Acts 9:1-43
God's Word next tells us about Saul and his persecution of the church of holy-people. This is the same Saul who, back in Acts 7:58, was the young man who had been given the responsibility of taking care of the witnesses' outer-garments while Stephen was being stoned. The following events took place about 2 years after that.
Acts 9:1 and 2:
9:1But Saul, yet breathing threatening and murder into the learning-disciples of the Lord, having gone-towards the chief-priest, .2asked-for-himself letters from him into Damascus towards the synagogues so-that if-ever he may find some-people being of the way, both adult-males and women having been bound2 he may lead (them) into Jerusalem.
Saul was still concentrating on his persecution – so-much-so that he was breathing (inhaling and consequently exhaling, as though the following are what kept him physically alive)…
- threatening (holding a promised threat as being the motivation to make others obey him) and
- murder (wrongful killing)
…into or directed-to the students of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He approached the chief/high priest in Jerusalem and petitioned letters giving him permission and authority to go into the synagogues in Damascus, not for Saul to pray to God, but in such a manner that if Saul ever found anybody being of the way (the way of the Lord Jesus Christ), he could bind (tie, fasten) both the men and women and lead (direct, conduct, convey) them with him back into Jerusalem, so as to put them in prison or whatever the religious leaders of Judaism/Israel may decide to do with them.
[Reference: Acts 8:3, 22:4.]
Verses 3-6:
.3But in the journeying it came-to-pass-for him to come-near to Damascus, and suddenly a light out-from heaven lightened-as-lightning-around him, .4and having fallen on the earth he heard a sound saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" .5And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he (said), "I am the Jesus whom you persecute, .6but you must stand-up and you must go into the city and it will be uttered-forth to you the-thing which it is necessary (for) you to do."
As Saul got close to Damascus, unexpectedly absolute-light as lightning (the sudden speedy flash of shining bright light, the quick supplying of light) coming from heaven lit about him.
When he fell down on the ground he heard a sound (voice) which he could understand saying to him: Saul, Saul (repeating his name in Hebrew so there could be no doubt in Saul's mind but that this voice was addressing him!), why do you persecute me (pursue with hostility after me as though I were your enemy)?"
Then Saul wanted to know who was speaking to him and asked the speaker, being very respectful addressing the speaker as Lord (Master, the one with power over him in this situation), who he was? Saul had not 'freaked-out' when this supernatural event was happening because he already knew about God and he thought he was doing God a favor by persecuting the people in the way of the Lord!
However, the sound from heaven replied that emphatically he was Jesus whom Saul was persecuting, whom Saul was pursuing as though he was an enemy.
We should notice that Jesus was truly and really the one whom Saul was persecuting – even though Saul was physically persecuting the holy-people! All holy-people have the spirit of Christ in them, and therefore any wrong done against a holy-person is in truth done against the Lord Jesus Christ who is the head of the church, his body. Refer to Romans 12:4 and 5; First Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:19-23 and 3:4-6; Colossians 1:27.
The voice from heaven told Saul that he was Jesus whom he was persecuting – but contrary to persecuting him, Saul must get up off the ground and he must go into the city of Damascus, and there it would be spoken to him what he must do!
Some texts have added words in these verses, but they have been taken from the other sections of Scripture where the Apostle Paul (Saul) tells what happened.
[Reference: Acts 22:1-16, 26:1-23; I Corinthians 15:8.]
Verses 7-9:
.7But the adult-males, the (adult-males) being on-the-way-together with him, had stood speechless hearing indeed the sound but viewing-with-attention not-one-person; .8and Saul was raised from the earth, and his eyes having been opened2 he observed nothing. But leading him by-the-hand they led (him) into Damascus, .9and he was three days not observing and he did not eat nor drink.
