Acts 9
Saul's Damascus Road Conversion
1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Tarsus was a city in Asia Minor, which is now part of southeastern Turkey. Alexander the Great took the city and hellenized it, meaning that he infused Greek culture into the city. Tarsus became a university town and along with Athens and Alexandria, it became one of the three Greek cities that contained a medical school. Tarsus was a city of education. In 171 B.C., Jews were forced into Tarsus to assist the economy.
Saul was brought up as a Pharisee in the City of Tarsus. At the age of five, he began to study the Scriptures. At age ten, he began to study Judaism, which was the rabbinic tradition. At the age of twelve, he learned a manual trade, which for Saul was tent making. At the age of thirteen, he was confirmed at his bar mitzvah. At this time, he was sent to study Judaism from Gamaliel. Saul was a Roman citizen, so this meant that he was born into a wealthy family. Saul learned four languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin. Saul was most likely a short man, because later on in Acts, he will be identified with Mercury, who was shorter than Jupiter. According to Acts and the Epistles, Saul was not an outstanding orator, but he was a great intellect with a keen insight into the Scriptures and rabbinic logic.
The Greek word for "breathing" is ἐμπνέω (empneo), meaning to inhale. Saul was inhaling and exhaling threats and slaughters against the disciples. Saul was Satan's right hand man. He existed to destroy this new infant church.
Saul went to the high priest, who was a Sadducee. This meant that the Pharisees and Sadducees were combining both politically and religiously to eliminate the infant church.
2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of The Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
According to 1 Maccabees 15:20-24, Rome gave the Jewish High Priest jurisdiction over religious cases outside of Jerusalem. Therefore, this persecution was supported by both Church and State. Notice that the letters were sent to the synagogues in Damascus, not to the king. Saul was hoping to gain support from the local synagogues in Damascus, where there were about 16,000 Jews.
This new sect was not yet called Christians, but it was called "The Way". Saul persecuted both men and women. He placed them in chains and brought them into Jerusalem so that he could place them on trial for blasphemy.
3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus, and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven.
As Saul was nearing Damascus on his mission to kill more Christians, he was surrounded by the Shechinah Glory.
4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? "
Whenever God appears to humans, humans always fall face down upon the earth. In Greek, the voice of God said Shual, Shual, not Saulos, Saulos. This meant that the voice of God was speaking in Hebrew, not Greek. The doubling of the name was the method of a special call of God. Examples of God's special calls in Scripture are "Abraham, Abraham" In Genesis 22, "Moses, Moses" in Exodus 3, and "Samuel, Samuel" in 1 Samuel 3.
When one persecutes the body of Christ, then one persecutes the head as well. Therefore, Saul was guilty of persecuting the head of Christ through the body of Christ.
5 And he said, "Who art thou, Lord?" and he said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutes."
Saul did not know who was speaking to him, so Jesus identified himself.
6 "But rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."
Saul arose from his prostrate position and entered the City of Damascus, not as a persecutor, but as the persecuted.
7 And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.
According to this verse, the men heard the voice. However, in Acts 22:9, the men did not hear the voice. Skeptics point this out as a Bible discrepancy, but it only takes one little Greek word to destroy their argument. In this verb, "voice" is in the genitive case, meaning that the men heard a sound. In Acts 22:9, "voice" is in the accusative tense, meaning to hear with understanding. The men heard a voice, but they could not understand it.
The men saw the light, but they saw no man. Saul saw both light and man. On having seen the resurrected Christ, Saul now received the gift of apostleship.
8 And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
Saul was blinded by the light, and then his vision was restored. He also received spiritual insight, when he could see the Messiah.
9 And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.
Saul's life was about to change. Instead of the hunter, he will become the hunted.
Ananias Baptizes Saul
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, and the Lord said unto him in a vision, "Ananias". And he said, "Behold, I am here, Lord. "
Ananais is the Hebrew name חֲנַנְיָה (haniniah), meaning Jehovah gives graciously. The Greek word for "behold" is Ἰδοὺ, which comes from the root ὁράω, meaning to see with the mind. Ananais heard God and he perceived in his mind that he was being called by God to perform some special task. Because of Saul's persecution, the Church had now spread to Damascus. Ananias was a member of the Damascus church.
