Chapter 9 of Acts starts a new section of the book and brings into the spotlight both Paul and Peter. We read about Paul briefly as he was introduced as Saul the Christian persecutor in connection with the martyrdom of Stephen (7:58; 8:1, 3). Starting in chapter 9 we see the conversion of Paul (9:1-30). On the other hand Peter was a primary figure in the first five chapters of Acts, and we see him again in the spotlight as he witnesses in the coastal towns of Judea and is used as God’s instrument in the conversion of the Gentile Cornelius (9:32-11:18).
In outlining chapter 9 it would look like this:
- Paul’s new witness to Christ (9:1-31)
- a) Paul is converted (9:1-22)
- b) Paul is now the persecuted (9:23-31)
- Peter’s witness in the coastal towns (9:32-43)
- a) The healing of Aeneas (9:32-35)
- b) The raising of Dorcas (9:36-43)
Acts 9 begins with Saul still persecuting and threatening the Christians. He went to the high priest and asked him for a letter to go into Damascus and continue his violent rage. So Paul receives the letters and then the first half of Paul’s conversion account is divided into three main sections. First the appearance on the Damascus road (verses 1-9), secondly the ministry of Ananias to Paul (verses 10-18a), and thirdly the final confirmation of Paul’s conversion through his bold witness in the Jewish synagogues of Damascus (verses 18b-22). Paul’s role as we see in the first couple verses in chapter 9 is not that of Christian executioner but as the arresting officer, it was his intention to get rid of this new movement of believers.
Starting in verse 3 we see the encounter that would change Paul’s life. This light that he saw must have been very intense, because it was enough to knock him to the ground during midday. The light here represents the heavenly epiphany, the divine glory that surrounded this little caravan. Paul fell to the ground at the sight of the light much like many in the Old Testament did that experienced a similar appearance. Paul would quickly learn who it was that was calling him. It must have been so hard for him, as he was the single greatest persecutor of Christians and persecuted them for their “blasphemous lie” that Jesus had risen from the dead and that He is the Lord reigning in glory. Now Paul himself beheld that same Jesus he was persecuting and now has undeniable proof that He both rose from the dead and reigned in glory.
Paul was awestruck, he said nothing, and he was completely broken. In verse 6 Jesus did not give Paul a commission but a directive. He was to go into the city and await further instruction. The emphasis here is that Paul saw the Lord, and nothing more. This also keeps up with Paul’s testimony of his own conversion, which concentrated on one fact – that he saw the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8; Galatians 1:16). Now that Paul knew for certain that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead and is seated in glory he went from Jesus’ most zealous persecutor to His most ardent witness.
In verses 7-9 we see that his traveling companions were witnesses to what had happened to Paul, this is so that the event was not just Paul thinking this happened. They heard the sound but did not see the vision of Jesus. In Acts 22:9 it says that they saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to Paul. Some like to say that these two verses contradict one another, but the fact is they underline the same event, Paul’s companions heard a sound and saw a light, they could verify that the heavenly manifestation took place but were not able to take part in the heavenly communication. Paul was completely blind after the vision, it is a picture of him being broken and helpless. The vision took all the power away from him, in fact he had to be helped by others into the town where he was going to arrest and persecute the Christians.
Verse 10 begins the second scene of Paul’s conversion. The Lord visited Ananias in a vision. Ananias was one of the leaders of the Damascus church, so he would have been one of Paul’s targets in Damascus. Ananias knew of Saul and at first protested the commission. In verse 11 it talks about a street called Straight. This street runs through Damascus from the east gate to the west, and still exists today. It is called Darb el-Mustaqim. Verses 15-16 are the heart of Ananias’s vision. This is where the Lord outlined Paul’s future role. He was the “Lord’s chosen instrument.” This would be “a vessel of election.” There was a perfect continuation between Paul’s salvation and his service. God chose him to bring His grace to all people. The expression “chosen instrument” is an unusual one and the closest parallel in the New Testament are in Paul’s own writings. The emphasis on Paul being “chosen” is his own sense of the divine call, and this set him apart from birth (Galatians 1:15). Verses 17-20 give the rest of the account between Ananias and Paul in Paul being healed of his blindness and being baptized. In verse 20 we see Paul’s mission, to present the message that Jesus Christ is God.
As we can see many were surprised to see this one persecutor of the Christians now boldly preaching and teaching. Verses 23-31 we read about Paul now becoming the persecuted as the Jews conspire to kill him. Verse 26 tells us that when Paul came to Jerusalem to join the disciples they were afraid of him, but Barnabas was able to ease the disciples fear. After many debates with the Grecian Jews or Hellenists Paul was in danger again so he was sent to Tarsus. Verse 31 concludes the Pauline conversion story and completes the persecution story that began in 8:1. Now that the biggest persecutor of the church was now a believer the church was finally at peace.
In the final verses of Acts 9 we read of Peter’s witness in the coastal towns, this would be the greater Judean mission. Verses 32-35 tell of the healing of Aeneas who was an unbeliever and his paralysis was incurable. He was bedridden for eight years. Peter took the initiative to heal Aeneas without any request. The healing was accomplished by Peter calling on the name of Jesus. The second story at the end of the chapter is in Joppa when Peter raises a female disciple named Tabitha. The story of Tabitha is closely related to Jesus raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead in Luke 8:49-56; Mark 5:35-43. The story concludes with Peter presenting Dorcas/Tabitha alive to the believers and the widows. Peter then remained in Joppa and stayed with a tanner named Simon. In this final verse it is interesting to see that Peter breaks down a cultural barrier by staying with a tanner. This was an occupation that was despised by Jewish society because tanners dealt with the skins of dead animals. Peter is now being moved by God closer to Caesarea where we will read of him witnessing to the Gentile Cornelius.
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