The grown men who were traveling with Saul had stood without talking (mute, dumb from amazement). They could indeed hear the sound (voice) of someone speaking [note: they could not hear the content/words spoken to the end of understanding what was actually said - Acts 22:9]. Here we are told that they heard the sound but they could not view anybody so as to contemplate that person with their minds and know who it was.
When they got Saul up from the ground, he could not see any of the people with him, nothing, even though his eyes were opened, so they led him by hand into the city of Damascus. He was there three days seeing nothing, and he didn't eat nor drink during these three days.
Verses 10-12:
.10But there was some learning-disciple in Damascus, Ananias by-name, and the Lord said towards him in a seen-object, "Ananias." And he said, "Look!, I (am here), Lord." .11And the Lord (said) towards him, "Having stood-up you must journey on the narrow-street, the (narrow-street) being called Straight, and in (the) house of Judas you must seek-after Saul by-name, a Tarsian, for look!, he prays .12and he saw, in a seen-object, an adult-male Ananias by-name having come-in and having put (his) hands on him so-that he may observe-upwardly."
God's Word now turns the reader's attention on one particular learning-disciple (student) living in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke his name to him in a seen-object - which is something presented to his eyes so that he would see and perceive and know it. Ananias didn't die-with-fright but replied by saying: look (see, behold)! I am here and willing to listen to what you Lord (Master) have to say to me.
Ananias did not tell the Lord Jesus Christ that he was busy studying the scrolls or doing something else and would he call back later! Ananias was ready and willing to perform whatever the Lord wanted to communicate to him. So, the Lord continued with what he wanted to tell him: when you get up you must go to the narrow-street (laneway) which is called "Straight" and you must look-for a man named Saul from Tarsus within Judas' house. Look!, he's praying and he saw you, Ananias, in a seen-object which I presented to him, coming into the location where he is praying, and you put your hands on him in such a manner that he would look-up in the recovery his physical sight.
Verses 13-16:
.13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I heard from many-people concerning this adult-male how-many bad-things he did to your holy-people in Jerusalem .14and here he has authority from the chief-priests to bind all the (people) calling-upon your name to-themselves!" .15But the Lord said towards him, "You must journey because this-person is a vessel of selection for me to lift-up my name before both Gentiles and kings and (the) sons of Israel, .16for I will point-out to him as-many-things-as it is necessary (for) him to suffer on behalf of my name."
When Ananias heard what the Lord said to him in verses 11 and 12, he did not jump-into-action! But he responded by telling him what he had heard concerning this Saul and how many bad things he did to the Lord's holy-people (the people who have received the gift of holy spirit, the true Christians) within Jerusalem, and that here in the city of Damascus he held authoritative-power (permitted right) from the chief/high priests to bind all the people who called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to themselves. Ananias was making sure that the Lord knew what was going on and that perhaps what he was asking may not be in his best interests and so he may need to reconsider his strategy!
But the Lord Jesus Christ knew what he was doing and gave Ananias a little more information from his point of view: you must go presently because this man is a vessel of selection (election, a picked-out, chosen utensil for myself) for the purpose of lifting-up (bearing, supporting, carrying) my name in the sight and presence of both:
- Gentiles (people belonging to nations other-than Israel/Judah), and
- kings (those who rule exercising their dominion over their area, their kingdom), and
- the sons of Israel (those who are descendants of the man Israel/Jacob);
…for emphatically I will point-out (I myself will indicate privately, under the eyes, plainly) to Saul how much he must experience and be affected by things on behalf of my name.
[For details on Saul/Paul’s ministry it would be helpful to read the remaining portion of the Book of Acts and his letters. Refer also to Acts 23:11, 25:22 and 23, 26:1 and 32; Romans 1:5, 11:13, 15:16; II Corinthians 11:23-28, 12:7-10; Galatians 1:16; Ephesians 3:8; I Timothy 2:7; II Timothy 1:11, 4:17.]
