ACTS

ACTS 9

• Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 
• 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 

This future apostle the Lord was going to bring to the knowledge of the truth that we now know as Paul the apostle, actually thought he was in the right. He thought that he was doing God a service. There were many throughout history and in the Middle Ages, even in the Protestant Reformation that harmed innocent people thinking they were doing the will of God and acting in His name. 

Here is what Jesus said about that:

• John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 
• 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 

Notice that Jesus said those that do these things do not even know Him or the Father. Even the Popes who led in the persecution against dissenters did not know the one they claimed to represent. 

• Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
• 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 

We are not to ever persecute those that refuse to accept our message of the gospel. There were times in history where Jews persecuted the first believers. Then the leaders of the Roman Empire persecuted the Christian believers. Later the Roman Catholic church persecuted the Jews and dissenting Christians. Then sadly those that came out of error went into the same error and some Protestants persecuted the Puritans, Anabaptists and different ones. The Puritans after a season persecuted the Quakers and other cases although not as widespread. Some established denominations persecuted the Pentecostals. Those that leave their first love for Christ and for fellow believers sometimes do this in ignorance thinking God is pleased with such things. 

Jesus said that we were to harm no one. We are never to force conversions in the name of Christ. His kingdom is not of this world and we cannot force people to be Christians. We are not to build the literal kingdom but the spiritual one by preaching the gospel that saves the inner person. Jesus will set up the literal visible kingdom at His coming. We must preach the gospel that will change the inner soul of man and save that soul from hell. We are not to set up earthly kingdoms or try to spread Christianity by force or taking over governments. It sounds good in a way but it is not the way God chose for us. We have to be changed by the spirit of God working within us, we can't be changed by just changing religions or joining a religious community. True religion changes the inner soul and spirit. This can never be forced. 

Those that harm people in the name of religion and especially in the name of a Christian religion will bear the judgment of God. We see here though that God had mercy on Paul perhaps because of the prayer of Stephen when Saul was consenting to his own death. 

• Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

I believe that this chapter in Acts shows the direct answer to Stephen's prayer in the case of Saul, later called Paul. 

• Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 
• 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 

To persecute the child of God is the same as persecuting Jesus Himself. 

• Acts 9:5 And 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. 

Saul fought very hard against the believers in Jesus Christ. He was zealous in his religion but his religion was vain and for nothing. 

• Acts 9:6 And 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. 
• 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 
• 8 And 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. 
• 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

We probably wouldn't have felt like eating or drinking if this would have happened to us. 

• Acts 9:10 And 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. 
• 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 

The Lord works different than we sometimes think He should. We may wonder why God uses Ananias instead of just doing everything Himself. He uses other believers as vessels for His will to be done. He could have sent an angel and in some cases He does, but in this case He sends Ananias because those that are filled with the Holy Spirit should be able to lay hands on the sick. Another reason could be that God wanted the other believers to understand that He called Paul to preach the gospel.

• Acts 9:12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 
• 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 
• 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 

Ananias was asking, "Are you sure Lord?" God doesn't make mistakes so perhaps he was just asking God this in case he heard wrong. It is okay to question God if we are not sure we understood Him correctly.

• Acts 9:15 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: 
• 16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 

God called Paul to be a messenger to the Gentiles. God saw something in Paul that would cause Him to have compassion on Gentile nations after his conversion.

• Acts 9:17 And 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. 

Ananias was obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He had to forget his own prejudice against this person and obey God. Perhaps using him was a way of showing Paul that the Christians that he formerly persecuted were out for good and not evil. 

• Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 

We can assume that he was also baptized in water but verse 17 says that Saul was to receive the Holy Spirit so it could have been the Holy Spirit baptism that is mentioned. God doesn't intend for us to preach the gospel without being baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

• Acts 9:19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 

God allowed Saul to remain a few days with other disciples to be strengthen and have necessary fellowship with other believers. We are never meant to be loners in the gospel. If we could just see each other as gifts from God instead of trying to go it alone. 

• Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 

Saul wasted no time. He began to preach the gospel he once fought against. Paul was zealous in evil and then when converted, gave the same zeal toward the preaching of the gospel. 

• Acts 9:21 But 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? 

Some might still have thought he was pretending and was not sincere in order to spy out the Christians and arrest them. 

• Acts 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 
• 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 

Because of his sudden change of heart, he was hated by Jewish religious unbelievers more than the hate they had for the other believers. This is why the gospel will cause our own families to hate us if we formerly believed something different. Of course many times our conversion will cause others to believe too but in some cases just the opposite happens. I actually know someone whose family thought he was in a cult when He gave his life of Jesus. They didn't actually hate him but thought he was deceived. Sometimes though, those that resist the truth will hate those that change and receive the truth.  

• Acts 9:24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 
• 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 
• 26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 

This is a normal reaction and understandable. Paul later suffered many things because of the gospel he preached but he couldn't be killed until the work God called him to do was finished. 

• Acts 9:27 But 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. 

God usually gives us at least one who will come along side of us and stand up for us. Barnabas boldly believes that God has called Saul and opens the way for the other apostles to receive him. We shall see later that Barnabas had a dispute that separated him and Paul, but at first we see the compassion and soft heart that Barnabas had. That soft heart divided him from Paul later when he felt sorry for John Mark when Paul was aggravated with Mark. It ended up though having two missionary teams instead of one. Paul and Silas, Barnabas and John Mark.

• Acts 9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 
• 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 
• 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 
• 31 Then 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. 

There were many times when God gave believers rest from persecution so they would not be overwhelmed. The conversion of Paul brought about this period of rest. 

• Acts 9:32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 
• 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 
• 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 
• 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and turned to the Lord. 

Miracles in the name of Jesus helps convince unbelievers in the truth of the gospel. That is why signs are to follow believers. It is to confirm the word of truth. It is never to exalt one person and or rob God of any glory. It is to bring souls to Jesus Christ so that can be saved from sin and enter into promise of eternal life. They are also to help the ones in need because of the mercy of God but mainly it is to further the cause of the gospel of Jesus. 

• Acts9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 

She did not do these things to earn any salvation but she did these things because she had love for her fellow believers. This was the fruits of the spirit flowing within her life. We are created in Jesus Christ to do good works because we love Him and want to reflect His love to others. 

• Acts 9:37 And 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. 
• 38 And 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. 
• 39 Then 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. 

No doubt she was in a better place but the Lord must have thought she was still needed here and allowed her to be brought back to life. This miracle also reminded the followers of Jesus who was the resurrection and the life.

• Acts 9:40 But 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.

Perhaps he had to remove the unbelief out of the room in order to work the will of God.  Unbelief hinders miracles.

• Acts 9:41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. 
• 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. 

We see also that this miracle brought even more people into believing in Jesus. This was one of the purposes of miracles and healing, to confirm the word of God and show the Jesus was the Christ sent to save the lost and usher in the kingdom of God.

• Acts 9:43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner. 

I believe God still wants us to do miracles to further the gospel but I do notice that miracles are needed most in places where there is so much false religion or places where the gospel has never been preached that God has to do miracles to convince people that their religion is not the truth. 

•  Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. 

Why should anyone just believe something they have never heard before unless they were convinced it was true. The presence of the Holy Spirit usually will draw many even without visible miracles but in some cases people have to see something to believe. God in His mercy wants to reach as many as possible because without Jesus no one will be saved. Without faith in Jesus we will die in our sins. When we believe on the name of Jesus our sins are cleansed and they are not held against us. In many cases people will believe just by hearing but sometimes God will use miracles to convince people of the truth. In other words signs followed the believers to confirm the word of God they preached. DC