Acts 9
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
This chapter of Acts begins with a callback to the previous chapter in which Saul (Paul) began to act out the wishes of the Jewish hierarchy (the Sanhedrin) to eliminate Christianity. Saul was the most zealous of the Pharisees. How did he come to this way of believing?
Acts 22:2-5
When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
By Paul’s own testimony, he states a number of very interesting life landmarks that help us to understand who Saul is and how he grew into his status:
1. I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city: Saul was brought up as a practicing Jew. He was brought up in the faith and everyone around him, supposedly, believed in the same way. This would have been a belief in the God of Israel and an adherence to the Law.
2. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors: Saul was trained by one of the most famous teachers of the time, a man named Gamaliel. Gamaliel is also the man who calls out the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:34.
3. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today: He was trained in Jewish righteousness. This is an important point, because even though Saul blazed forward in zealous righteousness, was he really right? Or did Saul have a “truth” that he believed in with heart and soul, only to realize later it wasn’t the truth at all?
4. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison: He persecuted those of the Way, which means Saul persecuted Christians. His “truth” caused him not to act out in love but in exacting a law. The law is like a signpost on the side of the road. It has the ability to show you the speed you should be going, but it has no power to cause you to slow down or write you a ticket. Saul and the Pharisees were so devoted to keeping the law that they forget the foundation of the law, which is love.
5. as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify: Saul was not acting on his own volition. He was brought up in a faith that built him into the person he became and then supported his zealous nature. Saul isn’t the only one guilty of the sins of persecution; the Jewish government is just as guilty. He was carrying out the wishes of the Sanhedrin.
Acts 26:9-11
“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
Why was Paul and the Sanhedrin so dedicated in stamping out Christianity? The answer comes from Stephen. If you remember back in chapter 7, the reason why the Sanhedrin attacked and killed him was because of how Stephen called them out:
Acts 7:51-53
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
The Jewish people had rejected God though the centuries. They have resisted the Holy Spirit. He persecuted the prophets and their own ancestors. They killed those who predicted Jesus’ arrival and even killed Jesus once he arrived. The reason the Jews of this time were so dead set against Christianity is because they couldn’t see the truth in it. They trained themselves not to see God. It was what they persecuted and they sought to destroy the truth. Saul was part of that opposition from the beginning of his life. He carried out the wishes of the Sanhedrin with zeal. There were no boundaries to his passion.
So when we return to the story of Saul’s conversion, we see that Saul is at the summit of his zeal to eradicate Christianity. He is still breathing out murderous threats. He petitions the high priest in Damascus to find Christians there and bring them back. This is a good 200 miles from Jerusalem proper, up in Syria. He is reaching as far as he can go to kill the budding faith. He was convinced of his own righteousness, and that propelled him forward.
But God had other plans. Even though Saul was set against God, God was not set against him. And so Jesus shows up on the road to Damascus and presents Saul with a question: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
In the light of Jesus, Saul’s life falls apart like a house made of cards. All of his self-righteousness falls apart, all of his zeal and pride, it all cannot stand against the person of Christ. But he still has a choice. He can obey in this moment or continue to oppose. But there is no question in this moment, no way his former life can stand. He is told to go up into Damascus and wait. From this singular event he is blinded and the people traveling with him cannot see the vision. So, the once former strong arm of the Sanhedrin must be led into Damascus.
Before we head any further, let’s take a look at this event in two different translations. It is important to use translations to better understanding of the scripture. Translations are written for different reasons with different criteria used to produced the translation. Some translations are good and others are not so good. But I feel the translations offer we Christians, a unique opportunity to triangulate our understanding, go deeper into the word and perhaps gather better understanding.
The translation used in this study is NIV. But we are to go to NKJV, we get a different look at the conversion story. Here’s how it is recorded in NKJV:
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.”
Verse 5 and 6 are different and add a little more to the story. Does this mean the bible is problematic and can’t be trusted? No. With a little digging into any problematic or seemingly contradictory verse, we can always come up with he answer.
So in this case, if we are to look at the Novum Testamentum Graece, or the New Testament in Greek, in its original Koine Greek, we begin to find some answer. This edition of the New Testament is the basis for most modern translations we have. When we investigate the Book fo Luke in this edition, we see that the NIV version is closest to the original text. The version found in the NKJV has added content.
This content was added by scribes and they were based on the following text:
Acts 26:14
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Acts 22:10
What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’
Both of these verses, found later in Acts, were descriptions of Paul’s account of his conversion. Scribes added Paul’s descriptions into the account in Acts 9.
So when we deal with different translations and discrepancies among them it is important to do due diligence in discovering why some verses are left out, some remain and some seem altered. This is part of our growth in understanding God’s word with the tools we have.
Saul’s conversion story is important, because it is also a story about us:
The world taught us a way to live
We zealously fought for that lifestyle
But when Jesus intervened, we had a choice to follow
We had an opportunity to test our “truths”
God brought accountability to our life
Once we understand the accountability, our life changes
That change of life means a change in priorities
The priority is now to follow in submission
To be led by the spirit
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Following Saul’s conversion to Christ, we get a story that centers around a man named Ananias. First, however, it is important to note that this, at its foundation, is a story about how God works, behind the scenes, to exact his will.
The two main players in the story are Ananias and Saul. Ananias, a disciple (student) of Jesus, hears from the Lord. The order given by the Lord is simple” go to a specific house in Damascus and find Saul of Tarsus. When you find him, you will lay hands on him and heal him.
Saul has seen in a vision that a man named Ananias will come to him for that healing. Both men are independently contacted by God for his will. From the outside looking in, if you aren’t Saul or Ananias, you could be thinking that this is a chance encounter. God operates in this way all the time. He moves the pieces around until they are ready to interact for his will.
But there is a problem that is put forward by Ananias. He doesn’t doubt that God is sovereign or that he won’t do God’s will, but he asks God about Saul. Isn’t he the guy who’s been rounding ups and killing Christians? Isn’t he famous for this?
Ananias’ hesitation is on display here, and it is a very human reaction. God, are you sure I should step into the Lion’s Den? There are hungry lions in there, after all. This is a test of Ananias’ faith. God doesn’t often tell us each step of the way in the journey but expects us to step out in faith. Ananias is already a faithful man, so God gives him a little more information. He explains to Ananias the very reason he must go to heal him: because Paul will be God’s instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles. This is Paul’s mission defined.
