Chapter 9 Saul’s Conversion (9:1-31) So significant is Saul’s conversion that Scripture records it three times (9:1-30; 22:1-6; 26:4-18). Saul was a Jew who was a Roman citizen. He was born in Tarsus (Acts 21:39), an important city in the Roman province of Cilicia. It was located where Asia Minor and Syria meet, not far from Antioch. Saul’s father must have been a Roman citizen, since Saul was a citizen of Rome by birth (Acts 22:28). Like his father before him, he was a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), who studied in Je- rusalem under the most respected rabbi of his day, Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). His first appearance in Acts is at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58). He was a leader in the persecution of the church. His own testimony was that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities (Acts 26:9-11). After chapter 8, which describes the ministry of Philip in outlying Samaria and Judea, the scene shifts back to Jerusalem. Verse 1—Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord—Persecuting be- lievers consumed him—it had become his whole life—he breathed hatred and death. • went to the high priest—Considered by the Romans to be the head of the Jewish state. The high priest had the authority over Jewish internal affairs such as this one. Verse 2—and asked for letters from him—which would be an authority given to Saul to act on behalf of the high priest. • to the synagogues—they evidently began during the Babylonian captivity. With the Temple destroyed and the Jews dispersed in a foreign land, they became the gathering place, school for children, and place of teaching and reading of Scripture. • at Damascus—The ancient capital of Syria, about 60 miles northeast of the Sea of Galilee, it had a large Jewish population. • so that if he found any belonging to the Way—The early description of Christianity as the Way appears several times in Acts (19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). • both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem—I [Saul] persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons (Acts 22:4). Verse 3—As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him—It happened about noon (22:6). I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me (26:13). Saul actually saw Jesus in glorious brilliance (Acts 9:17, 27; 22:14; 26:16; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8), while his companions saw only the light (Acts 22:9). • The last person to see the resurrected, glorified Christ was Stephen. The man involved in Stephen’s death is the next person to see the glorified Jesus Christ. Verse 4—and he fell to the ground—Saul and his companions fell into the dirt (26:14). • and heard a voice saying to him—Those who traveled with Saul heard the voice of Jesus as Saul did, yet they did not understand the words spoken (9:7; 22:9; see also John 12:29). 1 • “Saul, Saul—The repetition of the name is for emphasis, as Luke does in other places (Luke 10:41; 13:34; 22:31). • why are you persecuting Me?”—By persecuting Christians, Saul inflicted blows directly on their Lord. Saul knew enough about the Christian faith to hate it and persecute it. He knew the apostles and Philip and Stephen had miraculous power over disease and demons. He knew about the truth, but here Jesus crushed him into the dirt, and he was made to believe it. Verse 5—And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”—Saul knew this must be an appearance of God and called Him “Lord,” a recognition of deity. • And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting”—There was no doubt who was speaking: (1) Jesus (2) whom you are persecuting. And Saul had just called him “Lord.” Application—Paul’s own testimony is: …even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy…and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life (1 Timothy 1:13-16). Also, Saul’s conversion itself was a miracle. If God only wants converts, why not do this with everyone? No—this was a miracle that so dramatically completely changed a person’s life—it was further evidence of the truth of who Jesus was. The genuineness of Saul’s conversion is seen when immediately he asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). He humbly submitted himself to the will of the Lord he had hated. Verse 6—but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do—In answer to Saul’s question, “What shall I do, Lord?” Verse 7—The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Verse 8—Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and lead- ing him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus—His entry into the city was very different than what he had anticipated. Instead of barging in as the conquering hero, the persecutor of the Christians, he entered helplessly blinded, being led by the hand. Verse 9—And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank—Time to think. Verse 10—Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias—Acts 22:12 says he was a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there. He was most likely one of the spiritual leaders in the Damascus church—someone who would have been one of Saul’s main targets. • and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord”—Reminding us of the child Samuel’s reply to God (1 Samuel 3:1-10). Verse 11—And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul—This is a test for Ananias. He knew of Saul’s reputa- tion (vv. 13-14). He would have no way of knowing of Saul’s conversion, since Jesus did not reveal it to him. • for he is praying—This tells us what Saul was doing during his three days of no sight. Verse 12—and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight”—God had given Saul hope for receiving his sight. These two visions were about to bring together two men who were poles apart. 2 Verses 13-14—But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name”—He responded somewhat like Jonah responded when God told him to go preach in Nine- veh. “But…”Ananias must have thought his life would be at stake. Verse 15—But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine—God had a plan, and He chose Saul to be the tool or means God would use to make that plan a reality. Application—Notice it wasn’t Saul’s idea. He was going about his business of persecution, and it was God who chose Saul and stopped him in his tracks. As Paul would later write to the Romans …so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls (9:11). Galatians 1:1 says, Paul, an apostle, not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead. • to bear My name before the Gentiles—Romans 11:13; 15:16. • and kings—such as Agrippa (Acts 25:23ff) and possibly Caesar (2 Timothy 4:16-17). • and the sons of Israel—Paul often preached to the Jews (Acts 13:14; 14:1; 17:1, 10; 18:4; 19:8). Verse 16—for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake—First Corinthians 4:9-13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29; 12:7-10 tell of some of Paul’s sufferings.