l, 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 threatening. Slaughter seemed to be a necessity of his existence, He was breathing out threatenings and slaughter could not breathe without them could not speak without them. So full was he of fury against the people of God, that Jerusalem was not enough for him; he wanted wider hunting grounds; he must go to Damascus.
Acts 9:3. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus.
There was his prey before him, and the wolf was ready to leap upon it.
Acts 9:3-5. And suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who are thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
So it is when God means to save a man. He will make every kick that he gives against the gospel to be like that of an ox that kicks against the goad and wounds itself.
Acts 9:6. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? What a sudden change! Before, he knew what he was going to do. He was going to do his own will and wreak his own vengeance, but now it is, «Lord. what wilt thou have me to do? My will is in a moment subdued.
What is it thou dost ask of me?»
Acts 9:6-9. 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 man: but they led him by the head, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
And what a battle went on in his soul then, perhaps even he could scarcely describe afterwards. Brethren, some of you can surely guess, for you, perhaps, have felt the same. Some souls are born to God with terrible pangs; and this man was one. And oh! what strong believers those often are who have great difficulty in coming at peace. «And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.»
Acts 9:10. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias;
One of those to whom Paul had intended to pay his cruel respects.
Acts 9:10. And to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold I am here, Lord.
A grand way to be able to answer the Lord at all times. May we never be, dear friends, where we shall be ashamed to say, «Behold, I am here, Lord.» Some Christians go into very strange company, and they would not like their Master to know. They would be ashamed to say, «Behold, I am here, Lord.»
Acts 9:11. 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:
The Lord knows the whereabouts of his people. He knows your whereabouts tonight, young man. I only trust that though you are an opponent of the gospel, he has brought you here on purpose that you may become one of his best advocates, through his renewing grace.
Acts 9:11. For, behold, he prayeth.
There was the secret sign and mark of a changed character, «Behold, he prayeth.» What a wonder! He prayeth he that breathed out slaughter. He prayeth he that came to destroy. «Behold, he prayeth.»
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 show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
And it seemed a gracious retribution of him, did it not? I say not a penal infliction. I know not how to put it better than «a gracious retribution» that he who made saints to suffer should now have the high privilege to take the front rank in suffering himself. Often, I doubt not, when he was bearing and enduring with such matchless fortitude, he thought of those saints whom he had harried and worried in the days of his carnal estate; and how he must have prized them, and with what wonder must he have said, «Unto me, who am less than the least of all the saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.»
Acts 9:17. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul,
Oh! what new words, «brother Saul»! A few days before no man durst have used such language of familiarity to this mighty disciple of Gamaliel, armed with authority from the chief priests. Now how sweetly it must have sounded on his ear, «brother Saul»! Oh! there is nothing that makes us such brothers as the gospel. «This is the dear uniting bond That will not let us part.»
Acts 9:17-18. 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.
What else should a believer be but be baptized? It is the very next step which he should take after he has found the Saviour.
Acts 9:19. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened.
It seemed unimportant to put that in here, did it not? Yet it is not so. While grace heals the infirmities of the mind, bodily food is still wanted for the body; and sometimes it is well with your young convert, when he has been a long time in distress of mind, that you refresh him in body, as well as cheer him in heart.
Acts 9:19-20. 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.
And had they ever heard such a preacher before? How they gnashed their teeth on him the unbelievers; and how the timid saints crept in and heard this man advocate this man who had had a wonderful twist in his mind from which he never recovered who had seen something as yet he himself could hardly tell all that he had seen. Oh! it must have been fine hearing to listen to his preaching that Christ is the Son of God.
Acts 9:21-22. 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? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
And this is the great thing to prove to the Jew. Oh! when shall it come to pass that poor forsaken Israel shall know that this is the very Christ? God grant her restoration right speedily!