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Acts 9 Commentary - Paul's Conversion - BibleGateway.com

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Paul'sConversion
Themostimportanteventinhumanhistoryapartfromthelife,deathandresurrectionofJesusofNazarethistheconversiontoChristianityof
SaulofTarsus.IfSaulhadremainedaJewishrabbi,wewouldbemissingthirteenoftwentysevenbooksoftheNewTestamentand
Christianity'searlymajorexpansiontotheGentiles.Humanlyspeaking,withoutPaulChristianitywouldprobablybeofonlyantiquarianor
arcaneinterest,liketheDeadSeaScrollscommunityortheSamaritans.SaultheEnemy(9:12)
WithOldTestamentimageryforangersnortingthroughdistendednostrils(Ps18:8,15)LukebuildsupthepictureofSaulasarampaging
wildbeastinhishatefuloppositiontothedisciplesoftheLord(compareActs8:3Gal1:13,23).WhentheNIVrenders"threatsandmurder"as
murderousthreats,somethingislostofthereferencetothetwopartJewishjudicialprocess(Longenecker1981:368)andthehighlightingof
Saul'sviolence(LakeandCadbury1979:99).Sauldoesnotjustmakethreats(compareActs4:17,29)hehelpsbringaboutactualexecutions
(8:126:10).Asidefromthisinitialnote,LukegivesusnoindicationofSaul'sinnerthoughtsandmotivesbefore,duringorafterhisconversion
(butsee7:548:126:911Rom7:712Gal1:13,14Phil3:411).

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Saultakesaction.HegoestoCaiaphas(4:6)andreceiveslettersofintroductiontothesynagoguesinDamascus,some140milesnortheast.
Heseekstoenlisttheiraid,oratleastpermission,toarrestanyfugitiveHellenisticJewishChristiansandreturnthemtoJerusalemfortrial
(22:5).
ThehostilitytoChristianityofpreChristianSaulpresentsbothchallengeandhopetoanynonChristian.ThehopeisthatifGodcanturnthe
fiercestopponentoftheLordintohismostwillingservant,hehastheabilitytosaveanyone.Thechallengeisnottobedeceivedbyself
satisfaction.Saulwasquitecontentwithhislifespiritually.ButGod'ssovereigngracearrestedhim.Saul'sEncounterwithChrist(9:39)
AsSaultravelstoDamascusatmidday,heexperiencesthedivinepresence:alightfromheavenflashingaroundhimandavoiceaddressing
him(compare7:31/Ex3:410).ThedescentfromMt.HermontoDamascusintheplaingoesthrougharegionknownforviolentelectrical
storms.Thoughthisflashinglightmayhavehadtheeffectsoflightning,however,itwasasupernaturalmiddayphenomenon.
Saulandhistravelingcompanionsseethelight,butSaulseesmore:therisenLordJesusinallhisresplendentglory(9:17,2722:1426:161
Cor9:115:8).SooverwhelmingisthesightthatSaulfallstotheground(compareEzek1:28Dan8:17).Thesoundorvoiceprobablyreminds
himofthebatqol("daughterofthevoice"),thewaypiousJewsbelievedGodhaddirectlycommunicatedwithhumanbeingssincethegiftof
prophecyhadceasedwithMalachi(Longenecker1981:370).ButthedivinepresencecreatesconfusionforSaul,forifGodisspeakingwith
him,whoisthisheavenlyfigureaddressinghim?

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ThevoicegivesthedivineperspectiveonPaul'sactivity.Witharepeatedaddress(compareGen22:11Ex3:41Sam3:10Lk10:4122:31)
thevoiceasks,Saul,Saul,whydoyoupersecuteme?Jesusidentifieswithhisdisciples,hisbody(seeLk10:16Acts1:19:11Cor12:27
Eph4:12).IndoingsoherevealsthatSaul'steacherGamaliel'sworstfearshavematerialized(Acts5:39).
Saulgrappleswithhisdawningrealizationthathislife,thoughlivedinzealfortheonetrueGodeventothepointofpersecutingthechurch,
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hasinrealitybeenoneof"ignoranceinunbelief"(1Tim1:13).Throughthequestion"why?"hebeginstoseethatinprovinghiscommitmentto
Godbypersecutingthechurch,hehasactuallybeenprovinghimselfanenemyofGod.AsSauldeeplyconsidersthat"why?"andacceptsthe
divineperspectiveonhisactions,hiswholespiritualworldwillbeturnedupsidedown.Whatwasgainwillbecomeloss(Phil3:69).Whatwas
abadgeofhonorwillbecomealifelongshamefulblotonhischaracter(1Cor15:91Tim1:13,15).