Ananias’ hesitation is gone. He goes to the house, finds Saul and does what he is told. Upon the scales falling from Paul’s eyes, he is immediately baptized, born again, and through this process he is both spiritually and physically cared for, brought into a new family of believers, the very family he sought to eradicate days before.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
Saul wastes no preaching the word of God. But understandably, people are confused by this sudden turn. Remember, at the beginning of this chapter Saul was preaching murderous threats against the Christian people. Now he is one of them, profoundly changed by the blood of Christ. But even through this confusion he grows in power in Damascus.
Now, verse 23 takes us in a new direction. This is a consolidated story of how a plot surfaced in Damascus. The plotters aimed to kill Paul and followers helped him escape. But there’s more to this part of the story then is apparent. Again, studying the bible as a whole rather than in parts pays off well here.
Luke was a doctor who recorded the oral history of the people of the first century in the Gospel of Luke. His Gospel is the most broad of the four, speaking to the most widespread group of all, Gentiles and Christians alike. In his writing, Luke both has moments of extremely clear reporting (see Luke 2:1-3), and very murky timelines, which is found in verse 23 of Acts 9. When we go to Galatians 1:5-18, we get a better picture:
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Saul’s (Paul’s) first response was to preach what he now knew, but it was quickly tempered by not wanting to consult anyone on it. Instead of going to the apostles and looking for their teaching, he instead went to Arabia for three years. Only after that did he return to Damascus and resume preaching. So in Luke’s prose (after many days had gone by) refers to three years passing.
There is another way we can verify this. 2 Corinthians 11: 32-33 is an account of the story from Paul himself:
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
This story, and the king acknowledged, both refer to the same story we see in Acts. Aretas was in power between 34 and 62 AD, which falls right into the timeline of this story. The escape from Damascus would have happened between 37 & 39 AD, which puts Paul’s conversion between 34 & 36 AD, 3- 5 years after the resurrection of Christ.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Saul attempts to join the apostles, but they are wary of him. Why? Because the former executioner of Christians is now claiming to be one of them. Word didn’t travel as easily back then as it does now. The apostles are still in Jerusalem, preaching in the streets, with the Sanhedrin still very much in power.
But Barnabas becomes the bridge between Saul and the apostles. Barnabas is not an apostle but a levite from Cyprus who was held in high regard as a devoted follower of Christ. In Acts 13 we’ll see Barnabas set off with Paul on his first missionary journey. In this simple motion of brotherly love Saul is able to give his testimony to the apostles and is allowed to remain with them while in Jerusalem. During that time he is once agains targeted, this time by Hellenistic Jews (Jews from Greece who may or may not have been former slaves) but again is rescued by the followers then sent away to Tarsus.
Verse 31 ties up the end of this storyline. Although there still is more of chapter 9, this is a nice endocarp to where the chapter began (with Saul’s murderous intentions) and where it ends (with the church experiencing peace during persecution). Persecution is far from over.
Persecution is completely contained within Israel and is perpetrated by the Jewish people. This is important to remember. Rome is not persecuting Christians as of yet. If we study the timeline of events, during this time Tiberius dies and Caligula rises to power. And although Caligula (37-41) was insane for many reasons (among them claiming he was a god, lopping the heads off of Roman god statues and placing his head on them, killing for sport, incest and rape, famously turning the Roman palace into a brothel and creating lavish orgies, naming his horse a political consul), he wasn’t concerned with Christianity. In fact, he viewed Christianity as a Jewish sect, and he didn’t care about the Jews during his brief reign.
Claudius (41-54) showed the beginnings Roman attention on Christianity. Although he didn’t overtly persecute, he did famously expel the Jews from Rome. There are two ideas of why he would have done this. One, it was during a well-known famine (Acts 18:1) and he could have expelled the Jews simply to expand Roman resources. But the other concept of what he did so is interesting: he wanted to quell the growing presence of Christianity in Rome. If he, like Caligula, believed Christians were a sect of Judaism, then it would track.
The open persecution of the Christian people by Rome came much later, during the reign of Nero (54-68). He famously blamed the Christians of starting a fire which burned down half of Rome when it was most likely Nero himself. This scapegoating brought Rome into the persecution of the Christian population.
Aeneas and Dorcas
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
As chapter 9 concludes, we see Peter traveling the country. He isn’t staying in Jerusalem any longer. He’s a good 35 miles away from Jerusalem, visiting the Lord’s people. He goes out in faith to serve Christ and find those in need. When he comes upon Aeneas and heals him, he makes clear that he is the instrument of which Christ uses to heal. This miracle is done to support the message, to help those around him see the power of God, and to bring them into relationship with Him.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Peter goes to Joppa (on the coast in the former land of the Philistines) because he is called by the disciples. Why do they call him to the bedside of Dorcas, who has recently died? Is he there to comfort all those who Dorcas touched? Do they want him to resuscitate her? It is unclear, but it is clear that Dorcas spent a life tending to the forgotten widows. She made them robes and clothing. She was important to them. Now why did Peter resuscitate Dorcas but not Stephen? Wasn’t Stephen more important? We can’t understand how God works in each situation, but we do know that the martyrdom of Stephen was necessary to disperse the church. Upon his death the church scattered, but the believers did not remain still. They preached in the places they landed in. His death was meant to expand the church.
But what about Dorcas? Why was she brought back? Dorcas’ resuscitation did a very simple yet extraordinary thing: it brought those who knew Dorcas and was touched by her into a newfound understanding of who God was through Christ. It was meant to show others in Joppa who Christ was. It became known all over Joppa. Christ’s power became evident to all.
Now verse 43 may seem like a throwaway verse, but nothing in the bible is throwaway. There is meaning in each scripture. Peter stays in Joppa with a tanner. What is a tanner? A tanner was someone who worked with leather. To work with leather meant one would have to work with dead animals. Why is this important? Because a tuner was rejected by the Jews of the time as unclean. Peter’s decision to stay with him means there is something profound happening in Peter at this moment. It shows that he is beginning to move away from the ceremonial laws and into a deeper understanding of the freedom Christ offers. Peter still has much to learn and in chapter 10 God begins to refine Peter in a deeper way.