Charismatics will uses this verse to support the notion that God talks to them audibly today. However, once again, Luke was recording history, not doctrine. The doctrine of the modern New Testament church is found in the Pauline epistles. According to Paul, Christians are now commanded to study and apply the teachings from the entire written Word of God. If Christians think they are hearing from God today, then they are either deceiving themselves, hearing their own depraved human nature speak to them, or they are hearing from a demon disguised as the voice of God.
11 And the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus, for behold, he prayeth."
The Greek word for street is ῥύμη (rummy), meaning a narrow path or street between houses. Most of the streets were crooked. Ananias was to travel down the Straight Street, which ran from the eastern gates to the western gates of Damascus. He was to shout out until he found the house of Judas. Judas means "praise", as it was a very popular Hebrew name.
12 And he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.
Paul was physically blind at this time, but he could see visions.
13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem."
The Greek word for saints is ἁγίοις (hagios), meaning set-apart ones for God's service. Saints are not elected by Catholic cardinals. Saints are chosen by God before the foundations of the world to perform a service for God. Believers are all set apart by God for special service. According to Acts 26:10, Saul had imprisoned and even killed the saints in Jerusalem.
14 "And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. "
The saints in Damascus knew in advance that Saul had received letters from the High Priest to find them, bind them, and return them to Jerusalem for blasphemy.
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."
In Greek, "Go thy way" is πορεύομαι (poreuomai), meaning to travel your journey and accomplish your God-given task.
In Greek, "chosen vessel" is σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς (skeuos eklogais), meaning a vessel of choice. God created and chose the vessel. The vessel did not choose its creator. In other words, God chose Saul before Saul chose God. Saul was a murderer of Christ's body, the Church. God had to physically blind him so that he could see the risen Christ. Believers are all chosen and called by God. Without this efficacious call, we would all be haters and murderers of saints.
Saul was called to take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the world, or to Gentile kings. He will bring testimony to Herodus IV, to Herod Agrippa II, and to Caesar Nero. Saul will also go to the children of Israel, because he will always go “to the Jew first.”
16 "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake."
Saul had caused suffering among Jewish believers. Now, he must suffer.
17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Ananias called Saul "brother", meaning that he accepted Saul as a messianic believer. Saul saw the resurrected Christ, so this made him an apostle of the second type. Saul already had received spiritual sight, but now he received his physical sight back as well. It is possible that Paul had a physical defect in his eyes, because the Philippians wanted to give Paul their own eyes. Saul was baptized with the Holy Spirit at conversion, but now he was filled with the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit meant to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Spirit gave Saul the ability and authority to fulfill his call of witnessing to Gentile kings.
18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized.
Luke is a doctor and he used many medical terms, such as λεπίς (kepis), meaning flaky or scaly substance. Saul received his physical sight and then he was water baptized, identifying him with his new faith.
19 And he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.
Saul was strengthened by the food. He came to persecute the apostles, but now he was living and learning from them.
Saul Preaches Christ at Damascus
20 And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
Saul came with letters to persecute those in the synagogues of Damascus, but now he was proclaiming the gospel in these same synagogues. This change in his character must have surprised the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the apostles, the Damascus synagogues, and Satan himself. The Son of God is a messianic title of Jesus, meaning that Jesus is deity. This is the only time that this title is used in the Book of Acts.
21 And all that heard him were amazed, and said, "Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? And he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests. "
The Greek word "havoc" is πορθέω (portheo), meaning to lay waste, destroy, or overthrow. Saul's goal was to destroy Christianity. Instead, he turned the Roman pagan religions upside down and replaced them with Christianity.
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
Saul grew in strength by gaining more bible doctrine. His bible doctrine was so strong, that he confused the Jewish rabbis in the Damascus synagogues. They could not answer his bible doctrine.
It was probably after these events, that Saul went to the Arabian wilderness to learn directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. This event was mentioned in Galatians 1.
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23 And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him,
If Satan cannot defeat you intellectually, then he will attempt to remove you from this earth. The "many days" are three years.
24 but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him,
Until Paul's mission was completed, he was immortal. The same is true with believers today. Beleivers have a calling and a mission. God will not allow anything to happen to believers until they fulfill their sovereign mission.
