The Conversion and Early Labors of Paul. Acts 9, 1–31.
Paul’s continued enmity against the Church:
1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2and desired of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogs, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
In marked contrast to the earnest labors of Philip in building up the Church of Christ we have here the hostile and destructive activities of Saul. With the passing of time the fire of his enmity did not abate, but was rather fanned to ever greater heat and fierceness. This state of mind had become so habitual with him that he actually breathed threats and murders against the disciples of the Lord. That was the atmosphere which he breathed, in which he lived. The threats alone were a base transgression of the Fifth Commandment, but he also actually followed them up with murder; he delivered all the disciples whom he could capture to prison and death. But his worst sin consisted in his blaspheming the name of the Lord by this opposition and persecution. Saul’s greatest delight at that time would have been to destroy both Christ and all Christendom in one day, had he been able to do so, 1 Tim. 1, 13; Phil. 3, 6; Gal. 1, 13; 1 Cor. 15, 9.1 In this frame of mind he went to the high priest and earnestly besought him for letters, credentials setting forth his authorization in the name of the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. For Saul’s attention had been called to the fact that Christian congregations were being established elsewhere, and the matter gave him no rest. Damascus had a large Jewish population and was the nearest foreign city of importance. To check the spread of the Gospel in this city would be a great victory for the Jews. The Sanhedrin at that time, even under Roman government, had great power and jurisdiction, both civil and criminal. Not only could it have arrests made by its own officers, but it could also deal with cases where the death penalty was not involved. And the authorities of Damascus were not liable to hinder such activities, as long as they were confined to the Jews. It was Saul’s plan, therefore, to have his credentials addressed to all the synagogs of Damascus, in order that he might have full jurisdiction to act. Should he then find any persons, either men or women, “of this way,” addicted to this new doctrine, as he supposed, he intended to bring them to Jerusalem in bonds. Note: The hostility of the vehement enemies of Christ in our days may not be able to show itself in just this way, but they make use of the flimsiest excuses and subterfuges to persecute the Church of Christ. Even as Saul, the Pharisee, sought to establish his own righteousness over against the righteousness of Jesus of Nazareth, and thus became the most dangerous enemy of Christ, so the modern Pharisees take offense at the preaching of salvation by the blood of the crucified Christ.
The miraculous vision:
3And as he journeyed, he came near to Damascus; and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven; 4and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? 5And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Saul, having readily obtained the letters which he desired, lost no time in leaving Jerusalem. To reach his destination, he had about 140 miles to travel in a general northeasterly direction. For Damascus was the ancient capital of the province of Syria, situated about seventy miles from the Mediterranean, from which it was separated by the Lebanon and Antilebanon ranges. The Abana River flowed through it, and the Pharpar ran a few miles south of its walls. Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the world, said to have been founded by Uz, the grandson of Shem, and known to Abraham, Gen. 15, 15. It has always been an important trade center and was also known for its manufactures. The journey, by either the caravan road through Samaria and Galilee, or by the Roman road over Jericho and through Perea and Decapolis, occupied some seven or eight days. One fact stands out with a certainty which cannot be denied, namely, that a state of mind less favorable for conversion than that of Saul when he started out on his mad expedition can hardly be imagined. He was in the very midst of Pharisaic darkness and unbelief, abhorring the very name of Christ and full of resentment and hatred toward those that confessed belief in this name. But the Lord’s manner of dealing with even the most hopeless cases and obstinate enemies passes human understanding. For it was at midday of the last day of the trip, when the travelers had left the snow-capped peak of Mount Hermon behind them, and may have been able to see the city of Damascus in the distance before them, that suddenly, without warning, an extremely bright light from heaven shone round about Saul, so bright as to render him blind. Perceiving that a miracle was happening, he fell to the ground in helpless terror. In that light, and before darkness fell upon him, Saul saw Christ, the Crucified, 1 Cor. 9, 1. And when he had fallen, he heard and plainly understood a voice, which solemnly called to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? With fear and trembling, Saul asked: “Who art Thou, Lord?” either because he could not distinguish from the voice whether it was Stephen or some other victim speaking, or because he wanted to be certain that he was not beset by a hallucination. The Lord now fully revealed Himself to Saul as Jesus, whom he was persecuting by his present treatment and by his proposed measures against the believers in His name. Two facts were thus impressed upon the mind and heart of Saul, that the union between Christ and His Church is perfect and lasting, and that therefore the persecution of the believers was a persecution of Christ Himself. And the searching love of Jesus was immediately made manifest in His warning and pleading cry: It will be hard for thee to strike out against the goads, a figure taken from the driving of oxen by means of pointed sticks, against which they will sometimes attempt to kick. Here the hour of conversion was come.
