Acts 9:1-2. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
His very breath was hot with malice against the saints, he could not live without venting his spite upon the disciples of Christ. He showed this by the fact that he not only sought to arrest men, but he was equally cruel towards women, who, from their weakness, one would have thought might have been let alone but he expressly desired it to be written in the letters that, «whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.»
Acts 9:3. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
When speaking before Agrippa, Paul said that it was «a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun.» Was it not that very Shekinah which of old had shone forth between the cherubim over the mercy-seat?
Acts 9:4-5. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 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.
There is something very characteristic about Christ's answer to Saul's question. He did not say, «It is hard for me;» although he was himself persecuted in his members, and felt intense sympathy with them, he did not dwell upon that; but he said to Saul, «It is hard for thee.» There was much pity in the rebuke. Saul was like a bullock that has been pricked by the sharp ox-goad, and that kicks against it, and so is hurt all the more. Our Lord knew what sorrow it would cause Saul in the years to come, for he would never cease to lament that he had persecuted the disciples of Christ.
Acts 9:6. And he trembling and astonished
Finding that Jesus, whom he thought to be dead and buried, and those followers he was so violently opposing, was yet alive,
Acts 9:6-8. 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. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no men: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
So the proud persecutor, who was going to Damascus as a conqueror to crush the saints of God, was himself led into the city as a captive, to be for ever afterwards the slave of Jesus Christ.
Acts 9:9. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
What passed through that mind, which was darkened to natural light, but was being filled with spiritual light, we can well guess; I mean, those of us who have experienced true conviction of sin. In those three days, he lived over again his life of opposition to the Lord Jesus; what heart-break he must have felt, and what anguish of soul, and what holy resolves he must have made during his three days' blindness and fasting!
Acts 9:10-11. 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. 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,
He had been a praying man for most of his life, for he was a devout Jew and according to his light he had lived up to his knowledge. But now he was praying in the Christian sense of the term, drawing near to God through the very Christ whom he had in his ignorance and unbelief persecuted. How many prayers of unregenerate men, who know not Christ, and are not constrained by his love, go for nothing! When they first from the heart confess their sin, and cry to God for mercy, then they begin really to pray.
Acts 9:12-16. And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 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: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Ananias said to the Lord, «I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem;» and now the Lord says to Ananias, in response to that, «I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.» As he had made others suffer for Christ's name's sake, he must himself suffer in the same way; yet in this he was greatly favored, for it is one of the highest honours that the Lord Jesus Christ can put upon his chosen ones that they should be called to suffer for his name's sake.
Acts 9:17 ; Acts 9:21. 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. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed,
I should like to have heard one of those first sermons of the apostle, and to have seen the astonishment of the people as they listened to the converted persecutor: «All that heard him were amazed,»
Acts 9:21-22. 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? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
This exposition consisted of readings from Acts 9:1-22; and Acts 22:1-16.