paul got stronger physically and spiritually. It is between verses 22 and 23 of this chapter that many scholars believe Paul spent his time in the wilderness. Where God revealed much of the teaching we see in the remainder of his teaching.
Finally, as the chapter closes, we see the first attempt made on Paul’s life. Now he is the main target of the Jewish leaders, He is seen as both a traitor and threat.
But his conversion and time spent in the wilderness, gives the church peace from prosecution. ( See Acts 9: 32)
God is beginning to take the church in a new direction, with the conversion of Paul. As we all know Paul becomes the apostle to the Gentiles.
But we also see, that the business of the New Testament church continues.
The remainder of this chapter is devoted to Peter’s trip to Lydda and then on to Joppa.
We see the healing of Aeneas, who was crippled and bedridden for eight years. This led to the salvation of “all who dwelt in Lydda and Sharon. Wow, all who lived there were saved, not many but all!
Then the believers in Joppa heard Peter was in Lydda and came to get him to go to Joppa to pray for the widow Dorcas, who had died. Peter did exactly what the Lord did with the ruler’s daughter in Matthew 9:25. He got the unbelief out of the room, so the Holy Spirit could work.
We see many acts of the New Testament Church in this chapter.
Heavenly intervention to lead a zealot to Christ. Obedience to the Lord to fulfill his mission for this new believer and to strengthen another believer’s faith. I believe that Ananias had to leave Paul’s presence stronger in the Lord, after he had seen what the Lord had done as a result of His obedience. Obedience to the word, whether corporate or individual is a true mark of a believer. You can sing, shout, pray but how you respond to the Lord and His direction is very important in your walk with the Lord, do not let disobedience, reluctance to get out of your comfort zone, disbelief, feeling of inadequacies keep you from doing what God has called you to do.
The preaching of the Gospel, that led to complete salvation in two cities!
The miracles of healing and the raising of the dead.
But we also see the ministry of Dorcas, who ministered to the widows.
These are all mandates of the New Testament church and we are to walk in them.