Daily Scripture Reading Acts 9:10-30
For a long time there has been a debate in Christianity, sometimes very heated, over whether humans are chosen by God for salvation, or whether humans choose salvation of their own free will. Today’s passage does not answer that completely, but it does give us a partial answer.
The first nine verses of Acts chapter 9 tell us Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest anyone belonging to the Way. As he was approaching Damascus, a bright light blinded him, and Jesus spoke to him in an audible voice. His companions led him into Damascus and Paul did not eat or drink for three days.
Acts 9:10 ¶ Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
Damascus is about 60 miles / 100 km north east of the Sea of Galilee. It is at least a two day walk to walk from the Sea to Damascus.
Acts 9:11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
Acts 9:12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”
Acts 9:13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem.
Ananias was rightly dubious about the wisdom of approaching Saul. Jesus telling Ananias to go to Saul is almost like God telling a Christian to approach a radical muslim who is know for killing Christians.
Acts 9:14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
Ananias knew the reason Saul was in Damascus. They did not have telephones and advanced communication. The only way news made it from one city to the next was by a person traveling from one city to the next. Somehow, the news that Saul had received authority to bind Christians got to Damascus before Saul did.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
Note the term “chosen instrument”. Saul did not choose Jesus. Jesus chose Saul. Saul was not merely chosen to become a disciple of Jesus, he was chosen to proclaim Jesus before the gentiles.
There is an ongoing debate within Christianity regarding God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. Some people believe God determines every person’s destiny. Others believe all humans have free will to choose their destiny. This verse does not tell us God chooses the destiny of every person, but it does tell us God chose Saul’s destiny. If God chose Saul’s destiny, then it is possible He chooses the destiny of other people.
Acts 9:16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
When Saul began his ministry, he did so knowing he was going to suffer.
Acts 9:17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And he laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—that is Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming—so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Notice that Ananias used the name “Jesus”. Ananias did not act timidly. He did not pretend he was sent by the God Whom all Jews acknowledged. He was clear he was sent by Jesus, the Man Whom many Jews, including Saul, were denying is God.
Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he rose up and was baptized;
Saul was baptized immediately. The mindset of the early Christians was that baptism should happen as soon as a person becomes a believer. Contrary to that, the mentality in many Christian circles today is that baptism happens months, perhaps years, after conversion.
Acts 9:19 and he took food and was strengthened. ¶ Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,
Acts 9:20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
Acts 9:21 And all those hearing him continued to be astounded, and were saying, “Is this not the one who in Jerusalem destroyed those that called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?”
We see the word “astounded”. Saul was well-known for persecuting followers of Jesus, but now he had switched sides.
The equivalent today would be a well-known muslim terrorist proclaiming Jesus. If that were to happen, many Christians would be astounded. They would be skeptical, and yet cautiously hopeful.
Acts 9:22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this One is the Christ.
Pay attention to the word “proving”. Saul did not merely have an emotional experience and an emotional attachment to Jesus. Saul had conviction Jesus is the Christ. He was able to provide proof of the fact.
This is a stark contrast to many modern converts. In the 21st century there are many well-known non-Christians who suddenly start proclaiming Christ, but their belief system is more emotional than it is intellectual. They often have shallow convictions and are unable to mount a vigorous defense of their new beliefs.
Acts 9:23 ¶ And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to put him to death,
Saul had been the hunter. Now, he was the hunted.
Acts 9:24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;
Acts 9:25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
Acts 9:26 ¶ And when he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
Their skepticism was certainly understandable. They knew Saul had approved of the killing of Stephen. They rightly would have suspected Saul was merely trying to pretend to be friendly so that Saul could figure out who was a believer in Jesus so as to arrest them.
Damascus was 130 miles / 210 km away from Jerusalem. That would have been about a five day journey.
Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and recounted to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
Somehow Barnabas knew Saul’s conversion was real, so he acted boldly, took the risk, and brought Saul to the apostles.
Acts 9:28 So he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.
Take note of the words “freely” and “boldly”. Saul was not shy about his new beliefs, even though the Jews in Damascus had sought to put him to death. He certainly knew eventually the Jews in Jerusalem would seek to kill him.
Acts 9:29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were attempting to put him to death.
Acts 9:30 But when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
Saul was known as Saul of Tarsus. Tarsus was Saul’s hometown.
It is 50 miles / 80 km from Jerusalem to Caesarea. That would be a two day journey. Then it is 300 miles / 500 km from Caesarea to Tarsus. Tarsus was in the area known today as the country of Turkey. Saul probably went to Tarsus by boat.
At this point in the story recorded in Acts, we see the gospel message is spreading far from Jerusalem.
The 15th verse of Acts 9 tells us God chose Saul to proclaim His name to the Gentiles. Saul did not choose Jesus. Jesus chose Saul.
What are your beliefs regarding God’s sovereignty vs. man’s free will?
What does your church teach on this topic?
How should today’s passage change what you and your church believe on this controversial subject?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”