Acts 9
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
This chapter of Acts begins with a callback to the previous chapter in which Saul (Paul) began to act out the wishes of the Jewish hierarchy (the Sanhedrin) to eliminate Christianity. Saul was the most zealous of the Pharisees. How did he come to this way of believing?
Acts 22:2-5
When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
By Paul’s own testimony, he states a number of very interesting life landmarks that help us to understand who Saul is and how he grew into his status:
1. I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city: Saul was brought up as a practicing Jew. He was brought up in the faith and everyone around him, supposedly, believed in the same way. This would have been a belief in the God of Israel and an adherence to the Law.
2. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors: Saul was trained by one of the most famous teachers of the time, a man named Gamaliel. Gamaliel is also the man who calls out the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:34.
3. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today: He was trained in Jewish righteousness. This is an important point, because even though Saul blazed forward in zealous righteousness, was he really right? Or did Saul have a “truth” that he believed in with heart and soul, only to realize later it wasn’t the truth at all?
4. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison: He persecuted those of the Way, which means Saul persecuted Christians. His “truth” caused him not to act out in love but in exacting a law. The law is like a signpost on the side of the road. It has the ability to show you the speed you should be going, but it has no power to cause you to slow down or write you a ticket. Saul and the Pharisees were so devoted to keeping the law that they forget the foundation of the law, which is love.
5. as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify: Saul was not acting on his own volition. He was brought up in a faith that built him into the person he became and then supported his zealous nature. Saul isn’t the only one guilty of the sins of persecution; the Jewish government is just as guilty. He was carrying out the wishes of the Sanhedrin.
Acts 26:9-11
“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
Why was Paul and the Sanhedrin so dedicated in stamping out Christianity? The answer comes from Stephen. If you remember back in chapter 7, the reason why the Sanhedrin attacked and killed him was because of how Stephen called them out:
Acts 7:51-53
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
The Jewish people had rejected God though the centuries. They have resisted the Holy Spirit. He persecuted the prophets and their own ancestors. They killed those who predicted Jesus’ arrival and even killed Jesus once he arrived. The reason the Jews of this time were so dead set against Christianity is because they couldn’t see the truth in it. They trained themselves not to see God. It was what they persecuted and they sought to destroy the truth. Saul was part of that opposition from the beginning of his life. He carried out the wishes of the Sanhedrin with zeal. There were no boundaries to his passion.
So when we return to the story of Saul’s conversion, we see that Saul is at the summit of his zeal to eradicate Christianity. He is still breathing out murderous threats. He petitions the high priest in Damascus to find Christians there and bring them back. This is a good 200 miles from Jerusalem proper, up in Syria. He is reaching as far as he can go to kill the budding faith. He was convinced of his own righteousness, and that propelled him forward.
But God had other plans. Even though Saul was set against God, God was not set against him. And so Jesus shows up on the road to Damascus and presents Saul with a question: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
In the light of Jesus, Saul’s life falls apart like a house made of cards. All of his self-righteousness falls apart, all of his zeal and pride, it all cannot stand against the person of Christ. But he still has a choice. He can obey in this moment or continue to oppose. But there is no question in this moment, no way his former life can stand. He is told to go up into Damascus and wait. From this singular event he is blinded and the people traveling with him cannot see the vision. So, the once former strong arm of the Sanhedrin must be led into Damascus.
Before we head any further, let’s take a look at this event in two different translations. It is important to use translations to better understanding of the scripture. Translations are written for different reasons with different criteria used to produced the translation. Some translations are good and others are not so good. But I feel the translations offer we Christians, a unique opportunity to triangulate our understanding, go deeper into the word and perhaps gather better understanding.
The translation used in this study is NIV. But we are to go to NKJV, we get a different look at the conversion story. Here’s how it is recorded in NKJV:
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.”
Verse 5 and 6 are different and add a little more to the story. Does this mean the bible is problematic and can’t be trusted? No. With a little digging into any problematic or seemingly contradictory verse, we can always come up with he answer.
So in this case, if we are to look at the Novum Testamentum Graece, or the New Testament in Greek, in its original Koine Greek, we begin to find some answer. This edition of the New Testament is the basis for most modern translations we have. When we investigate the Book fo Luke in this edition, we see that the NIV version is closest to the original text. The version found in the NKJV has added content.
This content was added by scribes and they were based on the following text:
Acts 26:14
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Acts 22:10
What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’
Both of these verses, found later in Acts, were descriptions of Paul’s account of his conversion. Scribes added Paul’s descriptions into the account in Acts 9.
So when we deal with different translations and discrepancies among them it is important to do due diligence in discovering why some verses are left out, some remain and some seem altered. This is part of our growth in understanding God’s word with the tools we have.
Saul’s conversion story is important, because it is also a story about us:
The world taught us a way to live
We zealously fought for that lifestyle
But when Jesus intervened, we had a choice to follow
We had an opportunity to test our “truths”
God brought accountability to our life
Once we understand the accountability, our life changes
That change of life means a change in priorities
The priority is now to follow in submission
To be led by the spirit
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Following Saul’s conversion to Christ, we get a story that centers around a man named Ananias. First, however, it is important to note that this, at its foundation, is a story about how God works, behind the scenes, to exact his will.
The two main players in the story are Ananias and Saul. Ananias, a disciple (student) of Jesus, hears from the Lord. The order given by the Lord is simple” go to a specific house in Damascus and find Saul of Tarsus. When you find him, you will lay hands on him and heal him.
Saul has seen in a vision that a man named Ananias will come to him for that healing. Both men are independently contacted by God for his will. From the outside looking in, if you aren’t Saul or Ananias, you could be thinking that this is a chance encounter. God operates in this way all the time. He moves the pieces around until they are ready to interact for his will.
But there is a problem that is put forward by Ananias. He doesn’t doubt that God is sovereign or that he won’t do God’s will, but he asks God about Saul. Isn’t he the guy who’s been rounding ups and killing Christians? Isn’t he famous for this?
Ananias’ hesitation is on display here, and it is a very human reaction. God, are you sure I should step into the Lion’s Den? There are hungry lions in there, after all. This is a test of Ananias’ faith. God doesn’t often tell us each step of the way in the journey but expects us to step out in faith. Ananias is already a faithful man, so God gives him a little more information. He explains to Ananias the very reason he must go to heal him: because Paul will be God’s instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles. This is Paul’s mission defined.
