College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 9:8-22
IN DAMASCUS. Acts 9:8 b - Acts 9:22.
Acts 9:8 b
and they led him by the hand, and brought him to Damascus.
And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.
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.
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;
and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.
But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:
and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.
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:
for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.
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.
And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
and he took food and was strengthened.
And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.
And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
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.
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
Acts 9:10-16 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there, departed, and entered into the house and came unto me, and standing by, and laying his hands on me said, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And straightway there fell from my eyes as it were scales and in that very hour I received my sight and I looked upon him.
284.
Tell what you know of the character and position of Ananias.
285.
Why did Ananias call Saul brother?
And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from His mouth; 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. For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name. And I arose and was baptized; and I took food and was strengthened. Acts 9:3-9; Acts 9:17-19; Acts 22:6-16; Acts 26:12-18 are interwoven so as to make a complete narrative of all the facts stated in each account (Compiled by Wilbur Fields). Here are a few further points in this conversion.
1. Saul believed and repented and confessed Christ as Lord. (This is the same word used in the epistles when referring to Jesus as the Christ).
These events that occurred on the road accomplished a conversion. The word conversion carries the thought of a complete change of mind and heart. But Saul was not forgiven of his sins until he had arisen and was baptized and washed away his sins (Acts 22:16).
Conversion takes place in the heart of the sinner but forgiveness occurs in the heart of God. Faith, repentance and confession completes the one, baptism completes the other.
2. Any effort exerted against the church is an effort directed against Christ. This thought is vividly portrayed in the fact that the church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). One cannot do injury to the body without affecting the head.
3. Jesus did not tell Saul what to do to be saved but rather directed him to a humble disciple in Damascus (Acts 9:6). The Lord never has and never will directly tell any soul what to do to be saved for He has ordained through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Corinthians 1:21).
Acts 9:8 b - Acts 9:9 When the light above the brightness of the Syrian sun fell upon Saul, Saul saw Jesus in all His effulgent glory. He could not, however, bear this intense brightness for long. Indeed he was blinded by it.
Following his conversation with Jesus, he lifted himself from the dust of the Damascus road and opened his eyes. The Lord had opened the eyes of Saul's understanding but had blinded the eyes of his body. (To say then that Ananias was sent to give Saul his spiritual sight is an absurdity, seeing that this was clearly given to him in what he saw and heard.)
286.
What two things did Ananias mention as the purpose for his being sent to Saul?
287.
What were the scales spoken of in verse eighteen? Was this not the receiving of his spiritual sight?
What a contrast do we behold in the humble penitent believer being led by the hand into Damascus from the maddened Pharisee who was to march through the gates of the city in a triumphant quest for any that were of the Way. What thoughts of guilt and humiliation must have coursed through the mind of Saul as he followed in darkness the hand of him who led him.
Jesus had told Saul that it would be told him what he must do. But He did not say when Saul was to receive this information. Saul evidently felt that his sin was so great that he could only fast and pray. This he would do until his Lord would again speak to him. God knew what was best so He left Saul in this state for three days and nights.
The Master had said that it was hard for him to kick against the goad. In this statement we have some indication of the thought that Saul in his heart of hearts was troubled concerning this Jesus of Nazareth. The death of Stephen had made a profound impression upon his mind (Acts 22:20). He must have been one of the synagogue of the Libertines since he was from Cilicia (Acts 6:9). If so he with others was not able to withstand the power and wisdom by which Stephen spake. The proof from the Old Testament that Jesus was the Christ must have been presented by Stephen. And then Saul was present when Stephen made his defense before the Sanhedrin (Acts 26:10). All of these influences were galling the conscience of this young man.
Saul's intense persecution was but a quenching of the voice of his conscience. When his heart was filled with anger and self-righteousness and his life with activity he had no time nor inclination to listen to the call of his better self. But now in the house of Judas on the street called Straight, as he knelt in prayer, all of these pent up feelings and. facts came all at once into focus. He saw clearly for the first time the dark picture of his evil work.
288.
Explain the difference in the use and meaning of the words conversion and salvation as found in the case of Saul.
289.
Did Jesus tell Saul what to do to be saved? What import does this have for us?
290.
Did Saul see Jesus when he looked into the bright light?
291.
What is the meaning of the phrase it is hard for thee to kick against the goad?
292.
Do you believe that the intense zeal of Saul's opposition to Christ had anything to do with his conscience?
Acts 9:10 Sometime during the course of the three days there appeared in the mind of Saul the image of a man whom he had never seen. The vision was so clear, however, that he knew he would recognize him if he were to see him in person. As he meditated he saw in this vision this stranger come up to him and lay his hands upon him to give him his sight.
This man whom God had shown to Saul was a humble disciple of Jesus named Ananias. A short time after Christ appeared to Saul the Lord spoke to Ananias calling him by name. Ananias promptly answered with the statement that suggested a desire to hear and do the bidding of the Lord. Behold I am here, Lord. The words of instruction were direct and explicit; he was told where to go and what to do. Ananias reacted like many of us would today. He asked Why? And then added the reason for his query. Hear him say: Go and make a call on Saul of Tarsus? Why Lord when I think of what many fellow disciples have told me of the terrible cruelties of Saul in Jerusalem, then when I know that he is here armed with authority for the same purpose I cannot understand, I am filled with fear.
See the wonderful patience and love of our great God. Who is man to question the authority and word of Jehovah? And yet although the Lord insists on obedience He does not do so without reason. Go thy way or we might say Arise and do my bidding, Then follows the explanation Ananias wanted for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Acts 9:17-19 We have already spoken of the events that took place upon the meeting of Saul and Ananias so it will not be necessary here to repeat them, The only word we would add is that Ananias must have given the Holy Spirit to Saul in the same way Peter gave the Holy Spirit to the three thousand, i.e. when Saul was baptized he received, as did those on Pentecost, the gift from God, the Holy Spirit.
How long did Saul remain in Damascus following his conversion? We have no way of knowing. But we do know that he began immediately to carry out the commission given him by Jesus.
Acts 9:20-22 He made no apology for his work or word but came out boldly with the message that Jesus of Nazareth was none other than the Son of God. (How could he call Him anything else after having seen Him as he did?) Saul's preaching was done in the very synagogues he had previously hoped to enter as a persecutor. Imagine the surprise of those who heard. There must have been present not only those disciples of the Lord but also those who were as zealous for the law as Saul had been, Despite both suspicion and unbelief Saul increased in strength and laid before the minds and hearts of all present such proof that this Jesus was the Christ that the Jews who would not accept were at least confounded. How alike was the response of these Jews to that of Saul with the message of Stephen (Acts 6:8-10).
293.
What was the response of Ananias to the call of God? What is revealed in the answer of God to his hesitancy?
294.
Why would it be natural for us to imagine that Saul would declare that Jesus was the Son of God?
295.
What is paradoxical about the place where Saul preached Jesus?
296.
Tell of the reasons for the amazement on the part of those who heard Saul.