Some may ask, what happens If a believer goes into revisionism and or carnality? Doesn't God either take his life (sin that leads to death) or turn him over to Satan where he is no longer under the protection of God and subject to death?
Yes, God will either spank him and put him back on course, or choose someone else to complete the task, or bring him home. Whichever choice God makes, he has already made it in eternity past, so the believer is still immortal until he completes that task. It may have been that he was called to complete a task, used his human viewpoint to rebel, God spanked him, it did not work, and God brought him home. This entire process still fits underneath God's sovereignty. This was all part of God's divine plan.
In conclusion, it may have been that it was a believer's sovereign mission to fail and be called home so that another could accomplish the task and bring glory to God. God often uses the sinful choices of humans, demons, and and even Satan himself to fulfill his sovereign plan.
25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
By this time, Saul had his own disciples. Paul felt shameful about this escape, so he may not have been trusting God to protect him.
Saul in Jerusalem
26 And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
After three years, Saul attempted to join the Jerusalem church. However, they were afraid of him, because Saul had killed many of their relatives. They thought that he might still be a Pharisee.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
Barnabas means "a son of comfort". Barnabas took Saul to Peter and John and convinced them that Saul was the real deal.
28 And Saul was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem.
Peter and John were able to open doors for the ministry of Saul.
29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spoke and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were seeking to kill him.
Saul stayed in Jerusalem and debated the Hellenistic Jews, just as Stephen had done. Just as they once plotted Stephen's death, they now plotted the death of Saul.
30 And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
The believers found out about the conspiracy and sent Saul back to Tarsus. Saul stayed there for ten years, possibly experiencing the third heaven.
31 So the church throughout all Judea, and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.
Since Paul was no longer a persecutor of the church but a teaching apostle, the surrounding churches existed in peace. Yet, there was more persecution to come.
Peter Heals Aeneas
32 And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda.
The apostles were beginning to evangelize outside of Jerusalem. Because of earlier persecutions, many Jewish believers had migrated to Lydda, where they began a new church.
33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was a paralytic.
Aeneas was a Jewish believer who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.
34 And Peter said unto him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee; arise and make thy bed." And straightway he arose.
Peter healed Aeneas immediately and completely. Peter commanded him to make his own bed, because others had been making his bed for the last eight years. If charismatics possessed the actual gift of healing today, then they should be able to go to every hospital in Dallas and repeat this miracle.
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
The "all" is all of the Jews. They observed this miracle of authentication and were converted. All of the churches up to this time were all Jewish with some Gentile proselytes.
Peter Raises Dorcas from the Dead
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 alms deeds which she did.
Joppa was ten miles northwest of Lydia. Tabitha is the Aramaic name for gazelle. The two southern tribes were exiled to Babylon, a nation which spoke Aramaic. Chapters 2-7 of Daniel were written in Aramaic. The Greek name for Tabitha is Dorcas. It means gazelle as well. Tabitha was her Hebrew name and Dorcas was her Gentile name. Many Jews still take on Gentile names in order to escape anti-Semitism. Tabitha did many good works for the church.
37 And it came to pass in those days that she fell sick, and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.
According to the Mosaic Law, a body in Jerusalem had to be buried by sundown. A body outside of Jerusalem must be buried within three days. Washing the dead body was common Jewish practice. The upper chamber was her burial chamber.
38 And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, "Delay not to come on unto us."
Peter was ten miles away. He was called to come quickly.
39 And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber' and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
The mourners showed Peter all of the garments that Tabitha had made. They were attempting to give Peter some reasons why she needed to be raised from the dead.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Peter followed the example of Jesus. Just as Jesus removed all of the onlookers, prayed, and said "arise", so Peter did the same. Tabitha arose, just as the daughter of Jarius had risen.
41 And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
Satan cannot resurrect people from the dead, and neither can charismatics. The power of charismatics is limited to the power of Satan.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
If charismatics could raise the dead, then they could send a powerful message to the unbelieving world.
43 And it came to pass, that he abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
According to Leviticus 11:40, the tanning of hides was an unclean occupation, because they had to handle dead bodies. Therefore, tanners had to live 50 miles outside of Jerusalem. The importance of this Scripture was that Peter was beginning to not keep all of the Mosaic Law. He would have to drop more of the Law in the next chapter.