Ananias’ hesitation is gone. He goes to the house, finds Saul and does what he is told. Upon the scales falling from Paul’s eyes, he is immediately baptized, born again, and through this process he is both spiritually and physically cared for, brought into a new family of believers, the very family he sought to eradicate days before.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
Saul wastes no preaching the word of God. But understandably, people are confused by this sudden turn. Remember, at the beginning of this chapter Saul was preaching murderous threats against the Christian people. Now he is one of them, profoundly changed by the blood of Christ. But even through this confusion he grows in power in Damascus.
Now, verse 23 takes us in a new direction. This is a consolidated story of how a plot surfaced in Damascus. The plotters aimed to kill Paul and followers helped him escape. But there’s more to this part of the story then is apparent. Again, studying the bible as a whole rather than in parts pays off well here.
Luke was a doctor who recorded the oral history of the people of the first century in the Gospel of Luke. His Gospel is the most broad of the four, speaking to the most widespread group of all, Gentiles and Christians alike. In his writing, Luke both has moments of extremely clear reporting (see Luke 2:1-3), and very murky timelines, which is found in verse 23 of Acts 9. When we go to Galatians 1:5-18, we get a better picture:
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Saul’s (Paul’s) first response was to preach what he now knew, but it was quickly tempered by not wanting to consult anyone on it. Instead of going to the apostles and looking for their teaching, he instead went to Arabia for three years. Only after that did he return to Damascus and resume preaching. So in Luke’s prose (after many days had gone by) refers to three years passing.
There is another way we can verify this. 2 Corinthians 11: 32-33 is an account of the story from Paul himself:
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
This story, and the king acknowledged, both refer to the same story we see in Acts. Aretas was in power between 34 and 62 AD, which falls right into the timeline of this story. The escape from Damascus would have happened between 37 & 39 AD, which puts Paul’s conversion between 34 & 36 AD, 3- 5 years after the resurrection of Christ.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Saul attempts to join the apostles, but they are wary of him. Why? Because the former executioner of Christians is now claiming to be one of them. Word didn’t travel as easily back then as it does now. The apostles are still in Jerusalem, preaching in the streets, with the Sanhedrin still very much in power.
But Barnabas becomes the bridge between Saul and the apostles. Barnabas is not an apostle but a levite from Cyprus who was held in high regard as a devoted follower of Christ. In Acts 13 we’ll see Barnabas set off with Paul on his first missionary journey. In this simple motion of brotherly love Saul is able to give his testimony to the apostles and is allowed to remain with them while in Jerusalem. During that time he is once agains targeted, this time by Hellenistic Jews (Jews from Greece who may or may not have been former slaves) but again is rescued by the followers then sent away to Tarsus.
Verse 31 ties up the end of this storyline. Although there still is more of chapter 9, this is a nice endocarp to where the chapter began (with Saul’s murderous intentions) and where it ends (with the church experiencing peace during persecution). Persecution is far from over.
Persecution is completely contained within Israel and is perpetrated by the Jewish people. This is important to remember. Rome is not persecuting Christians as of yet. If we study the timeline of events, during this time Tiberius dies and Caligula rises to power. And although Caligula (37-41) was insane for many reasons (among them claiming he was a god, lopping the heads off of Roman god statues and placing his head on them, killing for sport, incest and rape, famously turning the Roman palace into a brothel and creating lavish orgies, naming his horse a political consul), he wasn’t concerned with Christianity. In fact, he viewed Christianity as a Jewish sect, and he didn’t care about the Jews during his brief reign.
Claudius (41-54) showed the beginnings Roman attention on Christianity. Although he didn’t overtly persecute, he did famously expel the Jews from Rome. There are two ideas of why he would have done this. One, it was during a well-known famine (Acts 18:1) and he could have expelled the Jews simply to expand Roman resources. But the other concept of what he did so is interesting: he wanted to quell the growing presence of Christianity in Rome. If he, like Caligula, believed Christians were a sect of Judaism, then it would track.
The open persecution of the Christian people by Rome came much later, during the reign of Nero (54-68). He famously blamed the Christians of starting a fire which burned down half of Rome when it was most likely Nero himself. This scapegoating brought Rome into the persecution of the Christian population.
Aeneas and Dorcas
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
As chapter 9 concludes, we see Peter traveling the country. He isn’t staying in Jerusalem any longer. He’s a good 35 miles away from Jerusalem, visiting the Lord’s people. He goes out in faith to serve Christ and find those in need. When he comes upon Aeneas and heals him, he makes clear that he is the instrument of which Christ uses to heal. This miracle is done to support the message, to help those around him see the power of God, and to bring them into relationship with Him.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Peter goes to Joppa (on the coast in the former land of the Philistines) because he is called by the disciples. Why do they call him to the bedside of Dorcas, who has recently died? Is he there to comfort all those who Dorcas touched? Do they want him to resuscitate her? It is unclear, but it is clear that Dorcas spent a life tending to the forgotten widows. She made them robes and clothing. She was important to them. Now why did Peter resuscitate Dorcas but not Stephen? Wasn’t Stephen more important? We can’t understand how God works in each situation, but we do know that the martyrdom of Stephen was necessary to disperse the church. Upon his death the church scattered, but the believers did not remain still. They preached in the places they landed in. His death was meant to expand the church.
But what about Dorcas? Why was she brought back? Dorcas’ resuscitation did a very simple yet extraordinary thing: it brought those who knew Dorcas and was touched by her into a newfound understanding of who God was through Christ. It was meant to show others in Joppa who Christ was. It became known all over Joppa. Christ’s power became evident to all.
Now verse 43 may seem like a throwaway verse, but nothing in the bible is throwaway. There is meaning in each scripture. Peter stays in Joppa with a tanner. What is a tanner? A tanner was someone who worked with leather. To work with leather meant one would have to work with dead animals. Why is this important? Because a tuner was rejected by the Jews of the time as unclean. Peter’s decision to stay with him means there is something profound happening in Peter at this moment. It shows that he is beginning to move away from the ceremonial laws and into a deeper understanding of the freedom Christ offers. Peter still has much to learn and in chapter 10 God begins to refine Peter in a deeper way.
