1. CONVERSION OF SAUL.

Acts 9:1-9.

(1) But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, (2) and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (3) And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven: (4) and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: (6) but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (7) And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice (or, sound), but beholding no man. (8) And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. (9) And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.

As the missionary work is going forward and reaching the hearts of people, as it has through the preaching of Philip to the eunuch and others, the church is growing in her work of soul saving. The opposers of the church were not satisfied to confine their cruel opposition in the city of Jerusalem. Saul has been a successful persecutor in the city, but at this time the church was going forth to do aggressive work, and the Lord did not allow Satan, through Saul, to lay his hands any further on the efforts of His disciples, in spreading the Gospel outside of Jerusalem. Saul received letters from the Jewish authorities to go to Damascus to the synagogue, and any men and women found there, followers of the Lord Jesus, to bring as prisoners to Jerusalem. This young Pharisee had a strong belief in the God of Israel, in His promises concerning the destiny of Israel. He was born in Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia. His bringing up was on the strictest Jewish order. All the observances of the law and the tradition of the Elders were conscientiously followed by him. Saul, however, received his religious education in Jerusalem. He was under the instruction of the great teacher, Gamaliel.

Saul, with his letter to bring the Christians from Damascus, started on his journey. Saul was as blind as his nation. He was indeed an enemy, and a great enemy. Surely only the grace of God could save such a man, and so the grace of God only can save such a nation of whom he is a type. The impression made upon Saul, who stood by when Stephen was stoned, saw him kneeling and offering the prayer, " Lord, lay not this sin to their charge," was not forgotten. It must have been the starting point of his conversion, and on the way to Damascus the heavens were opened once more. This great sinner, who had not only hated the name of Jesus, but had assisted in putting to death those who did believe on Him, could now, by his own vision, see in part what Stephen saw and hear the words, " Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" in harmony with his actions. Whenever Saul, by word or deed, did anything against a disciple of Jesus, it was Jesus who was persecuted.

Saul and his companions were struck down by the light. Those who journeyed with him stood speechless after the Lord spoke with him. They had fallen to the ground, but now arose and were speechless. The voice called Saul by name. While the text indicates that his eyes were opened, yet he could not see as before; his companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.

QUESTIONS.

• What was said about Saul before?

• How far was Damascus from Jerusalem?

  Damascus, one of the oldest cities in the world, was about 140 miles northeast of Jerusalem.

• Why bring Christians bound to Jerusalem?

  To be tried by the Sanhedrim and punished as that body might decree.

• Where was Saul born, and give his two names?

  He was born at Tarsus. Saul was his Hebrew name and Paul his Greek name.

2. ANANIAS BAPTIZES SAUL.

Acts 9:10-18.

(10) 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. (11) 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; (12) and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight. (13) But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:(14) and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. (15) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel (Gr. vessel of election) unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:(16) for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake. (17) 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 earnest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. (18) And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized.

Being left three days without sight, gave this great persecutor an opportunity to test his religion. At this period the unbelieving Jews, surrounding him, may have tried to comfort him, but could not. The Lord again had His messenger in Damascus to instruct Saul what to do. Ananias was told the exact place where he was and what Saul was doing, and that He had opened to him in a vision how he was to receive his sight. Ananias, knowing the history of this wicked man, and how much evil he had done in Jerusalem, and having been informed that he had authority from the chief priests, hesitated to accept the message. But the Lord told him what Saul was to be in the future, and what his relationship would be to the Gentiles, and what sufferings would come upon him in representing Him. Ananias went forth to carry out the instruction of the Lord. He spoke to him with the endearing name, " Brother Saul," and put his hands upon Saul and informed him that the same Jesus, who had appeared to him on the way, had sent Ananias that he might have his eyes opened and receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately the scales fell from his eyes and he arose and was baptized. He was now a chosen vessel, a light to the Gentiles and one who entered into the representative sufferings of Jesus as His messenger.

QUESTIONS.

• How did Ananias know what to do?

• Who was Ananias?

  His name is given here in connection with Saul's conversion, but nothing more is known about him.

• Give name and location of street.

• Who provided a teacher for Saul?

• Where did Saul receive his authority to bind Christians? Explain the figure of a " chosen vessel."

  The Lord had called him for a definite work and he became a vessel to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles.

• What is said about Saul's suffering for the future?

• Give full account of what took place at Damascus.

3. SAUL PREACHES JESUS IN DAMASCUS.

Acts 9:19-22.

(19) And he took food and was strengthened.

And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus. (20) And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. (21) 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. (22) But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

When Paul was received into the visible church by the rite of baptism, administered by Ananias, he received meat and his body was refreshed, because he had fasted three days and three nights. Immediately he conferred not with flesh and blood, but straightway entered upon preaching Christ in the synagogues, showing forth that He is the Son of God. How strange it must have appeared to the disciples in Damascus to have this one, who came to bind them and take them to Jerusalem as prisoners, because they believed in Jesus, now declaring that salvation could be had only through this same Jesus whom he had persecuted. The first effect that Saul's preaching had after his conversion was that all who heard him were amazed and said, " Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name," preaching the faith which he once destroyed? The Apostle had seen the risen Christ and heard Him speak on the way to Damascus. Is it any wonder that he increased in strength and confounded the Jews, and by their seeing and hearing Him was able to prove to them that the One he preached was the risen Savior?

QUESTIONS.

• How long was Saul fasting and without sight?

• What did Saul do immediately after his conversion?

  What effect had his preaching on the people who listened to him?

• Describe Saul's experience on his way to Damascus.

  What was the testimony of those who journeyed with Saul to Damascus?

4. SAUL, THE PREACHER, SAVED AT DAMASCUS.

Acts 9:23-25.

(23) And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him: (24) but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him: (25) but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

How long Saul preached at Damascus immediately, we have no means of ascertaining. We learn from Gal. 1:17 that, shortly after his conversion, after his preaching in the synagogue, he proceeded to Arabia and may have remained there for some considerable time. We do not know of his definite employment, but we consider it highly probable that he received, during this period of his retirement in the country of Arabia, fuller instructions in the work that God had for him to do. It was a period in which Saul was emptying his heart of all that was not helpful in carrying forward the work, and allowing God to fill him as the chosen vessel with soul messages as an Apostle of the Gentiles. We know he did not receive his apostleship by appointment from the other Apostles, but by direct revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:12). At the completion of his sojourn in Arabia, he returned to Damascus, where he continued his preaching. "And after many days were fulfilled ":this phrase denotes a length of time. Between verses 22 and 23 came the three years' sojourn in Arabia (Gal. 1:17-18). Saul at this time, in Damascus, confronted the same difficulty in preaching Christ that he, by his own influence and power, had set before others. When he learned of their plot, he hid himself. The city of Damascus was at this time in possession of Aretas, king of Arabia (2 Cor. 11:32). And the governor, influenced by the Jews, kept a watch day and night at the gates, so that he might not escape. Some of the houses in this town were built against the wall, and with upper stories of wood resting on top of the wall, it would be easy for his disciples to let him down in a basket by night and assist him to escape.

QUESTIONS.

• How long a time is given between 22nd and 23rd verses?

  It was about three years after his conversion that he made his escape from Damascus in a basket. Sometime during these three years he had made his tour through Arabia and returned to Damascus.

• Who was king of Arabia, and what assistance did the governor give the Jews?

• How did the disciples assist Saul in his escape?

5. SAUL VISITS CHURCH AT JERUSALEM.

Acts 9:26-30.

(26) And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. (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 at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

(28) And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem,

(29) preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews (Gr. Hellenists); but they were seeking to kill him. (30) And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

This first visit to Jerusalem was three years after his conversion. Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, he at once proceeded to associate with the Christians, but they were afraid of him, and many of them believed him to be a spy. Why he did not return at once, is not stated, but he was under the leadership of Him whom he was to preach. He did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did he go up to Jerusalem to confer with them who were Apostles. His apostleship was not to be received from man, but by direct revelation. The twelve in Jerusalem had nothing to do with his becoming an Apostle. Even when he arrived in Jerusalem, three years after his conversion, the twelve would have nothing to do with him, except Barnabas, who declared to the church that Saul had seen the Lord; that he beheld His glory on the way to Damascus, and had already proved his genuineness by publicly declaring Him as the Messiah. His stay in Jerusalem was but fifteen days, and it seems from the text that his special purpose was to have conference with Peter. He was appointed an Apostle to the Gentiles. This was his special mission, and no doubt the purpose of his conference with Peter.

While he tarried in Jerusalem, he boldly proclaimed the change he had undergone by speaking fearlessly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by disputing against the Grecians, who probably were some of his associates at the time of the stoning of Stephen. The loss of such a man to the Jewish faith was very discouraging, and they resented his spirit and courage by plotting against him and seeking to slay him.

When the brethren knew, when his friends became aware, that these unbelieving Jews were trying to do with Saul what he had inspired his associates before his conversion to do with Stephen, they deemed it prudent to send him away from Jerusalem. Saul himself, however, gave a different reason (22:17). God revealed to him, while at prayer in the temple, that another sphere of work was awaiting him, and this outward manifestation of persecution was intended to get him to move forward and occupy his appointed field. Leaving Jerusalem, they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus, his own native city, where he remained until summoned by Barnabas to assist in the church at Antioch.

QUESTIONS.

• Who were Saul's associates when he left Jerusalem as a persecutor?

• Why was the church at Jerusalem so ignorant of his conversion?

• How long was he absent from Jerusalem?

• Where did Barnabas get his information?

  Saul and Barnabas were both foreign-born Jews. Saul knew of his generosity, and sought him out as the one most likely to give him a candid hearing. When Barnabas was once convinced, it became an easy matter to convince the Apostles.

• What Apostle did Saul see?

• How long was he at Jerusalem at this time? Gal. 1:18.

• How did Saul get away from the enemy?

• Who told him to leave and go to Tarsus? 22:17-21.

  Tarsus was his birthplace and home. He disappears at this point from the pages of Luke, but does not retire from activity (Gal. 1:21-24). It is possible that during the time of his silence in the record there may have occurred what is related in 2 Cor. 11—the receiving of stripes and shipwrecks during his service for the Master.