Acts 9

Acts 9:1-22

25. SAUL’S - AN EXAMPLE OF GRACE Acts 9:1-22 The story of Saul’s conversion is recorded three times in the Book of Acts, twice in his own words (Acts 22:4-16; Acts 26:9-19), and once here in Luke’s words. This man’s conversion is described in great detail by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, because the conversion of Saul of Tarsus is a pattern, or example, of all true conversions (1 Timothy 1:12-16). People commonly talk about Saul’s Damascus Road experience as though it was a rare, exceptional thing, but that is not the case at all. Without question, the physical things Saul experienced that day were exceptional. The brilliant light and audible voice from heaven, to my knowledge, have not accompanied any other person’s conversion. However, Saul’s spiritual experiences on the Damascus Road were not uncommon at all. In fact, all who are truly converted by the grace of God experience the very same things Saul did, essentially. Salvation is not an experience, but a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:30). We must not look to our experience as the basis of faith and assurance before God. We look to Christ alone, trusting his blood, his righteousness, his intercession, and the power of his grace for the salvation of our souls. Christ alone is our Savior! Christ alone is the Object of our faith! Yet, salvation is something people experience. No one has the grace of God in his heart who does not experience the workings of grace in his heart. (Salvation is a work of grace - Ephesians 2:8-9). Taking Saul’s conversion as our example, we see that there are five distinct acts of grace by which all who are saved have been brought to repentance and faith in Christ (Psalms 65:4).
26. A DIVINE (Acts 9:15) - No one has ever been saved, or ever will be, except those who are the objects of God’s eternal, electing love (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Acts 13:48). God’s operations of grace toward Saul did not begin on the Damascus Road, but long before. Saul was chosen to salvation before the world began (Ephesians 1:4-6). When God sent Ananias to preach to this newborn babe in grace, the very first thing he preached to him was election (Acts 22:13-14). Faith in Christ is not the cause of election, but it is the fruit and the proof of election (Acts 13:48; 2 Peter 1:10). When a sinner bows to Christ, trusting him as Savior and Lord, we say to him with confidence, “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee.” Election does not keep anyone from being saved, but guarantees that some people will be saved. Were there no election of grace, there would be no salvation (Romans 9:27-29). We would not and could not choose the Lord, but he chose us; and his choice of us made our choice of him certain (John 15:16). Election said, “Saul of Tarsus shall be saved.” God’s merciful decree said, “Saul will be saved at noon on the Damascus Road at the day appointed.” Predestination drew the map by which Saul must travel to the appointed place of mercy. Providence led him along the predestined path to the place and hour when Christ must be revealed to him. “And it came to pass!”
27. A DIVINE (Acts 9:3; Galatians 1:15-16) - Though he was chosen of God, Saul could never be saved until he was made to “see that Just One” (Acts 22:14). So when it pleased God to reveal his Son in him, “suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.” He saw Christ and the glory of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). He saw the same thing that Moses saw (Exodus 33:18 to Exodus 34:7). He saw that Just One of whom he had heard Stephen speak (Acts 7:52). He was made to see, by divine revelation, the glory of God in his absolute sovereignty, infinite grace and mercy, and inflexible justice, and he saw how that God can be both gracious and just in saving sinners by the substitutionary, blood atonement of that Just One, the Lord Jesus Christ (Psalms 85:9-11; Romans 3:24-26). Salvation comes to sinners when they are given a revelation of Christ and the glory of God in him by the Spirit’s effectual application of the gospel to their hearts. When a person sees Christ as he is and is reconciled to him in his true character he is saved.
28. A DIVINE CALL (Acts 9:4-9) - There is a general call which men and women can and do resist (Matthew 20:16; Matthew 22:14). It goes forth indiscriminately to all who hear every time the gospel is preached. But there is an effectual call too. No one will ever be saved until he receives this effectual, irresistible call of the Holy Spirit by which helpless, totally depraved, spiritually dead sinners are brought to life and faith in Christ by the power of God (John 5:25; Ephesians 2:1-4). Holy Scripture gives us numerous illustrations of this effectual call (Ezekiel 16:6-8; Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:43-44; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Saul was one of Christ’s sheep. The time had come for the Good Shepherd to call his wandering sheep. When he calls, his sheep hear his voice and follow him (John 10:1-5; John 10:27-29). This call of the Spirit is called the effectual call because it gets the job done (Psalms 65:4; Psalms 110:3). It is a personal call (Acts 9:4-5). Many were present, but only Saul was called. It is a convicting call (Acts 9:5). The Lord convicted Saul of his sin with the words, “Why persecutest thou me?” It is a humbling call (Acts 9:6). Saul “fell to the earth,” submitting to the claims of Christ, his sovereign Lord.

This call of the Spirit is also a distinguishing call (Acts 9:7). The men who were with Saul saw a light, heard a voice, and were afraid. They knew something was going on, but not what. This call of grace separated and distinguished Saul from his companions (1 Corinthians 4:7). Again, the call of God is an awakening call (Acts 9:6). Once he was called of God, Saul began to call upon God.

Blinded now to all earthly concerns, he began to seek the Lord with an earnest heart. For three days he was in suspense and darkness (Acts 9:8-9). “He was all this time in the belly of hell, suffering God’s terrors for his sins, which were now set in order before him. He was in the dark concerning his own spiritual state, and was so wounded in spirit for sin that he could relish neither meat nor drink” (Matthew Henry). 4. A DIVINE (Acts 9:17-18) - God sent a preacher to Saul who told him all the truth. Then the scales of darkness and ignorance, superstition and tradition fell off his eyes, and he received his sight. When Ananias instructed him in the way of faith (Isaiah 40:1-2), and he received his sight, what did he see? He saw Christ as his Substitute, God as his Father, and the Holy Spirit as his Comforter. He saw it to be his duty and his privilege to follow Christ in all things, beginning with believer’s baptism, and he did it. The will of God became the rule of his life. 5. A DIVINE (Acts 9:18-22) - Saul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Grace converted him (Philippians 3:4-14). All that he once cherished he now renounced. His righteous deeds, his religious works, and his reputation as a Pharisee, he now counted to be but manure. He turned from religion to Christ.

Grace turned him from a mere form of godliness to worship and serve the living God; and he was turned forever (Ecclesiastes 3:14). Immediately, he confessed Christ in believer’s baptism (Romans 6:4-6), identified himself with the despised people of God and the gospel of his grace, and became a faithful witness of Christ. He laid down his life in the cause of Christ. Grace had made him a new man (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is the way of God with men. This is the way God saves sinners: by election, revelation, calling, illumination, and conversion.

He saves in this way so that man’s salvation will be to the praise of the glory of his grace. It is this experience of grace that identifies who God’s elect are (1 Thessalonians 1:4-10).

Acts 9:23-31

26. SAUL JOINS THE CHURCH Acts 9:23-31 Immediately after his conversion Saul took a long, three year journey into Arabia (Galatians 1:16-17), which Luke does not mention. He did not go up to Jerusalem to receive instruction from the apostles there. Being chosen as an apostle, he had to be taught the gospel by direct revelation by Christ himself. Therefore, the Lord sent Saul into Arabia where he spent three years in school with Christ himself as his Teacher! While in Arabia he preached the gospel among the heathen. “And after many days were fulfilled,” that is, after three years were ended, Saul returned to Damascus where “the Jews took counsel to kill him”. This is where Luke was directed by the Holy Spirit to take up his narrative. In Acts 9:23 Saul is back in Damascus three years after his conversion on the Damascus Road. DANGER AT (Acts 9:23-25) - After God saved him, Saul stayed for a brief period of time in Damascus, preaching Christ in the synagogues. Then he went to Arabia for three years, as just stated. Now he is back in Damascus, preaching the gospel of Christ. There he was in grave danger. As soon as he returned “the Jews took counsel to kill him” (Acts 9:23-24). Enraged by the gospel Saul preached, the Jews persuaded the governor in Damascus that he was a dangerous man, one that should be arrested and put to death (2 Corinthians 11:32).

Thus, the Word of God by Ananias three years earlier began to be fulfilled, regarding the great things Saul would be required to suffer for Christ (Acts 9:16). “Where God gives great grace, he commonly exercises it with great trials” (Matthew Henry). This persecution of God’s servant at Damascus is instructive. All who follow Christ walk in a path of certain trouble, affliction, and sorrow. “In the world, ye shall have tribulation (John 16:33). “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). There are none who are honored by God who are not reviled by the world. Reproach, slander, abuse, and scorn from men is the common lot of God’s saints in this world (Matthew 5:10-12). Frequently, the believer’s greatest enemies are those who were once closest to him. A man’s foes are often those of his own household when he follows Christ (Matthew 10:30). These men were Saul’s neighbors, friends, and kinsmen. They once attended church together at the local synagogue. Saul had done nothing to arouse their malice, except trust Christ, follow Christ, and preach Christ. For that they tried to kill him! The gospel of Christ, the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, is offensive to lost, self-righteous men and women (1 Corinthians 1:23-24; Galatians 5:11). It offends man’s pride, because it declares the total depravity and utter inability of Adam’s fallen race regarding all things spiritual (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 5:12). The gospel of Christ offends man’s sense of supremacy and self-determination, because it declares the absolute, universal sovereignty of God (Romans 9:15-18). It offends man’s wisdom, because it declares salvation to be through the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ alone (Romans 3:24-26; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31). And it offends man’s self-righteousness, because it declares his works of righteousness to be but dung and filthy rags (Philippians 3:8; Isaiah 64:6) and makes salvation to be entirely the work of God’s sovereign grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5-6). But God is faithful! He graciously delivered Saul from his persecutors (Acts 9:24-25). Saul “escaped out of their hands” by the good providence of God. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation. With every trial, he makes a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). AT (Acts 9:26-30) - When he fled from Damascus, Saul went to Jerusalem. He had escaped his persecutors only to find difficulty among God’s saints! They did not persecute him, but neither did they trust him. God’s people are not without their faults. Sometimes true believers say and do things that hurt and hinder one another. They have no malicious designs against one another; but they are yet in this body of flesh and sometimes their fleshly nature is sadly evident. When he arrived at Jerusalem Saul sought a place among the Lord’s people (Acts 9:26). His first concern was to find the congregation of God’s saints. Where they were, he would be found. “He assayed to join himself unto the disciples.” That means, Paul applied for membership in the local church at Jerusalem. He was not recruited by the church in a “membership drive”. He asked for membership voluntarily. He loved Christ and his people and wanted to be identified with them. “It is the duty and interest of every gracious soul to join himself to a church of Christ, which consists of the disciples of Christ, who have learned Christ and the way of life and salvation by him…To be joined to a church is to become an open subject of Christ’s kingdom, a citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem, one of the family of God, and a member of the body of Christ visibly” (John Gill). At first the disciples were suspicious of Saul (Acts 9:26). He was not offended by their error. He understood it and forgave it. He was a gracious man. Later, he gave us instruction about receiving brethren with baseless suspicions (Romans 14:1). Believers are to receive one another upon the basis of their profession of faith in Christ, as we would receive Christ himself. We are to treat one another as we would treat Christ, because every believer is truly one with Christ. After Barnabas recommended him, Saul was received into the church (Acts 9:27). It is evident from this passage that only two things are to be regarded as qualifications for church membership: (1) Faith in Christ and (2) Believer’s Baptism. Nowhere in the New Testament is anything more required or anything less accepted. While at Jerusalem Saul gained reputation as a faithful servant of Christ (Acts 9:28-30). He spent his time in the company of God’s saints and faithfully bore witness to the Person and work of Christ. Yet, his bold confession of Christ stirred up the wrath of the Grecians. When they tried to kill him, Saul escaped out of Jerusalem and fled to Tarsus. Learn two things from this: (1). GOD’S EVEN THE WICKED DEEDS OF MEN IN THE OF HIS PURPOSE (Psalms 76:10). By the wrath of these men God sent Saul to preach among the Gentiles (Acts 22:17-21). (2) GOD’S ARE SAFE UNTIL THEIR WORK IS DONE. “Mortals are immortal here until their work is done!” DELIGHT IN THE (Acts 9:31) - The churches of Christ had endured a long season of persecution. Then God saved the persecutor! The lion who once roared against God’s little flock was made to lie down with the lambs. “Then the churches had rest; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” The churches of Christ will have times of trouble in this world; but our troubles will not last forever. Our God will make us triumphant in his time (Matthew 16:18). During these days of relative rest the people of God should be more fully employed than ever in the furtherance of the gospel, as we walk in the fear of the Lord, enjoying the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:32-43

27. A MAN NAMED AENAS AND A WOMAN NAMED DORCAS Acts 9:32-43 Peter was on a preaching mission visiting the churches of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria which had been recently established as a result of the persecution at Jerusalem. He travelled from church to church preaching the gospel of Christ, establishing them in the faith of Christ and in the truth of God. “THE SAINTS WHICH DWELT AT LYDDA” (Acts 9:32) - Lydda was a town about 35 miles from Jerusalem in which God had been pleased to raise up a gospel church. It should be noticed that Luke and all the writers of the New Testament referred to all believers as saints. This title, “saints”, is not a title of distinction reserved for a few very eminent believers. It is a title for all believers. Every person who is born of God is a saint. The word means “sanctified ones”!