Verses 17-19(a):
.17And Ananias went-away and went into the house and having put (his) hands on him he said, "Saul, brother, the Lord apostled2 me, Jesus the (one) having been seen by you in the way which you came, so-that you may observe-upwardly and you may be filled of holy spirit." .18And immediately (something) as scales fell-away from his eyes and he observed-upwardly and having stood-up he was baptized, .19(a)and having taken nourishment he was-made-strong-within.
Ananias went, and when he had placed his hands on Saul he addressed him by his Hebrew name and as a "brother," which would have set Saul at-ease with Ananias whom Saul had seen in the seen-object that the Lord had presented to him. Ananias was also of the Judean/Israeli background and the Lord had told Ananias that Saul would be his spiritual brother as soon as Ananias did what he told him to do.
Ananias put his hands on Saul and said, "Saul, brother, the Lord apostled and continues apostled me, Jesus the (one) having been seen by you in the way which you came, so-that you may observe-upwardly and you may be filled of holy spirit." As soon as he said this, something like the scales of a fish fell away-from Saul's eyes and he could look-up, he recovered his physical sight, and after Saul stood up he was baptized in holy spirit. Saul was filled-up with holy spirit-life as the Lord had told Ananias. At that moment he became a son of God with the spirit of Christ within him, just the same as the twelve on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), and Ananias, and all the people who had believed since that day.
Saul also took physical food because he had not eaten or drunk for three days, and then he became physically strong within himself. Saul was now a three-part person: holy spirit-life and soul/breath-life and a physical body. He was made whole both spiritually and physically - he had been totally healed.
[Reference: Acts 22:12-16.]
Let us read some verses from the Book of Galatians in which Paul tells us what he did after he received holy spirit-life.
Galatians 1:15-17:
.15but when the (One) having separated me from my mother's womb [and having called by means of His grace] considered-it-good .16to reveal His son in me in order that I may good-message him among the Gentiles, immediately I did not add-up-to-myself flesh and blood .17nor did I go into Jerusalem towards the apostles before me, but I went-away into Arabia and again I returned into Damascus.
Saul/Paul writes that immediately (straightaway, directly) he did not place himself in front of flesh and blood, any human-being, so as to seek counsel, advice and instruction from a human-being; nor did he depart into Jerusalem to be with the men who already were apostles before Paul time-wise. But, contrary to putting himself up before any of these people, he went away into Arabia for a time and then again later he returned into Damascus.
When Saul returned to Damascus after spending some time in Arabia, the Book of Acts continues:
Acts 9:19(b) and 20:
.19(b)And he became with the learning-disciples in Damascus sufficient days .20and immediately he heralded-forth Jesus - that this (Jesus) is the son of God - in the synagogues.
It came-to-pass that Saul was in company and association with the learning-disciples who were in Damascus for enough or a sufficient number of days [some Greek texts read “some days”]. During that time he had straightaway proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, the places where the Judeans / Israelites came to hear God's Word. Saul heralded forth to them that this Jesus, the one who spoke to him, is THE SON OF GOD - the one prophesied and promised to mankind in the Scriptures since Genesis 3:15.
[Reference: Acts 26:19 and 20.]
Verses 21 and 22:
.21But all the (people) hearing were bewildered and said, "Isn't this-person the (person) having laid-waste the (people) calling-upon this name to-themselves into Jerusalem, and here into this he had come in order that having been bound2 he may lead them on the chief-priests?" .22But Saul rather was enabled and he confused the Judeans, the (Judeans) dwelling-down in Damascus, compacting-together that this (Jesus) is the Christ!
Can't you understand why these people who heard him were awestruck and totally-puzzled, both the holy-people and those who did not believe what God had given them to believe? Wasn't this the same man who had ravaged the holy-people who had called-upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to themselves in Jerusalem, and he had purposed to arrest the holy-people in Damascus and bring them to the chief/high priests to do as they pleased with them? Yes, this was the same man physically but he was a different man from God's and the Lord Jesus Christ's point of view - he now was a son of God because he had received the spirit of Christ within him, and Saul also knew it and he behaved accordingly!
