Bible Studies
Acts chapter 9 can be divided into two distinct sections: Saul's conversion (1-30), and the boldness of Peter (32-43).
Saul was still intent on persecuting the Christians, but God had different plans. On his way to Damascus, Syria, he had a dramatic conversion. A light shone around him and he fell to the ground. He "heard a voice" saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul asked, "Who are you Lord?" Now, if Saul was so anti-Christian why was his initial response to recognize this as an encounter with God? I do not know the answer. I am just throwing this out for thought. The voice responded, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting" (verses 3-5). After being given some instructions to go and enter the city he became blind for 3 days, and neither ate nor drank.
Let's back up for a moment. Was this a literal voice? It had to be because it says in verse 7 that those who were walking with him also heard it. We see this a lot in scripture. God can use any method to get one's attention.
in verses 10-12 God gives a man by the name of Ananias specific instructions to go to the home where Saul is staying and to lay his hands on him that he might regain his sight. Apparently, Ananias had the gift of healing. Saul is given a new life mission. His mission was the same as ours is today, to share the faith with others, but with one other element that we don't like to talk about. "He must suffer for my name" (16). Ouch! That is not pleasant. That is something that goes contrary to what Christians in America like to hear:blessing and prosperity. This is a clear teaching that God sometimes calls Christians to suffer.
At this instance Saul was healed, given a new purpose, and was filled with the Holy Spirit. The empowerment of the Spirit is always a pre-requisite for fulfilling one's calling or using one's spiritual gift. He was then baptized. Note the order: the filling of the Spirit, then baptized (17-19). It was water baptism, not baptism of the Spirit. In other previous references it has always been water baptism.
After being in Damascus for several days, Saul set out on his first missionary trip and proclaimed that Jesus "is the Son of God" and "proving that Jesus is the Christ." People, of course, were very shaken and surprised, knowing the kind of man Saul used to be. Verses 23-29 relate how angry the Jews were because he was no longer on their side, persecuting the believers. They "plotted together to do away with him." Saul and the disciples found out about this and devised a plan to allow him to safely escape from the city (23-25).
Saul then went to Jerusalem, but the disciples there were understandably "afraid, not believing that he was a disciple." Barnabas came forward in his defense, explaining his divine encounter on the road to Damascus. Saul continued proclaiming the gospel amidst death threats. He then went to Tarsus (26-30).
Verse 31 is a transition between the two sections of the chapter. It reads, "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up, and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase."
Verse 32 to the end of the chapter deals with Peter's ministry. The Lord used him to heal a paralytic who had been bedridden for 8 years. He then very bodly under the power of the Holy Spirt, raised someone from the dead who had been very ill and died. It says that he sent everyone out of the room. Why did Peter do this? I heard a person say once that it may have been because he did not want any doubters in the room. This act became known all over, and "many believed in the Lord" (42). After this he spent some time with Simon in Joppa.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
1. Have you had, or do you know someone who has experienced, a radical conversion?
2. Have you ever had an unmistakable direction from the Lord to do something?
3. Have you ever had a divine confirmation that something you are going to do was God's will?
4. Do you know someone who has been divinely healed?
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