Acts 9:32

Acts 9:32 says, And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.  Through the end of the chapter, we leave Saul and move to Peter's ministry at the time.  Peter was traveling "through all quarters" and came down to the saints that dwelt at Lydda.  We hear today of someone who has been made a saint after they die, but we as followers of Christ are already saints.  This doesn't mean that we are anything great of our own goodness or holiness.  It simply means we are set apart for God's use. We are never to be worshipped or prayed to.  Those saints at Lydda were simply sinners saved by grace, set aside from the world to do God's will.   Verse thirty-three adds, And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.  While at Lydda, Peter met a man named Aeneas, who had been bed ridden with palsy for eight years. That was a long time to be suffering, and we as Christians may suffer physically a long time in this world.  Verse thirty-four continues, And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.  Peter had met him on a personal level, and so must we meet people the same way today.  Peter told him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ made him whole and to arise and make his bed.  What would you do in Aeneas's place? First, Aeneas had to believe that Peter wasn't crazy.  Would we in the same situation?  Then, more importantly, he had to believe that this Jesus Christ could heal him.  It took faith in the messenger and the message.  Verse thirty-five concludes, And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.  We are told he arose immediately, and all that lived at Lydda and Saron saw him and believed and turned to the Lord.  Though Aeneas benefited physically from his encounter with Peter, even more people benefited spiritually.  If Peter were being investigated by a committee to see if he were qualified for sainthood, they would likely classify the healing of Aeneas as a miracle Peter performed.  They would be wrong.  Peter was simply acting as a spokesman for Jesus Christ.  People do not perform miracles.  God does. They would also likely miss the greater miracle that occurred that day:  All that lived at Lydda and Saron, saw him (Aeneas), and believed and turned to the Lord. 

Acts 9:27

Acts 9:27 says, But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.  Barnabas took Saul and brought him to the disciples and told them about his conversion experience on the road to Damascus and of his boldly preaching in the name of Jesus at Damascus.  Though we might need someone to vouch for us at some point, our witnessing for Jesus Christ should be testimony enough for other believers to have faith in us.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.  Barnabas said Saul was with them as they went in and out of Jerusalem.  Having converted from being a very devout Jew to a follower of Christ could and did put Saul in danger, but he went in and out of Jerusalem witnessing anyway.  We cannot allow fear to stop us from witnessing for Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.  Barnabas continued to speak of Saul’s bold witnessing and disputing with the Greeks, who were trying to slay him.  The gospel was not only a threat to the Jews but toother religions as well, and it still is.  Verse thirty says, Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.  Barnabas said when the brethren knew of the plot to kill Saul, they helped him escape to Caesarea and then sent him to Tarsus.  There may come a time when Christians need to leave where they are to avoid being killed, but if so, we need to make sure that it is God’s will for us to leave. Verse thirty-one adds, Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.  Barnabas said because of this, the churches in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were multiplying in number.  We need to be witnessing so that churches might multiply today.  Of course, the fact that one who had been actively persecuting the church was now actively witnessing for it was proof of the power of the gospel. 

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. 

Acts 9:15

Act 9:15 says, But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  God told Ananias what Saul had been called to do.  Saul was God's chosen vessel to bear God's name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel.  When God calls us, He will let us know what He has called us for.  Verse sixteen adds, For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.  We are told what else God revealed to Saul, and that was what great things he would suffer for God's namesake.  How would we respond if God called us and immediately told us how much we would suffer for following His call?  We would like to think that following God would bring some sort of material fulfillment, but we are once more only promised a cross to bear daily.  Saul was obedient to God's call, even knowing the cost.  Will we be as obedient?  Verse seventeen continues, And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.  Ananias, even though he had been reluctant, obeyed God.  He went to the house Saul was staying in and told Saul Who had sent him and why.  When we go where God sends us, we need to make sure that people know Who sent us and why we are there. We can go in God's name and yet never let anyone know Who sent us.  If we do that, and any good comes of it, people will tend to praise us instead of God.  We must always make sure the glory goes to God. 

Acts 9:10

Acts 9:10 says, And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.  God appeared in a vision to a disciple named Ananias and told him that He had a job for him.  Ananias said, “Here am I,” just as we should if God calls us to do something today.  Verse eleven adds, And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,  Verse twelve continues, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.  God reveals to Ananias what he is to do.  Go to Saul of Tarsus, who was praying and had seen Ananias coming, and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight.  God was about to answer Saul’s prayer, just as He will answer ours today. Verse thirteen states, Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:  Ananias had heard a lot of bad things about Saul and seemed less willing to do what God had asked him to do.  He had heard of Saul and his persecution of Christians, and now he was being sent to him.  If God called us to go to the person who was most actively persecuting Christians today, what would our reaction be?  Ananias suddenly thought more about who Saul was than he did about Who God is.  After Ananias said, "Behold, here am I," there should have been no need for discussing who Saul was.  When we know Who God is and pronounce ourselves ready to do what He directs us to do, we need simply to do it.  When we begin to look to other things, whatever they might be, it is easy to bargain ourselves completely out of doing what God has directed us to do.  For this reason, we must learn to obey without question.  Verse fourteen adds, And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.  Ananias had stated in verse ten, "Behold, here am I," but in verses eleven and twelve, he was chosen to go to Saul and be used by God to restore Saul' s sight.  We might ask why God needed anyone to go to Saul when God could have just as easily done it without anyone going.  I think part of the reason was to allow Ananias to witness the miracle that God had performed in Saul's life. Another part was to allow Ananias to tell others about the change in Saul.  Now, he was telling God who Saul was.  God will not send us into a situation that He knows nothing about. 

Acts 9:5

Acts 9:5 says, And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  Saul asked Jesus Who he was, and He said He was Jesus Whom Paul persecuted, and this is who we are today when we first encounter Jesus Christ.  Jesus asked Paul was it not hard to kick against the pricks, and we have to openly reject the call to salvation, which is hard to do.  Verse six adds, And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.  Saul asked God what He would have him do.  We need to remember that Saul thought he was already doing what God wanted him to do. Then, after he encountered Christ, he knew what he was doing was not what God wanted him to do. Encountering Christ, no matter how good or bad we may be, should change our perspective.  Saul did not question God when he was told to arise and go into the city and it would be told to him what he should do.  Verse seven continues, And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  Saul was not alone on the road, but the others were speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  We can only wonder what they thought.  We are told they were speechless, but in the same situation, what could we say.  Verse eight states, And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. When Saul got up and opened his eyes, he was blind, but he still continued to Damascus.  He had to be led by those with him. He had been on his way to lead captive Christians to Jerusalem for trial, but instead he was led like a captive into Damacus.  I guess we could say he was a captive, since in effect, Christ had captured his life to be one of His followers.  When we encounter Christ, wherever we are, we need to become captured by His love and blind to any desire for all the sin in the world.  Verse nine adds, And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.  Saul, once he was in Damacus was blind and did not drink or eat for three days, the same number of days Christ was in the tomb.  Just as Christ gave His all for us, we must be willing to give our all for Him. After Saul had been in Damacus those three days, blind and not drinking or eating, God began working to restore him.  Why had He waited three days?  I think maybe it was to give Saul time to think and to learn to depend on someone other than himself.