January 24, 2008 Acts 9:1

01/24/2008

Acts 9:1 - 6 (HCSB)

¹Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ²and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

³As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. ⁴Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵“Who are You, Lord?” he said. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. ⁶“But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Acts 9:20 - 22 (HCSB)

²⁰Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”

²¹But all who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name, and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

²²But Saul grew more capable, and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah.

In this story, Saul (you will more readily recognize as the apostle Paul, prior to his conversion), was persecuting the new Christians. Interestingly, in the Greek, these followers are called “people of The Way.” It is an interesting reference, but quite accurate as Jesus Himself said that He was the way to the father.

Nonetheless, Paul was an ardent Jew. He was schooled under a respected Jewish teacher and was present at the stoning of Stephen. Paul was as devout a Jew as one could be. And in his devotion, Paul wanted to squash the people of “the Way” for their heresy. He even obtained permission from the synagogue in Damascus giving him permission, in effect, to arrest members of “the Way” in Damascus and take them to Jerusalem for trial and most likely, certain death.

Paul’s pursuit of the members of “the Way” had become quite notorious, but on his way to Damascus, something miraculous happened. Some say Paul was struck by lightning, others may have other theories, yet the fact remains that something happened to Paul that completely changed how he viewed “the Way.” In this experience, Paul was stricken blind and Jesus tells Paul to go to Damascus and wait. Meanwhile, the Spirit of God told Ananias to go and heal Paul. Like Jonah, Ananias at first resisted this instruction because of Paul’s reputation. Little did Ananias know what role his obedience would have in the spread of the Gospel.

Meanwhile, Paul turns from this fellow who is bent on destroying “the Way” to one of its greatest advocates. What changed? Did the scriptures change? Did Paul finally realize that his education was wrong?

What changed in Paul’s life is no different than what happens in any believer’s life. Humans, in their natural logic, cannot make sense of the Gospel. It is only when the Holy Spirit intervenes and shows us truth that we are awakened to something we could not comprehend before.

For Paul, the scriptures said exactly the same thing after his conversion as they did before. But now, guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul understood what the scriptures were saying. Paul’s enthusiasm and drive for serving the one, true God did not change. It was just redirected.

There are two things to draw from this passage. First, we are not all going to be like Paul. Our ministry may seem very insignificant. Like Ananias, we must follow what the Holy Spirit calls us to do—regardless of the danger, because we do not know whether one small act we do will facilitate a Paul, or Charles Spurgeon, or Billy Graham. Secondly, people will never come to believe in Jesus based solely on reason, because it is the Holy Spirit that guides them to truth. When you speak to someone about Jesus, remember that it is not your words or wisdom that will bring them to understanding, but rather the work of the Holy Spirit. All your words will do is open their minds to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work.

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