For there is no heart so strong, though it were nothing but flint diamond, which could hold out and must not break.
Luther, quoted in Stoeckhardt, Biblische Geschichte des Neuen Testaments, 358.
The enemy was vanquished, because the Stronger had come over him and had changed his mind and heart; the Lord had revealed Himself to him, Gal. 1, 16. Saul now, full of trembling and astonishment, has only one purpose in mind, to do the will of his Lord, and asks what the Lord wants him to do.
In this way we should also learn to fit ourselves properly, confess our sins and desist from them, believe on Jesus Christ, and find comfort in His sufferings, and finally yield to the right obedience to God, in order that we may not again by disobedience fall from the great grace and into the wrath of God by an unrepentant life. That means to follow the example of Paul properly, which is written for our comfort and doctrine.
Luther, 13a, 1101.
And then the Lord gave this new convert directions as to his behavior, namely, to arise and go into the city, where he would receive such information as he needed to direct his future course.
Here we should mark especially: Although God from heaven speaks with Paul, yet He does not want to annul the office of preaching, nor make this an extraordinary case; but He directs him into the city to the pulpit and preacher; there he should hear and learn what is to be learned. For God, our Lord, wants to establish something special for no one, but gives His Baptism and Gospel to the whole world, to one as well as to the other. There one may learn how to be saved, and not wait whether God will make something new and send us an angel from heaven. For it is His will that we go and hear the Gospel from those that preach it; there we should find it, and nowhere else.
Luther, 13a, 1098.
The end of the vision:
7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Luke here for the first time mentions the companions of Saul, and describes their behavior. The men that accompanied him stood stupefied when the miracle occurred; for they heard the sound of the voice, but were unable to see any one. If we here add the witness of chap. 22, 6–11 and chap. 26, 13–18, in which passages the same event is described, we obtain the following picture. The great light from heaven was seen by all, but only upon Saul was its immediate effect that of throwing him to the ground. His companions stood stupefied for a few moments, as though frozen stiff with fear and apprehension, trying to realize the meaning of the vision. But after the first shock their limbs would no longer support them, and they also fell to the ground. And it was while they were lying down that the men heard the voice, the utterance of some one speaking, and Saul caught every word, but they did not hear definitely, nor could they understand who it was that spoke. And while the form of Jesus was clearly revealed to Saul in the midst of the light, the others saw nothing but the light. So much, then, these companions of Saul could testify to: that a great light appeared, that a voice was heard from the midst of it, that Saul became blind as a result of the miracle. Saul now arose from the earth, but when he tried to open his eyes, he found that he had lost his sight and could see nothing. It was necessary for his companions to take him by the hand and thus lead him into the city. And there his blindness continued for three days, during which time he neither ate nor drank. That was the result of the experience which he had gone through, by which he had been shaken in the innermost parts of his being. The conversion of a person is not always attended with such miracles as in the case of Saul, but it is always as miraculous. It is the Lord that conquers and vanquishes the sinners, His enemies. His holy Law strikes them to the ground, drives them to fear and despair. But He immediately follows with the comforting message of the Gospel, and then the wonder is performed. The resistance and enmity of the unregenerated heart is changed to a cordial acceptance of the love of God. That is the miracle of conversion.
The Lord commissions Ananias:
10And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for, behold, he prayeth, 12and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight.
