This Week with the Word

The Uniform Lesson for October 19
Background & Commentary by Sam E. Stone

In the past two lessons we have highlighted the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to empower the church (Acts 2). Next we noted its rapid growth, and watched as new servant-leaders began their work (Acts 6). The intervening chapters tell how Stephen was killed by hostile Jews (Acts 7). Some Christians left the city due to more threats. Acts 8 tells how the gospel was taken from Judea into Samaria.

Saul of Tarsus is first introduced in Acts 7:58 where he is holding the coats of those who stoned Stephen to death. From this point on, he becomes a dominant figure in Luke’s history of the early church. A native of Tarsus, Saul had acquired knowledge of Greek language and culture there. Although he was a Roman citizen, Saul was of pure Jewish extraction (Philippians 3:4, 5; 2 Timothy 1:3).

Seeing the Savior/Acts 9:1-9

Verses 1, 2. Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. Paul expanded on what he did in later testimony (see Acts 26:11). The inclusion of women in the persecution was especially cruel (8:3; 9:2), helping make him the “chief of sinners” in his eyes (1 Timothy 1:15). Christianity was commonly known simply as “The Way” at this time (see Acts 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22; compare John 14:6).

Verses 3, 4. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Damascus was about 140 miles northeast of Jerusalem. The light was brighter than the noonday sun (Acts 26:13).

Verses 5, 6. “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. Actually seeing the risen Jesus changed his whole life (1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8). Jesus appeared personally to Saul to make him a witness and an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 26:16). An apostle had to have seen the resurrected Jesus (1:22). Note that Saul was not saved by his miraculous vision. Instead he came to salvation in the same way as every other believer (see 22:16).

Verse 7. The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. This may have been like the time when God answered Jesus out of Heaven and the people thought it was thunder (John 12:29). Saul’s companions heard the sound but did not understand the words (22:9).

Verses 8, 9. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. Paul’s companions were probably members of the temple police in Jerusalem, sent with him by the Sanhedrin to arrest Christians. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. This self-imposed fast offered ample time for Paul to consider how wrong he had been. The one he thought an imposter was in reality the Messiah!

Hearing a Preacher/Acts 9:10,11, 16-19a

Verses 10, 11. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.” Our printed text omits the next four verses which explain how Ananias received the news. Not well! Even after the Lord spoke to him, he remained hesitant. Likely the Christians in Jerusalem had sent a warning to their brethren in Damascus that Saul was on the way there. Ananias reminded the Lord of Saul’s hostility there (vv. 13, 14). “Couldn’t somebody else call on him, Lord?” God replied, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (v. 15).

Verses 16, 17. “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” An example of the fulfillment of this prophecy is found in 2 Corinthians 10-12. God finally convinced Ananias to go to Saul. Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” A fuller account of their conversation is reported in Acts 26:16-18.

Verses 18, 19a. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. After being unable to see for three days, when Ananias placed his hands on Saul, his sight was returned. Ananias then said to him, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Paul did exactly what Peter had instructed the first believers to do on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). Saul’s new life in Christ began. He was part of the transformed community. |L

Sam E. Stone is the former editor of Christian Standard. He continues his writing and speaking ministry from his home in Cincinnati, Ohio.