But instead of getting annoyed or intimidated by the people's bewilderment and telling the Lord Jesus Christ that it was a bad-idea, Saul was even more-so enabled (given able-power, ability within himself) by the Lord Jesus Christ to carry-out his new master's will. And he perplexed the Judean-people who were living in Damascus by compacting-together that this Jesus is the Christ! Saul was knitting or bringing the truth in conjunction together so as to compare scriptures and thus prove that this Jesus whom he was talking about is the Christ - he is God's Anointed-one, the Messiah!
[Reference: Acts 17:2 and 3, 18:5 and 28; Galatians 1:13 and 23; Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:13; I Timothy 1:12; II Timothy 4:17.]
Verses 23-25:
.23But as sufficient days were fulfilled the Judeans counseled-together to eliminate him, .24but their deliberate-determination-on (him) was made known to Saul, and they were closely-keeping (the) gates both day and night so-that they may eliminate him, .25but the learning-disciples having taken him of night left him down through the city-wall having let (him) go in a basket.
From God's point of view, Saul had preached enough or a sufficient number of days in order for the people to believe. But from the Judean viewpoint, Saul was a sufficient number of days proclaiming regarding this Jesus so as for them to jointly deliberately determined (purposefully willed, as members of a council together taking counsel from one-another) to eliminate him, to take him and put him out of their way, in other words they had decided that he must be killed!
However, their purposed-plot against him became personally known to Saul - either by revelation from God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ, or by a human informant. God's Word does not tell us here how Saul got to know their deliberate-determination to kill him. These religious-leaders had arranged to keep close-watch on the gates of the city both day and night in such a manner that if Saul tried to go-out or come-in through the gates he would be killed.
But the students put Saul into a large hamper and left (sent) him down through a window-opening in the city-wall (the city's fortification) to escape and therefore he did not have to go through the gates and get caught.
The Apostle Paul (Saul in Hebrew, Paul in Greek) also wrote regarding this escape in his letter of "Second Corinthians."
II Corinthians 11:32 and 33:
.32in Damascus, the governor of Aretas the king used-to-guard the city of (the) Damascenes to apprehend me, .33and I was let-go in a rope-basket by means of a window through the city-wall and I escaped his hands.
Returning to the Book of Acts, God's Word continues with Saul's first trip to Jerusalem three years after his reception of holy spirit-life.
Acts 9:26 and 27:
.26But having arrived into Jerusalem he attempted to be-glued-together to the learning-disciples and all-people were fearful (of) him not believing that he is a learning-disciple. .27But Barnabas having taken-hold-on him led (him) towards the apostles and he told them how in the way he saw the Lord and that he uttered-forth to him, and how in Damascus he boldly-spoke in the name of Jesus;
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to cleave (adhere himself) to/with the learning-disciples, but they were afraid of him not believing that he was now one of themselves, a holy-person (Christian) having received holy spirit just as they had.
However, Barnabas, the "son of encouragement" from Acts 4:36, helped him. This is also referenced in the Book of Galatians:
Galatians 1:18 and 19:
.18Next after three years I went-up into Jerusalem to inquire-into Cephas and I remained-on with him fifteen days, .19but I did not see a different-one of the apostles except James, the brother of the Lord;
Returning to the Book of Acts, let us re-read verse 27 and continue with our study.
Acts 9:27-30:
.27But Barnabas having taken-hold-on him led (him) towards the apostles and he told them how in the way he saw the Lord and that he uttered-forth to him, and how in Damascus he boldly-spoke in the name of Jesus; .28and he was with them journeying into Jerusalem boldly-speaking in the name of the Lord. .29Also he uttered-forth and disputed-together towards the Grecians but the (Grecians) took-on-hand to eliminate him, .30but the brothers having fully-known led him down into Caesarea and they apostled him out into Tarsus.
