Acts 9:3-8

ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS. Acts 9:3-8 a.

Acts 9:3

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:

Acts 9:4

and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Acts 9:5

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:

Acts 9:6

but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 9:7

And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.

Acts 9:8

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened he saw nothing;

Acts 9:3-8 a What a prospect for conversion! There was nothing in the mind or attitude of Saul that would suggest the right-about-face that was to be made on this Damascus road. The distance from Jerusalem to Damascus was about 140 miles. If the company of Saul traveled twenty miles each day it would have been the noon of the seventh day that his conversion took place. While the walls of the city of Damascus loomed before him there suddenly shone round about him a light out of heaven. Since the conversion of Saul is recorded in three places in the book of Acts, we deem it helpful to here present a harmony of these three records:

And it came to pass (whereupon) as I made my journey (journeyed) to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, and I drew nigh unto Damascus about noon (midday) suddenly there shone (I saw on the way) from heaven a great light, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me.

277.

How could the high priest have influence in Damascus?

278.

What is significant about the name used to describe the Christians of Damascus?

279.

How far was the distance to Damascus from Jerusalem? How long do you suppose it took to make the trip?

And when we were all fallen (and I fell upon the earth) to the earth (ground), I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. And I said (answered), Who are thou, Lord? And he said (the Lord said), I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest.
And the men that journeyed with me (were with me) stood (evidently they had risen in the meantime) speechless, hearing the voice (or sound), but they heard not (understood not; 1 Corinthians 14:2) the voice of him that spake to me.

And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and stand upon thy feet, and go into Damascus (the city,) and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do (what thou must do); for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness, both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear to thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.
And I (Saul) arose from the earth, and when my eyes were opened (having been closed upon seeing the bright light and the Lord), I saw nothing. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, they led me (being led) by the hand of them that were with me, and brought me (I came) into Damascus. And I was there three days without sight and did neither eat nor drink.

280.

What was the precise time of the conversion of Saul?

281.

Read Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9 and then explain the apparent contradiction,

282.

Read Acts 9:7 and Acts 26:14 and explain the apparent contradiction.

283.

Give in your own words the message Jesus spoke to Saul on the Damascus road.