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
This chapter of Acts begins with a callback to the previous chapter in which Saul (Paul) began to act out the wishes of the Jewish hierarchy (the Sanhedrin) to eliminate Christianity. Saul was the most zealous of the Pharisees. How did he come to this way of believing?
Acts 22:2-5
When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
By Paul’s own testimony, he states a number of very interesting life landmarks that help us to understand who Saul is and how he grew into his status:
1. I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city: Saul was brought up as a practicing Jew. He was brought up in the faith and everyone around him, supposedly, believed in the same way. This would have been a belief in the God of Israel and an adherence to the Law.
2. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors: Saul was trained by one of the most famous teachers of the time, a man named Gamaliel. Gamaliel is also the man who calls out the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:34.
3. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today: He was trained in Jewish righteousness. This is an important point, because even though Saul blazed forward in zealous righteousness, was he really right? Or did Saul have a “truth” that he believed in with heart and soul, only to realize later it wasn’t the truth at all?
4. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison: He persecuted those of the Way, which means Saul persecuted Christians. His “truth” caused him not to act out in love but in exacting a law. The law is like a signpost on the side of the road. It has the ability to show you the speed you should be going, but it has no power to cause you to slow down or write you a ticket. Saul and the Pharisees were so devoted to keeping the law that they forget the foundation of the law, which is love.
5. as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify: Saul was not acting on his own volition. He was brought up in a faith that built him into the person he became and then supported his zealous nature. Saul isn’t the only one guilty of the sins of persecution; the Jewish government is just as guilty. He was carrying out the wishes of the Sanhedrin.
Acts 26:9-11
“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
Why was Paul and the Sanhedrin so dedicated in stamping out Christianity? The answer comes from Stephen. If you remember back in chapter 7, the reason why the Sanhedrin attacked and killed him was because of how Stephen called them out:
Acts 7:51-53
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
The Jewish people had rejected God though the centuries. They have resisted the Holy Spirit. He persecuted the prophets and their own ancestors. They killed those who predicted Jesus’ arrival and even killed Jesus once he arrived. The reason the Jews of this time were so dead set against Christianity is because they couldn’t see the truth in it. They trained themselves not to see God. It was what they persecuted and they sought to destroy the truth. Saul was part of that opposition from the beginning of his life. He carried out the wishes of the Sanhedrin with zeal. There were no boundaries to his passion.
So when we return to the story of Saul’s conversion, we see that Saul is at the summit of his zeal to eradicate Christianity. He is still breathing out murderous threats. He petitions the high priest in Damascus to find Christians there and bring them back. This is a good 200 miles from Jerusalem proper, up in Syria. He is reaching as far as he can go to kill the budding faith. He was convinced of his own righteousness, and that propelled him forward.
But God had other plans. Even though Saul was set against God, God was not set against him. And so Jesus shows up on the road to Damascus and presents Saul with a question: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
In the light of Jesus, Saul’s life falls apart like a house made of cards. All of his self-righteousness falls apart, all of his zeal and pride, it all cannot stand against the person of Christ. But he still has a choice. He can obey in this moment or continue to oppose. But there is no question in this moment, no way his former life can stand. He is told to go up into Damascus and wait. From this singular event he is blinded and the people traveling with him cannot see the vision. So, the once former strong arm of the Sanhedrin must be led into Damascus.
Before we head any further, let’s take a look at this event in two different translations. It is important to use translations to better understanding of the scripture. Translations are written for different reasons with different criteria used to produced the translation. Some translations are good and others are not so good. But I feel the translations offer we Christians, a unique opportunity to triangulate our understanding, go deeper into the word and perhaps gather better understanding.
The translation used in this study is NIV. But we are to go to NKJV, we get a different look at the conversion story. Here’s how it is recorded in NKJV:
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.”
Verse 5 and 6 are different and add a little more to the story. Does this mean the bible is problematic and can’t be trusted? No. With a little digging into any problematic or seemingly contradictory verse, we can always come up with he answer.
So in this case, if we are to look at the Novum Testamentum Graece, or the New Testament in Greek, in its original Koine Greek, we begin to find some answer. This edition of the New Testament is the basis for most modern translations we have. When we investigate the Book fo Luke in this edition, we see that the NIV version is closest to the original text. The version found in the NKJV has added content.
This content was added by scribes and they were based on the following text:
Acts 26:14
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Acts 22:10
What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’
Both of these verses, found later in Acts, were descriptions of Paul’s account of his conversion. Scribes added Paul’s descriptions into the account in Acts 9.
So when we deal with different translations and discrepancies among them it is important to do due diligence in discovering why some verses are left out, some remain and some seem altered. This is part of our growth in understanding God’s word with the tools we have.
Saul’s conversion story is important, because it is also a story about us:
The world taught us a way to live
We zealously fought for that lifestyle
But when Jesus intervened, we had a choice to follow
We had an opportunity to test our “truths”
God brought accountability to our life
Once we understand the accountability, our life changes
That change of life means a change in priorities
The priority is now to follow in submission
To be led by the spirit
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Following Saul’s conversion to Christ, we get a story that centers around a man named Ananias. First, however, it is important to note that this, at its foundation, is a story about how God works, behind the scenes, to exact his will.
The two main players in the story are Ananias and Saul. Ananias, a disciple (student) of Jesus, hears from the Lord. The order given by the Lord is simple” go to a specific house in Damascus and find Saul of Tarsus. When you find him, you will lay hands on him and heal him.
Saul has seen in a vision that a man named Ananias will come to him for that healing. Both men are independently contacted by God for his will. From the outside looking in, if you aren’t Saul or Ananias, you could be thinking that this is a chance encounter. God operates in this way all the time. He moves the pieces around until they are ready to interact for his will.
But there is a problem that is put forward by Ananias. He doesn’t doubt that God is sovereign or that he won’t do God’s will, but he asks God about Saul. Isn’t he the guy who’s been rounding ups and killing Christians? Isn’t he famous for this?
Ananias’ hesitation is on display here, and it is a very human reaction. God, are you sure I should step into the Lion’s Den? There are hungry lions in there, after all. This is a test of Ananias’ faith. God doesn’t often tell us each step of the way in the journey but expects us to step out in faith. Ananias is already a faithful man, so God gives him a little more information. He explains to Ananias the very reason he must go to heal him: because Paul will be God’s instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles. This is Paul’s mission defined.
