Chapter Nine –
The
Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
ACTS 9:19-25:
In our
previous lesson, we finished the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (also known as
Paul –
13:9). Saul has been chosen by the Lord specifically to be an
ambassador (minister of reconciliation –
2
Corinthians 5:18-20), an Apostle (one sent) to Gentiles, kings,
and the children of Israel (Acts
9:15).
We will now
see his initial actions, post-conversion, towards the fulfillment of this
specific vocation.
Text #1:
Acts 9:19
“So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then
Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.”
After
Saul’s sight has been returned to him, he by the guidance of Ananias has
joined with the disciples here at Antioch (Ananias would probably act as
Barnabas –
9:27, and offer Saul as a brother,
instead of the enemy of the disciples of Christ Jesus).
Important
Note:
It is at
this moment that we have to stop and engage in an exercise of rightly
dividing the word of truth. Luke, in the recording of events at this
junction, does not include some important information concerning Saul,
before he records that Saul immediately preaches Jesus as the Christ in the
synagogues –
Vs.20 (reasons for the omission are
unknown!). However, Saul (Paul), would at a later date fill in this blank
and give us the missing information; let’s take a look at it!
As Paul
would write to the churches of Galatia and extend additional information
concerning his vocation as an Apostle of Jesus, he would state emphatically
that he did not immediately confer with flesh and blood (which would include
immediately preaching Jesus as Christ), and then explained that he went
somewhere between
Vs. 19 and
Vs. 20
of our text (it is important to make a note of this in your Bibles as a
reference of these events between these verses), in order to receive the
revelation of Jesus Christ directly from the Lord, note:
Galatians 1:11-17
“But
I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is
not according to man.
12
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it
came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13
For you
have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of
God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14
And I
advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being
more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15
But when it
pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me
through His grace,
16
to reveal
His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not
immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17
nor did I
go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I
went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.”
First,
we need to note that Saul’s journey began in Jerusalem, where he received
warrants to go to Damascus and arrest Christians (Acts
9:1-2).
Second,
On the road to Damascus, the Lord appeared to him and gave him instructions
(Acts
9: 3-9;
Galatians 1:15-16).
Third,
After the Lord appeared to Ananias as well; Saul came to Damascus and coming
together with Ananias, his conversion and healing would be complete (Acts
9:11-18).
Fourth,
We learn that between
Vs.19 and
Vs. 20
of our text, Saul went to Arabia –
Galatians 1:17 (the region directly
east of the city of Damascus, virtually uninhabited).
Saul’s
explanation for this in his message to the Galatians was that the revelation
of Jesus Christ had come to him from the Lord there, and not from any other
man, nor did he go and teach it till he fully received it from the Lord.
Fifth,
we learn that he returned back to Damascus; which would be prior to
Vs.20,
where Luke then records that he would preach immediately in the synagogues
of Damascus.
Sixth,
We additionally learn that when he will finally return to Jerusalem (Acts
9:26;
Galatians 1:18), it would be three
years after he left Jerusalem to go to Damascus.
So, all the
events of
Acts 9:1-25 will take place over the
duration of three years! This is a good exercise in rightly dividing the
word (taking all revealed information to develop a complete view of the
events recorded).
Text #2:
Acts 9:20-22
“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.”
Saul’s
preaching of Jesus in the synagogues that he was actually sent to present
the warrants to arrest all those who wear the name of Him whom now Saul is
preaching has sent these listeners into amazement, and as he grew in
boldness (strength in the Lord), he confounded them even further. Since they
are not going to be able to refute his words, the following verses will
record the usual tactic the Jews would take; they will plot to kill Saul!
Text #3:
Acts 9:23-25
“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.”
This is
something that Saul would also speak of in his own words, note:
2 Corinthians 11:32-33
“In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was
guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33
but I was
let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his
hands.”
Aretas:
He is recorded in history as the king of Arabia (the province of Syria that
includes Damascus and the area to the east of Damascus that Saul went to
before preaching Jesus – Josephus,
Book of Antiquities, Book 18, Chapter 5).
We also see
a common pattern of the Jews, which shows there far reaching influence in
local politics, in that they were able to enlist the local authorities to
aid them in their efforts to attempt to stop Saul from preaching.
Let’s
review this first journey of Saul of Tarsus, thus far:
He received
warrants to arrest Christians in Damascus from the high priest in Jerusalem
(Acts
9:1-2).
From
Jerusalem, he travel towards Damascus and during this journey the Lord
appeared to him, gave him instruction, and caused him to be blind (Acts
9:3-9;
Galatians 1:15-16).
Saul was
taken into Damascus to the house of Judas. The Lord appeared to Ananias and
commanded him to go to Saul. They were brought together and Saul’s
conversion was completed, and his sight returned to him. He was introduced
to the brethren in Damascus (Acts
9:11-19).
Saul then
went into Arabia (the area east of Damascus), for a time to receive the
revelation of Jesus Christ directly from the Lord (Galatians
1:11-17).
He then
returned to Damascus and began to preach Jesus as the Christ in the
synagogues of Damascus; amazing and confounding the Jews who knew the reason
the high priest had sent him there (Acts
9:20-22).
Finally, at
the end of three years-time (Galatians
1:18), and because of a plot by the Jews to kill Saul; he is
going to have to flee Damascus in secret (Acts
9:23-25).