Outofhisconfusion,Saulcalls,Whoareyou,Lord?Ishesimplyaddressingtheheavenlybeingwithrespect(Marshall1980:169),orishefor
thefirsttimeconfessingJesusashisLord(compareRom10:9101Cor12:3Kistemaker1990:332)?Hisinquiryabouttheperson'sidentity
mayindicatetheformer.Hereceivesadivinedisclosureintheclearreply,"IamJesus,whomyouarepersecuting."JesusofNazarethisrisen
fromthedead!StephenwastellingthetruthwhenheborewitnesstotheSonofManstandingatGod'srighthand(Acts7:56).Jesusisthe
Christ,theSonofGod,theSavior,theLord(9:20,28).

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ImmediatelyJesusissuesadivinedemandthatrequiresSaul'strustandobedience.InthecityhewilllearnwhathemustdotofulfillGod's
purposes(compare9:1614:22).
Saul'scompanionsprobablyincludeanumberofwayfarersbandedtogetherinacaravanforprotectionagainstthehazardsofthejourney,as
wellastemplepolicetoaidSaulinhiswork(LakeandCadbury1979:101Bruce1988:185).Atthisencountertheystandspeechless,hearing
avoiceorthesoundofavoicebutnotunderstandingthewords(9:7/22:9).TheydonotseeJesus,thoughtheyseethelight(22:9).
ThusSaul'sconversionexperienceisanobjectiveeventwiththirdpartywitnesses.Itisalsoaverypersonalevent.Thewitnessesdonot
participateinthetheophanythewaySauldoes(compareJn12:2930Acts7:56).
ForSaulthephysicaleffectsaredevastating.Gettingupfromtheground,heopenshiseyesanddiscoversheisblind!Ledbythehand(Judg
16:26Tobit11:16)intothecity,heneithereatsnordrinksforthreedays.
ButthespiritualeffectsonSaulwilllastalifetime.ThespiritualsignificanceofaJewishrabbi'sbeingphysicallyblindedbythelightoftheglory
ofGodinthefaceofJesusChristisnotlostonSaulorLuke(2Cor4:46).MajorthemesinLukeActsareGod'sfinalsalvationasarecovery
ofsighttotheblindandasalighttothenations(Is40:5/Lk3:6Is61:12/Lk4:1819Is42:6/Lk2:3032Is49:6/Acts13:47compare26:23Lk
7:212218:3543lastmiraclebeforethecross14:21Acts26:1823Hamm1990:68).TheJews,especiallytherabbis,usedtheimage
"guidetotheblind"todescribetheirGodgivenroleamongtheGentilesandtheamhaares(1Enoch105:1SibyllineOracles3:194Josephus
AgainstApion2.41Rom2:19).AsSaulmeditatesonthelightduringthosethreedaysofdarkness,then,thegreatnessofthedivinely
promisedfinalsalvationavailableonlyinthelastpersonhesawmustbecomemoreandmoreclearandprecious(Acts26:18).Andtherolehe
istoplayinbecomingalighttotheGentilesmustbecomeincreasinglyevident(26:17).
WhatisSaultomakeofhisblindness?Itisnotapunishment(asHamm1990:70)noranindicationofdivinedisfavor(asHedrick1981:419)
norsimplyaconcreteproofofthevision(asHaenchen1971:323).Anactedparable,itshowsSaulthespiritualbankruptcyofhispreChristian
condition.
Saul'sfastmaybecausedbytheshock.EyedoctorJohnBullocknotesthattheelectricalshockfrombeingstruckbylightningcausesviolent
muscularcontractionsthethroatcanbesoaffectedthatitishardtoswallow(seenotesfor9:8,18).Orthefastmaybeaconsciousactof
penanceforpastsins(Haenchen1971:323).Theformerseemsmorelikely,sincein9:19,afterhishealing,Saultakesnourishmentandis
strengthened.
Allconversionexperiencesareuniquetotheindividual.WhatofSaul'sexperiencedoesLukeintendustotakeasnormative?Weshouldfocus
onthedynamicpatternofconversion,whichincludesapersonalencounterwithJesusChristviaawitnesstothegospel,aresponseof
surrenderinpenitenceandfaith,andthereceptionofsalvationblessingsandincorporationintothechurch.SaultheChosenVessel(9:1019)
InavisiontheLordspeakstoAnanias,sendinghimonamissiontorestorethenewconvert.ThemissionservestopreservePaul's
apostleshipasby"revelationfromJesusChrist"(Gal1:12),tobringhimintothechurch,despitehisnotoriousreputation,andtoensurethatthe
Gentilemissionwilltakeplacewiththeapprovalofthechurch(Acts13:14compareothervisionsthatguidethechurch'sadvance:10:3,17
16:910:18:910).
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Ananias,aresidentofDamascusandadevoutdisciple(22:12),ispartofa"doublevision"divineencounter(9:12)inwhichbothheandPaul
aremadeawareofthenextstep.AnaniasshouldproceedtothemaineastwestthoroughfareofDamascus,StraightStreet.Withgreat
porchesandgatesateachendandcolonnadesforcommercerunningalongeachside,thisfashionableaddresswouldbeaswellknowninits
dayasRegentStreetinLondonorFifthAvenueinNewYorkistoday.HeistolookforSaulofTarsusinJudas'shouse.Traditionlocates
Saul'sabodeatthewestend(LakeandCadbury1979:102).Saulispraying,probablyinpreparationforhisrestoration(compare1:14).
TobeconvertedmeanstomovefromselfcenteredindependencetodependenceontheLordandinterdependencewithfellowdisciples.Saul
theconvertneedsthesupportandencouragementofthechurch.Todaytoothegospelwitnessshouldemphasizebywordanddeedthat
beingbornagainisbeingbornintothefamilyofGod,thechurch.
Ananiasprotests.Hehasmisgivingsgroundedintheconvert'spastreputation.AlltheLordhastoldhimisthatthisSaulisblindandpraying.
WhenAnaniasputsthattogetherwiththeharmSaulhasperpetratedagainstthesaints(9:2126:10)inJerusalem,heisnotsurehewantsthe
assignment.Besides,Saul'smissioninDamascus,withtheauthorityofthehighpriests(eitherAnnasandCaiaphas[Kistemaker1990:329]or
thehighpriestlyfamilies[Bruce1990:238]),istoarrestallwhocallon[theLord's]name.Bynegativeexample,atthispoint,Ananiasteaches
usthatreluctantgospelmessengersmustnotonlylovetheirenemiesbutalsotrustthatthegospelhassuchredemptivepowerthatapraying
convertedpersecutorisapersecutornomore.
TheLorddoesnotdirectlyanswerAnanias'smisgivingshesimplyrepeatshiscommand:"Go!"ThesovereignLordhasspoken.Thatisallthe
rationaleAnaniasorweneed.YetinhismercytheLordalsotellsAnaniasSaul'snewstatusasmychoseninstrument(Jer18:1112Cor4:7
2Tim2:2021),hisnewmission,tocarrymynamebeforetheGentilesandtheirkingsandbeforethepeopleofIsrael,andnewrelationshipto
persecution,tosufferforJesus'name.ThesenewrealitiesmeanAnaniashasnothingtofearfromSaul.
ThoughPaullaterseemstopracticea"totheJewsfirst"strategy(Rom1:16forexample,Acts13:5,14,4614:116:1317:1,1018:419:8
28:2328),hewillremainawareofhisdefinitecallingtotheGentiles(18:622:2126:17,20also13:4647/Is49:6).SufferingfortheLord
Jesus'namewillindeedbehisportion(Acts20:232421:1126:172Cor11:2327Phil1:12143:10Col1:24).
Everyconvertthenandnowneedstoknow"ithasbeengrantedtoyouonbehalfofChristnotonlytobelieveonhim,butalsotosufferforhim"
(Phil1:29).ThisversewasusedtochargeinquirersinRussianchurchesinthedaysofactivepersecutionunderatheisticcommunism.New
Christiansmustknowthatdiscipleshipispurposefulandcostly.
AnaniasobeysandperformshisministrytoPaul.LayinghandsonSaul,hedeclaresthathehasbeensentbytheLordJesussothatSaulmay
seeagainandbefilledwiththeSpirit(Acts9:17).Saul'svision(v.12)linkedonlythehealingandthelayingonofhands,consistentwithother
passagesinLukeActs(Lk4:4013:13Acts28:8).AnaniasalsoseemstolinkitwithPaul'sbeingfilledwiththeSpirit(Williams[1985:157]and
Marshall[1980:172]sayno).Saul'sfillingwiththeSpiritisnotadelayedreceptionofthebaptismoftheSpiritasasalvationblessing,butisthe
firstofmanyempowermentsforapostolicwitness(compare13:9alsosee2:44:8,31).ThisisPaul's"Pentecost,"furthervalidatinghis
apostleship.
AnaniasministerstoSaulasaconvert.Hehealshimsightisregainedassomethinglikescales(filmorscartissue)fallsfromSaul'seyes.He
instructsSaul,confirmingthattheJesuswhomSaulsawontheroadisindeedtheLord.HecomfortsSaul,addressinghimasaChristian
brother.HebaptizesSaul,formallyincorporatinghimintothebodyofChrist.FinallySaulknowsfullphysicalrestorationashetakes
nourishment.Inall,Ananias'sministrymodelsforusthesupportive,restorativerolethechurchistoplayinthelivesofnewlyconverted
Christians.
Previouscommentary:
Paul'sConversionandEarlyMinistry
Nextcommentary:
Paul'sWitnessinDamascusandJerusalem
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