We were sanctified by God the Father in electing grace before the world began (Jude 1:1). He set us apart from the rest of mankind unto himself, for his own holy purposes and uses. We were sanctified by God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in redemption. By his substitutionary sacrifice at Calvary the Son of God made all of God’s elect holy; and God the Father, looking on us through the blood of Christ declared us to be holy (Hebrews 10:10-14). This is our justification. Then God the Holy Spirit sanctified us in regeneration, giving us the holy nature of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:5-9).

All believers are saints because all have been sanctified. Their sanctification is the gift and work of God’s free grace in Christ. “A CERTAIN MAN NAMED AENEAS” (Acts 9:33-35) - AEneas’ healing by Peter is given as a picture of God’s saving grace in Christ. This man really was healed of his physical infirmity by the power of God; but his healing was intended by God both to confirm and to illustrate his saving grace. Everything about this man and his healing corresponds to and reflects the saving grace of God experienced by every child of God.

1. AENEAS WAS A CHOSEN OBJECT OF MERCY. Luke tells us that he was “a certain man”. In those days it was common to find impotent beggars laid in conspicuous places, hoping for alms or other acts of mercy from those who passed by. Where one was found, many were likely to be found (John 5:1-9). No doubt there were many like AEneas in Lydda, but AEneas was chosen of God. Grace always comes to certain men and women, to certain ones chosen of God unto salvation (Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
2. AENEAS WAS A SICK MAN. His disease was real. Peter was not a fake healer, but a real Apostle. He healed a man who really was in an utterly helpless condition. But AEneas had not always been in such bad shape. So it is with us. God created man upright, in his own image (Genesis 1:26-28). But when Adam sinned against God we sinned in him and we died spiritually (Romans 5:12). All men and women since the fall of Adam are in a helpless condition of sin and death. We were all born in sin (Psalms 51:5).
3. THIS MAN KNEW ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. By some means or other, he had heard about Christ. Otherwise, when Peter said, “Jesus Christ of Nazareth maketh thee whole,” he would not and could not have believed on him (Romans 10:13-17). It is not necessary for a sinner to become a theologian to be saved, but it is necessary for him to know who Christ is and what he has done. It is not possible to trust an unrevealed, unknown Savior!
4. PETER’S WORD (GOD’S WORD BY PETER) CAME TO AENEAS’ HEART WITH DIVINE POWER AND . Peter’s word was the very word of God. God spoke to this man personally by the voice of another man, a gospel preacher. This is the way God calls sinners to Christ (John 10:1-5). “AEneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole!” The effectual call of the Spirit (Psalms 65:4) comes to chosen sinners through the voice of gospel preachers. Sinners are saved, born again and called, by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23-25).
5. AENEAS ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. He did not believe on Peter. He did not believe in the “power of his freewill”. But he did believe that Jesus Christ had made him whole. He proved his faith by acting upon it. “He arose immediately!”
6. HE WAS MADE WHOLE . But suppose he had not been. Suppose he had believed and yet was not healed. Peter would have been proved an impostor. Christ would have been shamefully dishonored. And the gospel Peter preached would have been proved a lie. The point I am making is this - It is impossible for a sinner to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and not be saved by him (John 6:37; Hebrews 7:25).
7. ONCE HE WAS HEALED, AENEAS ACTED LIKE A MAN WHO WAS MADE WHOLE. “He arose immediately!” He no longer laid upon his bed among his former companions. He had been made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). He went all over town telling people what Christ had done for him. It was obvious to everyone! Therefore, many “turned to the Lord.” DORCAS: A WOMAN FULL OF GOOD WORKS (Acts 9:36-43). Dorcas is set before us as an example of faith and godliness. She was truly a woman who lived by faith and evidenced her faith by her works (Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-26). She made it her business in life to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:10). Luke tells us three things about Dorcas.
8. SHE THE GOSPEL BY HER DEEDS OF LOVE (Acts 9:36; Acts 9:39). Dorcas was not a preacher or a teacher. She held no public office in the church (1 Timothy 2:12). But she was gifted of God as a seamstress. And she used her gift in Christ like love and self-denial to make coats for God’s poor saints. If I had to choose between the two, I would much rather live like Dorcas than preach like Peter (Philippians 2:1-8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13).
9. SHE DIED IN FAITH (Acts 9:37). We are not told what caused her death, or where she was when she died, only that she was sick and her sickness lead to her death. But she died in faith. Nothing else really matters! “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
10. SHE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD FOR THE GLORY OF GOD (Acts 9:38-43). Dorcas was raised from the dead to die again. We who believe on the Lord Jesus shall be raised to die no more (1 Corinthians 15:51-58). When Dorcas was raised from the dead God was glorified in Joppa. And when God’s elect are raised from the dead in the last day, our God shall be glorified universally, forever (Revelation 5:9-13).