Acts chapter 9

Saul comes to faith in Jesus Christ. Right away, he proclaims Jesus Christ. The disciples in Jerusalem are afraid of him. Peter performs miracles.

 


 

SAUL COMES TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

 

VERSE 1. But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

still. Saul continues his relentless persecution of Christians.

 

VERSE 2. and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

 

VERSE 3. As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.

 

VERSE 4. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

He fell on the earth. When they paint artwork of this verse, they almost always put Saul on a horse. However, there was no horse.

Saul was a practicing Jewish person. Riding a horse is forbidden.

 

VERSE 5. He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

One manuscript adds “It’s hard for you to kick against the cattle prods.”

 

VERSE 6. But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”

Acts 22:10. I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’

But. One manuscript omits “But”

 

VERSE 7. The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.

 

VERSE 8. Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

 

VERSE 9. He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

 

VERSE 10. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”

 

VERSE 11. The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,

the house of Judah. Or the house of Judas.

 

VERSE 12. and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”

 

VERSE 13. But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.

 

VERSE 14. Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

 

VERSE 15. But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.

 

VERSE 16. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

 

VERSE 17. Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 22:16. Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

 

VERSE 18. Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.

he received his sight. Ananias heals Saul of his blindness. This is the first of three miracles in this chapter. Do you believe miracles can occur in our day?

 

VERSE 19. He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.

 

SAUL IMMEDIATELY PROCLAIMS JESUS CHRIST

 

VERSE 20. Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.

Immediately … he proclaimed the Christ. Paul changed from persecutor of Christians to evangelist! Have you become an evangelist yet?

 

VERSE 21. All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”

 

VERSE 22. But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

 

VERSE 23. When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him,

 

VERSE 24. but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,

 

VERSE 25. but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

 

SAUL TRIES TO JOIN THE DISCIPLES IN JERUSALEM

 

VERSE 26. When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

they were all afraid of him. These disciples in Jerusalem are still held back by fear. Fear is what caused them to run away from Jesus Christ when he was crucified. It kept them in the Upper Room. And now it caused them to reject Paul the Apostle. In many ways, they represent the institutional Christianity of our day.

 

VERSE 27. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

Barnabas … brought him to the apostles. Barnabas is the ONLY Christian in Jerusalem who had the courage to meet Saul. He was the ONLY Christian in Jerusalem who had the courage to bring Saul to meet the apostles.

 

VERSE 28. He was with them entering into Jerusalem,

entering into. Two manuscripts add “and going out.”

 

VERSE 29. preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him.

preaching boldly. Saul spoke boldly of Jesus Christ. How about you? Do you speak boldly of Jesus Christ?

in the name of the Lord Jesus. Two manuscripts omit the word “Jesus.” And they reverse the order of verses 28 and 29.

The Hellenists. They were Hebrew people who used Greek language and culture.

 

VERSE 30. When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.

the brothers. The word for “brothers” here may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

 

VERSE 31. So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

were built up. Let’s paraphrase this verse for your Small Group:

Your Small Group is at peace. It is being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit, it is growing in numbers.

 

IN LYDDA, PETER HEALS AENEAS

 

VERSE 32. As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

 

VERSE 33. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed.

 

VERSE 34. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.

Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Peter heals Aeneas of his paralysis. This is the second of three miracles in this chapter. Do you believe miracles can occur in our day?

 

VERSE 35. All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

 

IN JOPPA, PETER RAISES TABITHA TO LIFE

 

VERSE 36. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.

Dorcas. This is a Greek name. It means “Gazelle.”

 

VERSE 37. In those days, she became sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

 

VERSE 38. As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

two men. One manuscript omits those words.

 

VERSE 39. Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

 

VERSE 40. Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Tabitha, get up! Peter raises Tabitha from the dead. This is the third of three miracles in this chapter. Do you believe miracles can occur in our day?

 

VERSE 41. He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Calling the saints. That is, calling the believers. In those days, Christian believers were called saints. However, in our day, Christians are hardly exemplary people. Nations where Christians are the majority are leading the world in crime and sexual abuse and immorality. Thus nobody calls us saints any more.

 

VERSE 42. This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

 

VERSE 43. He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

 


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ACTS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

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Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.