The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
June 13
Acts 9:1-24
Commentary by Nick Boork
June 13
Acts 9:1-24
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June 13 ~ Acts 9:1-24
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, 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 went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Acts chapter 9 records the amazing conversion of Saul of Tarsus to Paul the apostle. There are several reasons why it’s amazing. Saul was the lead enforcer of the Sanhedrin being authorized to search out and arrest Christians for their faith in Jesus. This is equivalent to being a high-ranking officer in the FBI or CIA. Saul was a very religious man highly educated in Judaism. He thought that he was doing the will of God by arresting Christians and getting them thrown into prison and death because in his mind Christianity was a cult. He was on a mission to Damascus for this purpose when the Lord Jesus Christ himself appeared to him in a bright vision and spoke to him in an audible voice confronting him. The Lord needed to straighten out Paul’s thinking about himself. I mean just think about this for a minute. The Bible says that the vision was so strong that Paul fell to the ground hearing the Lord’s voice speaking to him by name Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me? When Saul asked who he was, he said I am Jesus whom you’re persecuting and then he said something very powerful: It’s hard for you to kick against the goads. In other words, Saul you’re going to lose this battle because I’m greater!
Now it’s at this point that God’s divine will and man’s will collide. Why? Because at this point Saul asked Jesus what he wanted him to do. This is very important because it shows us that Saul was willing to obey God and that he now understood that he had been wrong about Jesus. Saul could’ve said leave me alone I’m not interested but we all know that would’ve been very foolish choice because here you have God himself calling Saul by name. Still, Saul had a choice and he made the right choice to do what God wanted him to do. Everyone of us also must make that same choice along the path of life when the Lord reveals himself to us and our spiritual eyes are opened.
Most of us do not experience the kind of manifestation that Saul did but nevertheless the Lord does manifest himself to us in several ways. Many times it is through the hearing of the Gospel or the Scriptures or the conviction of the Holy Spirit and even dreams and visions in which God communicates to us his purpose for our lives. We know that the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul was one of the most radical conversions recorded in the Bible and of all-time. This should give us all much comfort and hope! If God can transform a persecutor of Christianity into the greatest apostle of the New Testament preaching the faith which he tried to destroy then God can save and transform anyone! Saul began preaching Jesus as the Son of God and this brought great persecution against him to the point that no others were trying to kill him for his faith!
Another interesting point that we find in this chapter is that the Lord also spoke to a disciple named Ananias in a vision while he was praying. The Lord specifically communicated to Ananias telling him to go and pray for Saul that he might be healed and receive the Holy Spirit. What this tells me is that in the body of Christ, the family of God, the Lord has people that he’s going to send into our lives to help us right when we need it. I have experienced this countless times where I knew that the Lord was sending a person to speak to me or minister to me or provide resources I needed. I praise the Lord for his goodness and faithfulness! He’s truly the Good Shepherd that cares for us and guides us in his purposes if we will just obey God with a humble attitude. On the flip side of the coin, we also need to be willing to give to others and be that vessel that the Lord will use to bless a brother or sister when he speaks to us to help them.
WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) The Lord knows how to get our attention and call us into his purpose for our lives.
2) Our own will is always a factor because we have to choose to obey God even when he reveals himself to us.
3) Paul made the right choice and asked what the Lord wanted him to do.
4) Just like Ananias was sent to minister and pray for Paul the Lord has people in the Body of Christ that he will bring across our path to help and minister to us right when we need it.
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, 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 went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Acts chapter 9 records the amazing conversion of Saul of Tarsus to Paul the apostle. There are several reasons why it’s amazing. Saul was the lead enforcer of the Sanhedrin being authorized to search out and arrest Christians for their faith in Jesus. This is equivalent to being a high-ranking officer in the FBI or CIA. Saul was a very religious man highly educated in Judaism. He thought that he was doing the will of God by arresting Christians and getting them thrown into prison and death because in his mind Christianity was a cult. He was on a mission to Damascus for this purpose when the Lord Jesus Christ himself appeared to him in a bright vision and spoke to him in an audible voice confronting him. The Lord needed to straighten out Paul’s thinking about himself. I mean just think about this for a minute. The Bible says that the vision was so strong that Paul fell to the ground hearing the Lord’s voice speaking to him by name Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me? When Saul asked who he was, he said I am Jesus whom you’re persecuting and then he said something very powerful: It’s hard for you to kick against the goads. In other words, Saul you’re going to lose this battle because I’m greater!
Now it’s at this point that God’s divine will and man’s will collide. Why? Because at this point Saul asked Jesus what he wanted him to do. This is very important because it shows us that Saul was willing to obey God and that he now understood that he had been wrong about Jesus. Saul could’ve said leave me alone I’m not interested but we all know that would’ve been very foolish choice because here you have God himself calling Saul by name. Still, Saul had a choice and he made the right choice to do what God wanted him to do. Everyone of us also must make that same choice along the path of life when the Lord reveals himself to us and our spiritual eyes are opened.
Most of us do not experience the kind of manifestation that Saul did but nevertheless the Lord does manifest himself to us in several ways. Many times it is through the hearing of the Gospel or the Scriptures or the conviction of the Holy Spirit and even dreams and visions in which God communicates to us his purpose for our lives. We know that the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul was one of the most radical conversions recorded in the Bible and of all-time. This should give us all much comfort and hope! If God can transform a persecutor of Christianity into the greatest apostle of the New Testament preaching the faith which he tried to destroy then God can save and transform anyone! Saul began preaching Jesus as the Son of God and this brought great persecution against him to the point that no others were trying to kill him for his faith!
Another interesting point that we find in this chapter is that the Lord also spoke to a disciple named Ananias in a vision while he was praying. The Lord specifically communicated to Ananias telling him to go and pray for Saul that he might be healed and receive the Holy Spirit. What this tells me is that in the body of Christ, the family of God, the Lord has people that he’s going to send into our lives to help us right when we need it. I have experienced this countless times where I knew that the Lord was sending a person to speak to me or minister to me or provide resources I needed. I praise the Lord for his goodness and faithfulness! He’s truly the Good Shepherd that cares for us and guides us in his purposes if we will just obey God with a humble attitude. On the flip side of the coin, we also need to be willing to give to others and be that vessel that the Lord will use to bless a brother or sister when he speaks to us to help them.
WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) The Lord knows how to get our attention and call us into his purpose for our lives.
2) Our own will is always a factor because we have to choose to obey God even when he reveals himself to us.
3) Paul made the right choice and asked what the Lord wanted him to do.
4) Just like Ananias was sent to minister and pray for Paul the Lord has people in the Body of Christ that he will bring across our path to help and minister to us right when we need it.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
Share your thoughts and questions on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/oneyearbibleclub/
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll