Acts 9:1-20

The Conversion of Saul

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 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.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul Preaches in Damascus

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ 

Our passage describes a turning-point, not only in the life of an individual but in the development and spread of the Christian faith. At this point in Acts the central character is called by his Jewish name, Saul; later he will be referred to, as he still is, by his Roman name, Paul. He has been a fanatical persecutor of the followers of Jesus, with the result they began to spread northward from Jerusalem to, among other places, Damascus. Saul is in hot pursuit when he has a vision of Jesus, risen from the dead. Led into the town, he is visited by Ananias, recovers his sight and is baptized.

We may sympathize with Ananias and admire his courage. His hesitations are expressed in verses 13-14. If he visits Saul will he be walking into a trap? Is it credible that Saul should have come to believe in Jesus? Nevertheless he is obedient to the Lord’s commission.

Two details deserve attention. The risen Jesus identifies himself to Saul as the one who is being persecuted. The sufferings of his followers are Jesus’ own.

Jesus tells Saul he is to be a witness to Jew and Gentile alike, not just by what he says but by the suffering he will undergo.

Blessings as we too endure suffering in this time of COVID-19.  Be safe!  Be well!  He is Risen Indeed!

 To Ponder:

• Is it necessary to have had a dramatic ‘Damascus road’ type of experience to be a genuine Christian?
• What would you have done in Ananias’ shoes?
• Think about Christians in parts of the world where they are persecuted for their faith. What should we pray for them?