Acts 9:18

Acts 9:18 says, And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.  Immediately Saul’s sight was restored.  When Saul's sight was restored, after three days without eating or drinking, his first action wasn't to eat or drink, but to be baptized.  He wanted to identify with those very people he had gone to persecute more than he wanted to eat or drink.  We need to be filled with that same desire to put God first.  The result of Ananias following God's directions is evidenced.  Verse nineteen adds, And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.  Then he ate and stayed certain days with the disciples in Damacus. Notice that his sight was restored immediately.  When we have been sent by God for a specific task as Ananias was, and we faithfully complete that task, we can expect immediate results. That doesn't mean every time we follow God's direction that we will see immediate results. Sometimes, like when sharing the gospel, we may never see the results, but if we know that God has sent us to someone for a specific task, then we should expect to see immediate results.  Verse twenty continues, And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.  Saul began to preach Christ straightaway in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.  I might have chosen a place that was a little less the focus of the Jewish people to start preaching, but Saul went to the center of their worship.  He had to know what the cost might be, but he was not trying to avoid confrontation.  When we know what God wants us to do, we don't need to hide on the edges hoping the wrong people won't find out.  We need to go to where we know they are and preach Christ to them.  Even if we know the cost might be great, we must always follow the will of God. Verse twenty-one states, But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?  What would you do if a person who has been most active in trying to destroy Christianity suddenly showed up at the church you attend and started preaching the gospel?  That was what the people in the synagogues that Saul was preaching in were confronted with.  The people asked if Saul was not the one who had destroyed them which were called by this name in Jerusalem, and hadn't he come to Damascus for the same purpose.  No wonder they were amazed.  I think sometimes we forget that Saul wasn't just on his way to persecute Christians. He had already been actively persecuting them in Jerusalem.  I would hope if someone came to us sincerely preaching the gospel that we would listen to them, no matter what they had been before.  Verse twenty-two adds, But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.  Saul had been on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, he is said to have confounded the Jews that lived in Damacus, proving that this is very Christ.  Whenever we proclaim Christ, we should confound the world, and prove that this is very Christ.  Verse twenty-three continues, And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:  As they had since the arrest of Jesus, the Jews again attempted to silence the gospel.  They decided to kill Saul.  Verse twenty-four states, But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him It became known to Saul, so as the Jewish leaders watched the gates of the city,  Verse twenty-five adds, Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.  The disciples let him down the wall in a basket.  God will provide a way for us to continue to do what He calls us to do.  Does that mean we will never die for doing God's will?  No, it doesn't.  It simply means we can trust God with our life either way.  Verse twenty-six continues, And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.  When Saul got to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples, they wouldn’t let him join them because of his reputation.  We cannot judge people by their past if they have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.  We must welcome them into the fellowship of believers because we are all sinners saved by grace.