Text: Acts 9:1-9.
Delivered on: July 20, 2008. Streetsboro.
Acts 9:1-9. Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Body.
SAUL THE DESTROYER. Acts 9:1-2. Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
We are first introduced to Saul back in Acts 7.
When Stephen was stoned, Saul was there. Acts 7:58. And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Saul consented to his death. Acts 8:1. Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Many believe that Saul was possibly the leader of this mob.
“At the feet of” often meant “to be in submission to.”
The fact that he was called “young” simply means that he was under 40 years old.
The persecution of the church in Acts 8 seems to have been led by Saul.
Saul was a champion of the Jews. Philippians 3:3-6. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Paul’s hatred for the church almost seemed to be on a personal level.
In our passage, he has received authority to actively go to Damascus and hunt Christians.
Nor was this the first time he had done such a thing. Acts 26:9-11. “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them . 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
1 Timothy 1:12-13. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Amazingly, Saul did all these things with a clear conscience.
Acts 23:1. Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
In trying to destroy the church, Saul was doing what he thought was right.
His disobedience was a result of ignorance. 1 Timothy 1:13. Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
This ought to serve as a warning for us in using our conscience as a guide.
Our conscience can be wrong.
Our conscience can be ignorant.
Our conscience can become callus. 1 Timothy 4:2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron
Even though Saul was ignorant of the truth at this point, he was still lost.
SAUL THE DISTURBED. Acts 9:3-6. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
In order to get all of the facts regarding Saul’s encounter with Jesus, we need to look at the different accounts found in Acts 22 and 26.
This happened at about noon. Acts 22:6. “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
What about those with Saul?
We are told that they saw the light but did not hear the voice. Acts 22:9. “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.
Yet, in chapter 9 we are told that they heard the voice but saw no one. Acts 9:7. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
This is not a contradiction.
They heard a voice but did not understand it.
They saw a light but didn’t see Jesus.
Saul has a conversation with Jesus. (We’ll talk about this in a moment.)
He is left blind.
Saul’s conversation with Jesus.
The first thing Jesus asks Saul is “Why are you persecuting me?”
One who persecutes the body of Christ, persecutes Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Matthew 25:40. And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Those who would defame the body of Christ should think about this.
Those who would downgrade the body’s importance should think about this.
Jesus is constantly with His people. Matthew 28:20. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Saul then wants to know who is speaking. Jesus identifies Himself.
Can you imagine what must have went through Saul’s mind at this point?
Surely, he must have thought his life was about to end.
Then Jesus makes an interesting statement. “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
A goad was a long pointed stick, sometimes tipped with iron, that was used to prod animals.
Stubborn animals would kick backward when goaded. Usually to their own hurt.
This statement by Jesus suggests that He had been using events in Saul’s life to “goad” him into becoming a Christian.
And evidently, Saul was resisting.
What could these events have been?
Saul made a living at condemning and killing Christians.
It is hard to imagine that none of those Christians ever talked to Saul.
It had to have made an impression on Saul to see these people continually laying down their lives for Jesus.
We know that the death of Stephen made an impression. Acts 22:20. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
Acts 26:16-18 reveals that Jesus told Saul of his purpose. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Saul is very disturbed. Verse 6 says that he was trembling and astonished. He asks what Jesus wants Him to do.
Jesus tells him to go into Damascus and wait for instruction.
Jesus could have told him right there but He didn’t.
Again we see the pattern being established. The gospel was to be taught by man.
Ananias would eventually be sent.
SAUL THE DISTRAUGHT. Acts 9:7-9. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
He neither ate nor drank for three days. A sign of great sorrow and worry.
He spent that time praying. Acts 9:11. So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
What must Paul have been thinking during this time?
Thinking of all the innocent people he had killed???
Wondering how he could possibly ever be forgiven???
Remembering poor Stephen???
Will I ever see again???
During this time, he came to a realization.
He had gone from being blameless. Philippians 3:6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
To being the chief of sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
In Saul at this point in his life, we see godly sorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:10. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Conclusion.
What a pattern for us!
Paul started off in sin.
Was told the truth and was greatly disturbed to learn that he was not blameless.
Experienced the godly sorrow that leads to repentance.
I imagine that when Ananias arrived and told Saul to get up and be baptized, that Saul couldn’t get to that water quickly enough. Acts 22:16. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
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