Ananias’ hesitation is gone. He goes to the house, finds Saul and does what he is told. Upon the scales falling from Paul’s eyes, he is immediately baptized, born again, and through this process he is both spiritually and physically cared for, brought into a new family of believers, the very family he sought to eradicate days before.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
Saul wastes no preaching the word of God. But understandably, people are confused by this sudden turn. Remember, at the beginning of this chapter Saul was preaching murderous threats against the Christian people. Now he is one of them, profoundly changed by the blood of Christ. But even through this confusion he grows in power in Damascus.
Now, verse 23 takes us in a new direction. This is a consolidated story of how a plot surfaced in Damascus. The plotters aimed to kill Paul and followers helped him escape. But there’s more to this part of the story then is apparent. Again, studying the bible as a whole rather than in parts pays off well here.
Luke was a doctor who recorded the oral history of the people of the first century in the Gospel of Luke. His Gospel is the most broad of the four, speaking to the most widespread group of all, Gentiles and Christians alike. In his writing, Luke both has moments of extremely clear reporting (see Luke 2:1-3), and very murky timelines, which is found in verse 23 of Acts 9. When we go to Galatians 1:5-18, we get a better picture:
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Saul’s (Paul’s) first response was to preach what he now knew, but it was quickly tempered by not wanting to consult anyone on it. Instead of going to the apostles and looking for their teaching, he instead went to Arabia for three years. Only after that did he return to Damascus and resume preaching. So in Luke’s prose (after many days had gone by) refers to three years passing.
There is another way we can verify this. 2 Corinthians 11: 32-33 is an account of the story from Paul himself:
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
This story, and the king acknowledged, both refer to the same story we see in Acts. Aretas was in power between 34 and 62 AD, which falls right into the timeline of this story. The escape from Damascus would have happened between 37 & 39 AD, which puts Paul’s conversion between 34 & 36 AD, 3- 5 years after the resurrection of Christ.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Saul attempts to join the apostles, but they are wary of him. Why? Because the former executioner of Christians is now claiming to be one of them. Word didn’t travel as easily back then as it does now. The apostles are still in Jerusalem, preaching in the streets, with the Sanhedrin still very much in power.
But Barnabas becomes the bridge between Saul and the apostles. Barnabas is not an apostle but a levite from Cyprus who was held in high regard as a devoted follower of Christ. In Acts 13 we’ll see Barnabas set off with Paul on his first missionary journey. In this simple motion of brotherly love Saul is able to give his testimony to the apostles and is allowed to remain with them while in Jerusalem. During that time he is once agains targeted, this time by Hellenistic Jews (Jews from Greece who may or may not have been former slaves) but again is rescued by the followers then sent away to Tarsus.
Verse 31 ties up the end of this storyline. Although there still is more of chapter 9, this is a nice endocarp to where the chapter began (with Saul’s murderous intentions) and where it ends (with the church experiencing peace during persecution). Persecution is far from over.
Persecution is completely contained within Israel and is perpetrated by the Jewish people. This is important to remember. Rome is not persecuting Christians as of yet. If we study the timeline of events, during this time Tiberius dies and Caligula rises to power. And although Caligula (37-41) was insane for many reasons (among them claiming he was a god, lopping the heads off of Roman god statues and placing his head on them, killing for sport, incest and rape, famously turning the Roman palace into a brothel and creating lavish orgies, naming his horse a political consul), he wasn’t concerned with Christianity. In fact, he viewed Christianity as a Jewish sect, and he didn’t care about the Jews during his brief reign.
Claudius (41-54) showed the beginnings Roman attention on Christianity. Although he didn’t overtly persecute, he did famously expel the Jews from Rome. There are two ideas of why he would have done this. One, it was during a well-known famine (Acts 18:1) and he could have expelled the Jews simply to expand Roman resources. But the other concept of what he did so is interesting: he wanted to quell the growing presence of Christianity in Rome. If he, like Caligula, believed Christians were a sect of Judaism, then it would track.
The open persecution of the Christian people by Rome came much later, during the reign of Nero (54-68). He famously blamed the Christians of starting a fire which burned down half of Rome when it was most likely Nero himself. This scapegoating brought Rome into the persecution of the Christian population.
Aeneas and Dorcas
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
As chapter 9 concludes, we see Peter traveling the country. He isn’t staying in Jerusalem any longer. He’s a good 35 miles away from Jerusalem, visiting the Lord’s people. He goes out in faith to serve Christ and find those in need. When he comes upon Aeneas and heals him, he makes clear that he is the instrument of which Christ uses to heal. This miracle is done to support the message, to help those around him see the power of God, and to bring them into relationship with Him.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Peter goes to Joppa (on the coast in the former land of the Philistines) because he is called by the disciples. Why do they call him to the bedside of Dorcas, who has recently died? Is he there to comfort all those who Dorcas touched? Do they want him to resuscitate her? It is unclear, but it is clear that Dorcas spent a life tending to the forgotten widows. She made them robes and clothing. She was important to them. Now why did Peter resuscitate Dorcas but not Stephen? Wasn’t Stephen more important? We can’t understand how God works in each situation, but we do know that the martyrdom of Stephen was necessary to disperse the church. Upon his death the church scattered, but the believers did not remain still. They preached in the places they landed in. His death was meant to expand the church.
But what about Dorcas? Why was she brought back? Dorcas’ resuscitation did a very simple yet extraordinary thing: it brought those who knew Dorcas and was touched by her into a newfound understanding of who God was through Christ. It was meant to show others in Joppa who Christ was. It became known all over Joppa. Christ’s power became evident to all.
Now verse 43 may seem like a throwaway verse, but nothing in the bible is throwaway. There is meaning in each scripture. Peter stays in Joppa with a tanner. What is a tanner? A tanner was someone who worked with leather. To work with leather meant one would have to work with dead animals. Why is this important? Because a tuner was rejected by the Jews of the time as unclean. Peter’s decision to stay with him means there is something profound happening in Peter at this moment. It shows that he is beginning to move away from the ceremonial laws and into a deeper understanding of the freedom Christ offers. Peter still has much to learn and in chapter 10 God begins to refine Peter in a deeper way.
