ActsSample

Acts 9

What’s Happening?

Acts 8 ends with Philip excitedly sharing the Gospel with the Ethiopian. We now jump to another man, on another road, headed to Damascus.

Saul, a man determined to see the end of Christians everywhere, is traveling to Damascus to collect a warrant allowing him to arrest any Christian and bring them to Jerusalem. On the way, Jesus appears before Saul. Although only seen by Saul himself, his traveling companions can hear the interaction and stand afraid. Jesus identifies Himself as the very one Saul is persecuting and tells him to continue into Damascus and await instruction. Saul’s companions must then lead him into the city as he was blinded from the vision.

Meanwhile, the Lord speaks to a man named Ananias in Damascus and tells him to look for Saul. Ananias is surprised by God’s direction because he has heard of Saul; he was a known killer and captor of Christians, a heartless brute, a menace to the Faith. Nonetheless, Ananias obeys God and finds Saul, prays over him, and Saul’s blindness is removed. Here we witness an incredible act of the Gospel converting a vile man into one who is used as God’s “instrument”. Soon after, Saul accompanied the disciples in preaching Christ in the synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel.

However, the Jews quickly gathered and desired to kill Saul. Some of Saul’s disciples helped him escape Damascus, saving his life.

Saul then traveled to Jerusalem where the disciples were hesitant to accept him. However, Barnabas helps Saul’s case by proclaiming his conversion and boldness for the Gospel. Saul then stayed with the disciples until the people tried to kill him and escaped again back to his hometown, Tarsus.

Following this, the church grew in strength and numbers due to the Holy Spirit and their reverence for the Lord.

We shift our focus to Peter, who traveled to Lydda. While there, he encountered a paralyzed man, unable to move for eight years. Peter then heals him in the name of Jesus Christ to which the people in the town responded in faith in the Lord.

Moving to Joppa, a town nearby Lydda, a disciple named Dorcas passed away. Peter was summoned from Lydda to come to Joppa because of Dorcas’ death. Upon his arrival, he sent everyone out, prayed to the Lord, and commanded Dorcas to rise. Through the power of Christ, Dorcas was raised. As a result, many people came to know the Lord.

What do we learn?

Saul, Peter, the church, and the people of Lydda and Joppa feared the Lord because of His marvelous works. Saul was converted because of his faith. Peter healed and raised people from the dead because of this fear of the Lord. The Church grew in numbers because of the Holy Spirit encouraging their fear of the Lord.

What should we do?

Take some time today to reflect on God’s power. How does it make you feel that God brings his own persecuting enemies to himself and raises people from the dead? Let the Spirit encourage you today in the fear of the Lord.