A certain disciple there was at Damascus, one of those whose life and liberty Saul had set out to seek. His name was Ananias (“Jehovah is gracious”), more appropriate in this case than in that of his namesake, chap. 5. Whether he was a presbyter of the congregation at Damascus, as some commentators have suggested, cannot be determined. To him the Lord appeared in a vision, whether in a dream by night or in a condition of ecstasy by day, is not stated, and called him by name. Ananias, in immediate obedience, signified his readiness to hear the command of the Lord, for he recognized in the speaker his Lord, Jesus Christ, the Head of His Church. And the Lord at once gave him the necessary, explicit directions. He was to arise and to proceed to the street which bore the name Straight, conspicuous even to-day in a city full of crooked and curved streets, as having only a few slight angles in the length of a mile. It runs westward from the eastern gate into the heart of the city.2 On this street there lived a man by the name of Judas, and in his house Saul had found lodging. The Lord had directed Saul to go to the city, where he would be told what he should do. For a matter of three days the stricken man, in total darkness, had waited for the promised message. It is often a part of God’s specific plan to lay inactivity upon some person, by sickness or by some other affliction. At such a time the heart has sufficient opportunity for earnest, prayerful communion with God. The new spiritual life of Saul was giving evidence of its presence in prayer; in prayer he was obtaining strength and patience to endure the test of the Lord to the end. And a vision had also been granted to him in which he had seen the very Ananias to whom the Lord was now speaking come in to him and restore his sight by the laying on of hands. The vision had been granted Saul partly to give him the assurance of healing, partly to make him see the hand of God in all the things which were befalling him.
The objection of Ananias answered:
13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem; 14and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name. 15But 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; 16for I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake.
The obedience of Ananias was put to a severe test by the Lord’s commission, when he heard the name Saul of Tarsus. He had heard from many people concerning this man, what and how many and how various evil things he had done to the Lord’s saints in Jerusalem. Note the honoring name “saints,” which is here given to the Christians for the first time, as such that have been cleansed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus. They are His saints, purchased and won by Him for His own; He is their Redeemer and their God. Ananias also had the definite knowledge that Saul here in Damascus had authority and power from the high priest at Jerusalem to bind and thus to arrest all those that called upon the name of Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Here is another honoring description of the believers, which also characterizes them exactly. They place their full and complete trust in their Savior, a fact which they show by their calling upon Him. But the Lord quickly silenced the objection of His servant by repeating His command: Go! And He took away all the apprehensive fears of Ananias by telling him that Saul was to be a vessel of His choosing, a vessel in which, as it were, the riches of God’s mercy would be preserved for the use of many. For in this chosen vessel, Saul of Tarsus, God had determined that His name should be carried before Gentiles and before kings and before the children of Israel. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is like a precious jewel, for whose bearing He had selected and prepared a fitting casket. The special mission of the man who became the Lord’s apostle afterwards was here already indicated. His chief work was to be among the Gentiles, to those not belonging to the children of Abraham according to the flesh. But he was to testify also before kings and rulers, as the governors of Cyprus, of Achaia, of Judea. And lastly, his work was to include his brethren according to the flesh. The Lord here opened the door of the future wide before the eyes of Ananias, in order to work in him the proper willingness to execute the commission. But not only in witnessing for the Lord would this man Saul be found a fitting, choice vessel of the Lord, but Jesus intended also to let him experience suffering for His name’s sake. These sufferings would come upon him as a part of the obligation of the Lord’s vessel. No longer will he bring sufferings to others, but he would bend his back willingly to the load which the Lord knew to be the measure of his strength. That is the privilege of believers to this day, both to confess the name of the Lord and to endure the reproach of Christ.
