Saving Saul (Acts 9:1-19)
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Saul Seeking (verses 1-2)
Saul had been in hearty agreement with putting Stephen to death, and he was now seeking followers of Christ in order to bind them, bring them to Jerusalem, and punish them accordingly. As a “Hebrew of Hebrews” Paul followed Abraham, and his strict monotheism left him convinced that any divine honoring of Christ was blasphemy. Little did Saul know, that on his journey to destroy those who belonged to the Way, he himself would become a follower of the Way, and by the next time he visited Jerusalem he would be a proclaimer of the Way.
Seeking Saul (verses 3-9)
As Paul was on his journey, “a light from heaven” shone, a powerful manifestation of heavenly glory. After Jesus called to Saul twice, which is an indication of intense emotion, Saul responded by calling Him Lord, not because he was recognizing Christ as Lord necessarily, but out of reverence. Remarkably, in his answer to Saul Jesus identifies Himself with the church to such a degree that to persecute Christians meant persecuting Christ. As our sympathetic High Priest, He acts in solidarity with His people, and is with us both in blessing and in suffering.
Jesus commands Saul to “get up and enter Damascus” (v6) and Saul goes. Saul the persecutor, with a letter from the high priest, has been transformed. Now, Saul the witness has a commission from Christ, a heavenly commission that trumps his previous earthly mission, and having had an encounter with the living Christ, he obeys. Having set out searching to threaten and kill Christians, Saul was now entering Damascus humbled, blinded, and led by others as he was now a captive of the Christ he had opposed.
Sending Ananias (verses 10-16)
The shock among the church that Saul had been converted must have paralleled the shock among the disciples when Judas betrayed Jesus. Yet, the church is always to be ready to receive new believers no matter their past sins. God has forgiven them, and we must be willing to do the same. From the outset, the Lord makes clear the suffering Paul will experience in fulfillment of his calling, of which we also read in Paul’s own letters (2 Tim 2:9; 3:11; 2 Cor 4:8-9; 11:23-28; 12:10).
Saul Saved (verses 17-19)
Though Ananias was fearful for his life when first given the assignment, he now greets Saul as a “brother” (v17). He believed God, that this man was His “chosen instrument” (v15). Though Saul’s conversion is un unrepeatable experience, the results are very typical of all Christians: a personal encounter with Christ producing a surrendering to serve Him and a seriously altered life. Saul didn’t just accept Christ, he also accepts Christ’s people. When faith in Christ is genuine, a person will also embrace Christ’s Bride, the Church.
Questions for Application:
- The amazing patience that Christ showed to Saul serves as an encouraging example to us all. What Stephen had prayed in Acts 7:60, the Lord had brought to pass in the life of this enemy of the Church. Do you anticipate God saving those you call enemies? Do you anticipate God saving those you call enemies?
- Do you know someone that is indifferent to the gospel? Do you know people that are hostile to the gospel? In what ways should this passage affect the way you pray for and interact with them?