Acts 9
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
This chapter of Acts begins with a callback to the previous chapter in which Saul (Paul) began to act out the wishes of the Jewish hierarchy (the Sanhedrin) to eliminate Christianity. Saul was the most zealous of the Pharisees. How did he come to this way of believing?
Acts 22:2-5
When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
By Paul’s own testimony, he states a number of very interesting life landmarks that help us to understand who Saul is and how he grew into his status:
1. I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city: Saul was brought up as a practicing Jew. He was brought up in the faith and everyone around him, supposedly, believed in the same way. This would have been a belief in the God of Israel and an adherence to the Law.
2. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors: Saul was trained by one of the most famous teachers of the time, a man named Gamaliel. Gamaliel is also the man who calls out the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:34.
3. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today: He was trained in Jewish righteousness. This is an important point, because even though Saul blazed forward in zealous righteousness, was he really right? Or did Saul have a “truth” that he believed in with heart and soul, only to realize later it wasn’t the truth at all?
4. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison: He persecuted those of the Way, which means Saul persecuted Christians. His “truth” caused him not to act out in love but in exacting a law. The law is like a signpost on the side of the road. It has the ability to show you the speed you should be going, but it has no power to cause you to slow down or write you a ticket. Saul and the Pharisees were so devoted to keeping the law that they forget the foundation of the law, which is love.
5. as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify: Saul was not acting on his own volition. He was brought up in a faith that built him into the person he became and then supported his zealous nature. Saul isn’t the only one guilty of the sins of persecution; the Jewish government is just as guilty. He was carrying out the wishes of the Sanhedrin.
Acts 26:9-11
“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
Why was Paul and the Sanhedrin so dedicated in stamping out Christianity? The answer comes from Stephen. If you remember back in chapter 7, the reason why the Sanhedrin attacked and killed him was because of how Stephen called them out:
Acts 7:51-53
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
The Jewish people had rejected God though the centuries. They have resisted the Holy Spirit. He persecuted the prophets and their own ancestors. They killed those who predicted Jesus’ arrival and even killed Jesus once he arrived. The reason the Jews of this time were so dead set against Christianity is because they couldn’t see the truth in it. They trained themselves not to see God. It was what they persecuted and they sought to destroy the truth. Saul was part of that opposition from the beginning of his life. He carried out the wishes of the Sanhedrin with zeal. There were no boundaries to his passion.
So when we return to the story of Saul’s conversion, we see that Saul is at the summit of his zeal to eradicate Christianity. He is still breathing out murderous threats. He petitions the high priest in Damascus to find Christians there and bring them back. This is a good 200 miles from Jerusalem proper, up in Syria. He is reaching as far as he can go to kill the budding faith. He was convinced of his own righteousness, and that propelled him forward.
But God had other plans. Even though Saul was set against God, God was not set against him. And so Jesus shows up on the road to Damascus and presents Saul with a question: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
In the light of Jesus, Saul’s life falls apart like a house made of cards. All of his self-righteousness falls apart, all of his zeal and pride, it all cannot stand against the person of Christ. But he still has a choice. He can obey in this moment or continue to oppose. But there is no question in this moment, no way his former life can stand. He is told to go up into Damascus and wait. From this singular event he is blinded and the people traveling with him cannot see the vision. So, the once former strong arm of the Sanhedrin must be led into Damascus.
Before we head any further, let’s take a look at this event in two different translations. It is important to use translations to better understanding of the scripture. Translations are written for different reasons with different criteria used to produced the translation. Some translations are good and others are not so good. But I feel the translations offer we Christians, a unique opportunity to triangulate our understanding, go deeper into the word and perhaps gather better understanding.
The translation used in this study is NIV. But we are to go to NKJV, we get a different look at the conversion story. Here’s how it is recorded in NKJV:
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.”
Verse 5 and 6 are different and add a little more to the story. Does this mean the bible is problematic and can’t be trusted? No. With a little digging into any problematic or seemingly contradictory verse, we can always come up with he answer.
So in this case, if we are to look at the Novum Testamentum Graece, or the New Testament in Greek, in its original Koine Greek, we begin to find some answer. This edition of the New Testament is the basis for most modern translations we have. When we investigate the Book fo Luke in this edition, we see that the NIV version is closest to the original text. The version found in the NKJV has added content.
This content was added by scribes and they were based on the following text:
Acts 26:14
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Acts 22:10
What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’
Both of these verses, found later in Acts, were descriptions of Paul’s account of his conversion. Scribes added Paul’s descriptions into the account in Acts 9.
So when we deal with different translations and discrepancies among them it is important to do due diligence in discovering why some verses are left out, some remain and some seem altered. This is part of our growth in understanding God’s word with the tools we have.
Saul’s conversion story is important, because it is also a story about us:
The world taught us a way to live
We zealously fought for that lifestyle
But when Jesus intervened, we had a choice to follow
We had an opportunity to test our “truths”
God brought accountability to our life
Once we understand the accountability, our life changes
That change of life means a change in priorities
The priority is now to follow in submission
To be led by the spirit
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Following Saul’s conversion to Christ, we get a story that centers around a man named Ananias. First, however, it is important to note that this, at its foundation, is a story about how God works, behind the scenes, to exact his will.
The two main players in the story are Ananias and Saul. Ananias, a disciple (student) of Jesus, hears from the Lord. The order given by the Lord is simple” go to a specific house in Damascus and find Saul of Tarsus. When you find him, you will lay hands on him and heal him.
Saul has seen in a vision that a man named Ananias will come to him for that healing. Both men are independently contacted by God for his will. From the outside looking in, if you aren’t Saul or Ananias, you could be thinking that this is a chance encounter. God operates in this way all the time. He moves the pieces around until they are ready to interact for his will.
But there is a problem that is put forward by Ananias. He doesn’t doubt that God is sovereign or that he won’t do God’s will, but he asks God about Saul. Isn’t he the guy who’s been rounding ups and killing Christians? Isn’t he famous for this?
Ananias’ hesitation is on display here, and it is a very human reaction. God, are you sure I should step into the Lion’s Den? There are hungry lions in there, after all. This is a test of Ananias’ faith. God doesn’t often tell us each step of the way in the journey but expects us to step out in faith. Ananias is already a faithful man, so God gives him a little more information. He explains to Ananias the very reason he must go to heal him: because Paul will be God’s instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles. This is Paul’s mission defined.