The baptism of Saul:
17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
The apprehensions of Ananias had been removed by the Lord’s revelation. Leaving his own house, he entered into that which had been designated to him by the Lord. Finding Saul, he at once laid his hands upon him to transmit to him recovery from his blindness, and at the same time addressed him as a Christian brother. His conversion had changed the raging enemy and persecutor to one that was in true communion and union with all the believers. He explained the reason for his visit by stating that the Lord had sent him, the same Jesus that had revealed Himself to Saul as he was traveling along the way. He was now both to receive his sight and to be filled with the Holy Ghost. By his conversion, Saul had received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and by the present imposition of hands, besides regaining his eyesight, he was given a new and extraordinary measure of the light and power of the Spirit, as well as the power to perform miracles, thus being prepared for the ministry for which he had been chosen. As the immediate result of the laying on of hands, sight was restored to Saul; from his eyes there fell down a deposit, or skin, like scales, either a crust due to inflammation or a growth caused by the Lord for the time being. And the baptism that followed brought the reception of the Holy Ghost, as also his formal acceptance into the Christian Church. Thus, also, Saul received the assurance and the seal of the forgiveness of his sins, chap. 22, 16. Now the time of uncertainty and doubt was past, the crisis had safely been weathered. Saul now took food and strengthened himself. After the days of severe remorse he broke his fast. The Christians, contrary to popular opinion, are not given to foolish asceticism, but make use of the gifts of the Lord in a proper way. The young convert was now also introduced to the disciples, to the members of the congregation at Damascus; he openly joined their ranks and thus confessed his faith. Note: The excuse which is sometimes offered that people may be just as good Christians without belonging to the Church does not hold in the face of the example here narrated.
Saul preaches Christ:
20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogs that He is the Son of God. 21But all that heard him were amazed and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Saul had, by the Word of the Lord through Ananias and probably also by direct command of God, received his commission as preacher and missionary. And he lost no time in entering upon his duties. Quickly, as soon as possible, he preached in the synagogs, heralding the message, proclaiming Jesus that He is the Son of God. That was the great content of his message, the fundamental doctrine of Christianity. This man, of whom they had heard that he had been the most violent opponent of Christ, was now a firm believer in the Lord Jesus and used his remarkable gifts in spreading the doctrine of the Savior’s deity. The astonishment of the Jews at this sudden change was increased with every day. It seemed to them more and more incomprehensible that the man who had made it his business to destroy those that called upon the name of Jesus in Jerusalem, and had come down to Damascus with the expressed object of leading all those that believed on Jesus bound to the chief priests, should now himself be a disciple of the Nazarene. Meanwhile Saul was growing in spiritual strength. He was increasing in understanding and power, in his ability to prove that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah. In proportion as he received strength from above he increased in the power of his testimony, the result being that the Jews of Damascus were confounded and could find no way to contradict his statements.
Saul in danger of his life:
23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him; 24but their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
“After many days were fulfilled,” after a long period of time had elapsed. Luke does not include a further account of Saul’s activities at this point, nor does he speak of his journey into Arabia, Gal. 1, 17, which seems to have occupied the greater part of three years. When Saul returned from Arabia to Damascus, the hatred of the Jews broke out against him, not merely in one individual outburst, but in a definite plan to kill him. They took counsel together to get him out of the way, to make away with him. Saul was no longer a champion of the Jews; he was a powerful enemy, whose arguments were so convincing as to be unanswerable. But their plot was made known to Saul. While they were lying in wait for him to murder him, while they were carefully watching the gates of the city, both day and night, in order that they might be sure to find him, the disciples took him one night and let him down through the wall in a basket. At the point where they accomplished this, there may have been a house built over the wall, or the wall may have had a window. In this way Saul escaped from the city, 2 Cor. 11, 32. 33. The ethnarch of the city, under King Aretas, seems to have aided the Jews in their plot. The escape of Saul in this manner was probably about three years after his conversion, Gal. 1, 18.