In and around Jerusalem Saul spoke with frankness and openness of speech regarding the name of the Lord for those 15 days, which he primarily spent with Peter after Barnabas had introduced him. This would have included going into the temple with him, walking around the streets, etc, where he spoke to the other learning-disciples, but he did not spend "private" time with the other apostles; however, he did spend time with James the half-brother of the Lord (refer to Matthew 13:55).
Plus Saul also spoke and debated with the Grecians or Hellenists (referring here to the Greek-speaking Israeli/Judean people), but they set-about to get him out of their way by killing him. When the "brothers" - Saul's spiritual brothers because they all had the same holy spirit-life within them and they all were children of the only true God - when Saul's brothers had clear and exact personal knowledge regarding what was going on, they brought him into Caesarea and they apostled him (sent him forth/away) back home to Tarsus.
Saul's first trip to Jerusalem was therefore shorter than he had anticipated.
[Reference: Acts 6:1, 8:40, 11:25. For details on how Saul himself knew what was happening, you may read Acts 22:17-21.]
Saul’s journey towards Tarsus is also referenced in the Book of Galatians:
Galatians 1:21-24:
.21Next I went into the regions of Syria and of Cilicia .22but I was being-unknown by face by the churches of Judea, the (churches) in Christ, .23but only they were hearing that "the (person) persecuting us at-some-time now good-messages the belief which at-some-time he used-to lay-waste," .24and they used-to-glorify God in me.
Returning to the Book of Acts, let us continue:
Acts 9:31:
.31Therefore indeed the church, according to the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria, had peace, being edified and journeying with the fear of the Lord and with the encouragement of the holy spirit it was multiplied.
Following-on logically indeed, the church (referring here to the assembly of holy-people called-out from other people because they had become children of God with holy spirit-life within them) in the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria (refer to Acts 1:8)…
- was peaceful for a period of time (Saul was not persecuting the holy-people anymore as he had been doing previously recorded in Acts 8:1-4 and 9:1 and 2 above)
- being edified (the church was being built-up as a house is built up bit-by-bit and layer-by-layer)
- and going about daily life
- with the fear of the Lord (The ‘fear of the Lord’ refers to their fright, being afraid at the consequences of their performance of any wrong behavior. The holy-people were manifesting the awe and respect that is rightfully due and ought to be shown towards the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God has placed at His right-hand side, the position of being second-in-command to God Himself.)
- and with the encouragement of the holy spirit (the exhortation issuing from the holy spirit-life within each member in manifestation as they walked accordingly; refer to I Corinthians chapters 12-14)
- it was multiplied (the church was filled into fullness with holy-people).
Next, we have God's Word returning to tell us what was happening with Peter since we last read about him in Acts 8:25.
Verses 32-35:
.32But it came-to-pass-for Peter going-through by means of all-places, to also go-down towards the holy-people, the (holy-people) dwelling-down (in) Lydda. .33And he found there some man, Aineas by-name, lying-down on a mattress from eight years who was having been paralyzed2; .34and Peter said to him, "Aineas, Jesus Christ heals you, you must stand-up and you must spread (your bed)." And immediately he stood-up, .35and all the (people) dwelling-down (in) Lydda and Sarona saw him, the-people-who turned-back on the Lord.
During Peter's travels, he came across a man named Aineas who was reclining for eight years on a mattress (something like a stretcher) because he was paralyzed. Peter told him that Jesus Christ presently heals him and that he must stand-up and spread what he was lying on (strew it, in the sense of wrapping it up so as to be able to carry it). The man believed these words and did what Peter said and he stood-up! All the people living in Lydda and Sarona saw him (perceived and knew what happened to Aineas) – these are the people who actively turned-on towards the Lord Jesus Christ.
How did Peter know to say this to this particular man? He received information revealed to him by means of his holy spirit-life. For details regarding the manifestation of holy spirit, you may read chapter 12 of my study on I Corinthians.
