Acts 9 – Paul, Peter but not Mary

This chapter is about Paul and Peter, but I will only make a short comment about Paul and his conversion.

Blogger note: I decided to go back to my original Scripture format since it is easier to post and edit. It does make the post longer since each verse is on it’s own line.

First recall that Saul was there at the stoning of Stephen:

Acts 7:58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

We pick up his story here in Chapter 9.

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Act 9:2  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.

These next two sections show the miraculous calling of the Lord to Saul and to Ananias. Notice that both respond immediately to their call which had specific tasks to do. Ananias was initially hesitant due to Saul’s reputation. Note the words of both their responses in v6 and v10.

Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Act 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.

Act 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.

Act 9:7  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

Act 9:8  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.

Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Act 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.

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

Act 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.

Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Saul, to be called Paul was clearly as much an Apostle, personally chosen by the Lord as the original 11/12, just not called until this point…

Act 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:

Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Act 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.

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

Saul took this first act of faith and despite his original task immediately identified with those he was going to bind and bring to Jerusalem. In the next section we see he went directly to the mission of preaching Christ to the Jews, even proving Jesus was the very Christ. this earned him both in Damascus and Jerusalem death threats and in both instances the disciples took him away from their grasp.

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

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

Act 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?

Act 9:22  But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Act 9:23  And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

Act 9:24  But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Act 9:25  Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Act 9:26  And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

Act 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.

Act 9:28  And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

Act 9:29  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Act 9:30  Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Act 9:31  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea 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.

You can read the rest of the Chapter about Peter on your own, and we will come back to Paul later.