Saul at Jerusalem:
26And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them, coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians. But they went about to slay him, 30which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified, and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Three years before, Saul had left Jerusalem, a young Pharisee, a bitter enemy of the Christians. Now he returned a disciple of Jesus. He attempted to join himself to the disciples, to be acknowledged as a brother and to be received into their communion. But all were afraid of him, since they could not believe that he actually was a disciple. The news of his conversion had either not reached them, or they regarded the rumor as unreliable. In their distrust they felt that they needed the strongest kind of evidence for the sincerity, both of his conversion and of the honesty of his motives in desiring to join them. Then Barnabas, the “son of consolation,” chap. 4, 36, took charge of the matter. He either had known Saul before, or he had at least learned of him through reliable channels. Taking Saul to himself, he vouched for him and brought him to the apostles, to Peter and James, Gal. 1, 18. 19, relating to them how the Lord had appeared to him on the way, and how He had spoken to him, and how Saul, in Damascus, had spoken with boldness in the name of the Lord. This testimony removed the doubts of the brethren. Saul was now with them, coming in and going out, taking part in all their meetings, and using every opportunity to testify of the Lord Jesus. And he continued to speak openly and boldly in the name of the Lord. He did not confine his activity to the disciples, but carried on disputations with the Hellenists, the Greek-speaking Jews, probably in the very synagogue in which Stephen had so successfully debated with them. And the same hatred which they had shown against Stephen now turned against Saul. They attempted to kill him; they planned to take his life. But the brethren got knowledge of the plan, and so they brought him down to Caesarea, the seaport on the Mediterranean, and from there sent him away to Tarsus, his native city. The attempt against Saul’s life may have been connected with the vision in which the Lord told him to leave Jerusalem, chap. 22, 17-21. And now the churches, the congregations, throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had rest. The persecution which had begun with the death of Stephen and had driven the disciples into many countries had now ceased. The congregations were edified, built up in the faith and in Christian knowledge; they walked, led their whole life, in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost; they were filled with reverence toward Christ and enjoyed the strengthening consolation of the Spirit. And so they were multiplied, the number of the disciples increased constantly. It is the Lord that builds His Church; He grants rest after storms and makes even persecution serve the spread of His Word.
Two Miracles Performed by Peter. Acts 9, 32–43.
Peter at Lydda:
32And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole; arise and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
Luke now returns to Peter, who had been mentioned last in connection with the visit to Samaria. It seems that he was engaged in a general visitation of the congregations. He passed through all quarters, through the various districts where Christians had been gathered, and finally came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. Lydda, in the Old Testament Lod, 1 Chron. 8, 12; Ezra 2, 33, was situated about ten miles southeast of Joppa and about one day’s journey northwest of Jerusalem. The Christians there are called saints, because through faith in Christ they had been sanctified and consecrated to God. In this city Peter found a certain man named Aeneas, who for eight years had been confined to his pallet, being paralyzed. His case was humanly hopeless. But Peter knew that the power of Jesus Christ was not limited by the hopelessness of human conditions. Therefore he said to him: Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals thee; arise and make thy bed. Peter does not claim the power for himself; he ascribes the whole work to Jesus Christ. The command was at the same time a word of power, and Aeneas at once arose. Not only the people in and about Lydda, but also the inhabitants of the great valley or plain of Sharon, which extended its fertile fields northward to Mount Carmel, saw the man that had been healed, and they turned to the Lord. The miracle was a testimony to the power and grace of Christ, and through it many were brought to faith in Him.
The miracle at Joppa:
36Now 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. 37And it came to pass in those days that she was sick and died; whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39Then Peter arose and went with them. 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. 40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and, turning him to the body, said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and, when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. 42And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. 43And it came to pass that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.
Joppa, the present Jaffa, was the seaport of Jerusalem, situated on the Mediterranean. There was in that city a certain disciple, a Christian woman, named Tabitha, which is the Aramaic form of the Greek Dorcas, both names meaning gazelle. This woman was full of good works and alms which she did. Her faith was active in love; she did not merely speak of charity, but practised it. In those days she became sick and died. The women of the congregation washed the body, according to custom, and laid it in an upper chamber. Since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him with the urgent request that he should not delay to come to them. They did not prescribe what he should do; but their faith looked for help from the Lord through His servant.
Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the upper room. There all the widows stood around him weeping and showing him the coats and garments, the tunics and mantles, which Dorcas had made while she was with them. Their grief was not selfish only; they had lost a friend and benefactress whose hands had ministered to their necessities. Peter, following the example of his Lord in the house of Jairus, put them all forth. He kneeled down and prayed. Then, turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. He gave her his hand, lifted her up, called the saints and the widows, and presented her alive. The miracle became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Peter remained many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner. The mention of his trade is significant, for it shows that Peter was already learning to disregard the ceremonial prejudices of the Jews, who regarded such an occupation as unclean. The Lord was preparing His apostle for a still greater lesson.