1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 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.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Luke has shown that the spread of the gospel continued uninhibited by the persecution it faced. Now he tells us that Saul continued unabated in his murderous hounding of the church. He went to the high priest and got letters to help him destroy believers in Damascus. Note, later he would write letters to encourage and strengthen believers making up half of the New Testament. At this time, the believers were called The Way, a personification of following Jesus, the only way of salvation (John 14:6). On the road to Damascus Saul was suddenly surrounded by a bright light from heaven that probably drove him to his knees. Then he heard a voice from heaven that asked, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” The repetition of his name shows Jesus’ emotion in his appeal. Jesus also sees the persecution of His church as a personal offense against Him. Saul asked who was speaking and Jesus replied it was He, the One he was persecuting. Saul, in his religious zeal as a Jew, had unwittingly been fighting against God just as Gamaliel had warned (Acts 5:38-39). Then Jesus told him to continue to Damascus where he would be told what to do. Those who were traveling with Saul saw the light and heard the voice but stood speechless, not seeing anyone or understanding what was said (Acts 22:9). When Saul got up and opened his eyes, he saw nothing because he was blind. He was then led by the hand to Damascus where he waited without sight, and without eating or drinking for three days (this brings to mind Jonah’s time in the fish after disobedience before a successful mission to minister to the Gentiles).
In Damascus, Jesus spoke in a vision to a disciple named Ananias. He instructed him to go to Straight Street, to Judas’s house to look for a man named Saul of Tarsus who had been praying. Saul was prepared to receive him because he had seen a very specific vision of a man named Ananias coming to lay hands on him so he could regain his sight. Here we learn that Saul has spent his time in prayer. The loss of his sight had probably served to help him focus acutely on what God was doing. While at the time God was working directly in visions, He also involved believers in ministering to Saul. Ananias’s response is expected. He is concerned because he has heard about what Saul has been doing to the church in Jerusalem and that he was on his way to do the same in Damascus. But Jesus reassured him that Saul was His chosen instrument to minister to the Gentiles and the kings and children of Israel. Saul’s apostleship would also be validated by suffering. Why would someone submit to suffering for their message if he were not absolutely convinced he was speaking the truth. So Ananias obeyed and went to Saul, laid his hands on him and he regained his sight. Paul’s next move was to be baptised. Then he received food and was strengthened physically and with spiritual fellowship in the company of the Damascus disciples.
Like Ananias, there are some people we cannot believe Jesus could ever save. But Jesus died for, and offers salvation to the worst of sinners just like everyone else. Who have you written off as unsavable that you can begin praying for again today?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
The Greatest is Love: 1 Corinthians 13-14