Peter was certainly receptive to the holy spirit within him, and as a result Aineas was healed and many people became children of God.
Verses 36-39:
.36But there was in Joppa some learning-disciple, Tabitha by-name, which being throughly-interpreted is-said (as) Dorcas; she was full of good works and merciful-deeds which she did. .37But it came-to-pass in those days having been weak (for) her to die, and having washed her they put (her) in an upper-room. .38But Lydda being near to Joppa, the learning-disciples, having heard that Peter is in it, apostled two adult-males towards him encouraging, "May you not be slow to go-through until us." .39And Peter having stood-up went-together with them, whom having arrived they led-up into the upper-room and all the widows stood-beside him crying and pointing-upon (the) inner-garments and outer-garments as-many-things-as Dorcas made being with them.
Tabitha was her name in Aramaic. "Dorcas" was the Greek explanation of her name, which described a kind of deer with large bright eyes as a gazelle. Emphatically she was full of performing…
- good-works (works that issue from God Who is good and sets the standard for what is good, good things wrought, good deeds, the effects produced having acted expending her energy in accordance with what is perfectly admirable from God's viewpoint, according to His words and intention because He is the source of all true goodness) and
- merciful-deeds (the giving of alms by mercy to those who were in need; mercy is withholding merited judgment and punishment from them).
However, she had become weak (without strength, feeble, ill, sick) and died. Then the other students, holy-people, sent forth/away two grown men to Peter exhorting him to help in this situation. Peter, who was continuing to be receptive to his holy spirit-life, stood-up and went with them. But when he arrived and went into the upper room where the dead body lay, the widows were carrying-on with their lamentations and mourning rituals which would have been quite noisy, to say the least!
What does Peter do?
Verse 40:
.40But Peter, having thrown-out all-people outside and having knelt-down, prayed and having turned-back towards the body he said, "Tabitha, you must stand-up." And the (woman) opened her eyes and having seen Peter she sat-up;
He threw all the people outside of the room where the dead body was lying. Peter could have tried to 'comfort' each one of them and joined-in with their crying, etc, but he didn't! He cast them out from the room and he knelt-down on his knees and prayed to God.
Peter communicated with God concerning this specific situation to find out what God's solution to this problem was. As soon as Peter received the instructions of what to do via his holy spirit, he believed the information and carried it out by turning towards the dead body and spoke to it, "Tabitha, you must stand-up." Tabitha was given soul/breath-life again in her body. She started breathing again, plus holy spirit-life was given to her because before she died she was a holy-person with the spirit of Christ within her. And, she opened her eyes and when she perceived Peter in the room with her she sat-up - probably a little alarmed!
Verses 41-43:
.41and having given a hand to her he caused her to stand-up, and having sounded (to) the holy-people and the widows he presented her living; .42and it became known down-to the whole of Joppa and many-people believed on the Lord. .43But it became sufficient days (for Peter) to remain in Joppa with someone (named) Simon, a tanner.
Peter continued being receptive to his holy spirit and gave Tabitha his hand and made her stand-up. Then he summoned the others and caused Tabitha to stand-beside him being alive - a living person, not a dead-person! This occurrence became personally known throughout the area of Joppa and, again, many people believed regarding the Lord Jesus Christ - they also became children of the only true God by receiving the gift of holy spirit.
Tabitha was not given a new spiritual body like the resurrected Christ was given by God when God raised him from the dead. Since the day that Tabitha was raised by Peter she has died again and her physical body is dead and buried in the ground. However, in the future she will be raised from the dead when Christ will come to gather all the holy-people together with him, and at that future time she will receive a spiritual body.
God's Word tells us that Peter stayed in Joppa with a man named Simon who was a tanner (a leather-dresser who worked with hides by-trade) for enough or a sufficient number of days (perhaps 3 years). Simon the tanner's house would of necessity be away from the main residents of the city because the smell of the hides, etc, would be quite strong!
[Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