Ananias’ hesitation is gone. He goes to the house, finds Saul and does what he is told. Upon the scales falling from Paul’s eyes, he is immediately baptized, born again, and through this process he is both spiritually and physically cared for, brought into a new family of believers, the very family he sought to eradicate days before.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
Saul wastes no preaching the word of God. But understandably, people are confused by this sudden turn. Remember, at the beginning of this chapter Saul was preaching murderous threats against the Christian people. Now he is one of them, profoundly changed by the blood of Christ. But even through this confusion he grows in power in Damascus.
Now, verse 23 takes us in a new direction. This is a consolidated story of how a plot surfaced in Damascus. The plotters aimed to kill Paul and followers helped him escape. But there’s more to this part of the story then is apparent. Again, studying the bible as a whole rather than in parts pays off well here.
Luke was a doctor who recorded the oral history of the people of the first century in the Gospel of Luke. His Gospel is the most broad of the four, speaking to the most widespread group of all, Gentiles and Christians alike. In his writing, Luke both has moments of extremely clear reporting (see Luke 2:1-3), and very murky timelines, which is found in verse 23 of Acts 9. When we go to Galatians 1:5-18, we get a better picture:
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Saul’s (Paul’s) first response was to preach what he now knew, but it was quickly tempered by not wanting to consult anyone on it. Instead of going to the apostles and looking for their teaching, he instead went to Arabia for three years. Only after that did he return to Damascus and resume preaching. So in Luke’s prose (after many days had gone by) refers to three years passing.
There is another way we can verify this. 2 Corinthians 11: 32-33 is an account of the story from Paul himself:
In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
This story, and the king acknowledged, both refer to the same story we see in Acts. Aretas was in power between 34 and 62 AD, which falls right into the timeline of this story. The escape from Damascus would have happened between 37 & 39 AD, which puts Paul’s conversion between 34 & 36 AD, 3- 5 years after the resurrection of Christ.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Saul attempts to join the apostles, but they are wary of him. Why? Because the former executioner of Christians is now claiming to be one of them. Word didn’t travel as easily back then as it does now. The apostles are still in Jerusalem, preaching in the streets, with the Sanhedrin still very much in power.
But Barnabas becomes the bridge between Saul and the apostles. Barnabas is not an apostle but a levite from Cyprus who was held in high regard as a devoted follower of Christ. In Acts 13 we’ll see Barnabas set off with Paul on his first missionary journey. In this simple motion of brotherly love Saul is able to give his testimony to the apostles and is allowed to remain with them while in Jerusalem. During that time he is once agains targeted, this time by Hellenistic Jews (Jews from Greece who may or may not have been former slaves) but again is rescued by the followers then sent away to Tarsus.
Verse 31 ties up the end of this storyline. Although there still is more of chapter 9, this is a nice endocarp to where the chapter began (with Saul’s murderous intentions) and where it ends (with the church experiencing peace during persecution). Persecution is far from over.
Persecution is completely contained within Israel and is perpetrated by the Jewish people. This is important to remember. Rome is not persecuting Christians as of yet. If we study the timeline of events, during this time Tiberius dies and Caligula rises to power. And although Caligula (37-41) was insane for many reasons (among them claiming he was a god, lopping the heads off of Roman god statues and placing his head on them, killing for sport, incest and rape, famously turning the Roman palace into a brothel and creating lavish orgies, naming his horse a political consul), he wasn’t concerned with Christianity. In fact, he viewed Christianity as a Jewish sect, and he didn’t care about the Jews during his brief reign.
Claudius (41-54) showed the beginnings Roman attention on Christianity. Although he didn’t overtly persecute, he did famously expel the Jews from Rome. There are two ideas of why he would have done this. One, it was during a well-known famine (Acts 18:1) and he could have expelled the Jews simply to expand Roman resources. But the other concept of what he did so is interesting: he wanted to quell the growing presence of Christianity in Rome. If he, like Caligula, believed Christians were a sect of Judaism, then it would track.
The open persecution of the Christian people by Rome came much later, during the reign of Nero (54-68). He famously blamed the Christians of starting a fire which burned down half of Rome when it was most likely Nero himself. This scapegoating brought Rome into the persecution of the Christian population.
Aeneas and Dorcas
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
As chapter 9 concludes, we see Peter traveling the country. He isn’t staying in Jerusalem any longer. He’s a good 35 miles away from Jerusalem, visiting the Lord’s people. He goes out in faith to serve Christ and find those in need. When he comes upon Aeneas and heals him, he makes clear that he is the instrument of which Christ uses to heal. This miracle is done to support the message, to help those around him see the power of God, and to bring them into relationship with Him.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Peter goes to Joppa (on the coast in the former land of the Philistines) because he is called by the disciples. Why do they call him to the bedside of Dorcas, who has recently died? Is he there to comfort all those who Dorcas touched? Do they want him to resuscitate her? It is unclear, but it is clear that Dorcas spent a life tending to the forgotten widows. She made them robes and clothing. She was important to them. Now why did Peter resuscitate Dorcas but not Stephen? Wasn’t Stephen more important? We can’t understand how God works in each situation, but we do know that the martyrdom of Stephen was necessary to disperse the church. Upon his death the church scattered, but the believers did not remain still. They preached in the places they landed in. His death was meant to expand the church.
But what about Dorcas? Why was she brought back? Dorcas’ resuscitation did a very simple yet extraordinary thing: it brought those who knew Dorcas and was touched by her into a newfound understanding of who God was through Christ. It was meant to show others in Joppa who Christ was. It became known all over Joppa. Christ’s power became evident to all.
Now verse 43 may seem like a throwaway verse, but nothing in the bible is throwaway. There is meaning in each scripture. Peter stays in Joppa with a tanner. What is a tanner? A tanner was someone who worked with leather. To work with leather meant one would have to work with dead animals. Why is this important? Because a tuner was rejected by the Jews of the time as unclean. Peter’s decision to stay with him means there is something profound happening in Peter at this moment. It shows that he is beginning to move away from the ceremonial laws and into a deeper understanding of the freedom Christ offers. Peter still has much to learn and in chapter 10 God begins to refine Peter in a deeper way.