Acts Chapter 9

Acts chapter nine continues in the context of the stoning of Stephen, which happened at the end of Acts chapter seven. Saul is YET doing the same things he was doing at the beginning of Acts chapter eight.

Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Acts 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

So Saul's intent was to go to Damascus. He is on the "road to Damascus" here but he is not, as some suppose, "on the road to repentance." From the two verses above you can see that repentance is not what he had in mind.

Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Notice that this was sudden and that it was unexpected. In all of prophecy there is not one hint that any such thing as this was supposed to happen. The concern of the 12 apostles in Acts chapter one had been the restoring of the kingdom to Israel, and as the Lord ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives, two "men in white" has told them:

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

In other words, the prophecied second coming of Christ was in like manner, and to the same place. Zechariah 14:4 says that "his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives." That is the place he ascended from. But here, Saul is near Damascus, he is totally outside of Israel and far from the Mount of Olives.

Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

At that moment, Saul of Tarsus changed his attitude and his mind. When before he had rejected the thought that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, he had rejected the thought that he had been raised from the dead, and he was in the process of finding anybody who did believe such things to put them in prison and put them to death.

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

They heard the voice of Saul talking to the Lord, but they did not hear the Lord as he spoke to Saul. That is clear by comparing Acts 22:9.

Acts 22:9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

The Lord had appeared to Saul in a blinding light, brighter than the noonday sun. This appearance was not on the schedule. it was unprophecied. It was totally unexpected.

Acts 9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

Acts 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

Acts 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

Acts 9:12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Ananias is a disciple of the Lord. Paul laters says, in Acts 22, that he was a devout man according to the law. So we know by that that he was one of those who were believers according to Peter's doctrine and message earlier in the book of Acts.

Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

Acts 9:14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Now notice Paul's commission. This is not the same as the so-called "great commission."

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Notice that Gentiles are named first. The only man in the bible who claims to be THE apostle of the Gentiles is this man: Saul who became Paul the Apostle.

Acts 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Paul indeed did suffer. He refers to his suffereings several times in his epistles. In Colossians he says that his "sufferings" are for you Gentiles. Paul didn't suffer for your sins. Only Christ could do that. But in order that Gentiles could get the message of salvation somebody had to suffer. The Lord chose Paul to do that.

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Some want to automatically insert water into the verse. But receiving his sight and being filled with the Holy Ghost would not come by water baptism. So when Saul arose, the verse says he was baptized. Obviously WITH the Holy Ghost.

One reason people seem to want to see water in the verse is because of Paul's own account of these events which we find in Acts chapter 22. There Paul quotes Ananias as saying:

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

There is no way that this devout man, a kingdom saint, would have thought that water could wash away sins. The verse explains how sins are "washed away." It is by "calling on the name of the Lord." As in:

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

So Saul received his sight and was baptized.

Acts 9:19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

So this man Saul, a blasphemer who could not have been saved previously is now saved and preaching Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Then how is it that a blasphemer could now be saved? And if one can, would that also mean that those who previously blasphemed the Holy Ghost could now be forgiven.  Is it possible that there was a way that God would not "lay this sin to their charge?"

Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The only possible way is through what Paul says in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

The answer is: A DISPENSATION of the gospel.

There are three main definitions for the word "dispensation." Webster's 1828 says:

1. Distribution...as in divine governement.

2. The dealing of God to his creatures.

But notice carefully the third one:

3. The granting of a license, or the license itself, to do what is forbidden by laws or canons, or to omit something which is commanded; that is, the dispensing with a law or canon, or the exemption of a particular person from the obligation to comply with its injunctions.

What was specifically "forbidden" in this case was blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Paul, and the church, the body of Christ, is EXEMPT from that. Paul says in 1 Timothy that he is the FIRST and also the PATTERN of salvation today. There is no pattern to be found pertaining to salvation in the age in which we live today, other than the Apostle Paul's salvation.

So, hypothetically speaking, even those who had blasphemed and had stoned Stephen to death could be saved in this dispensation. It is highly doubtful, however, that any of them would have been. If they would not believe that Jesus IS the Christ, the son of the living God, how could they be persuaded to trust in the fact the HE had died for their sins?

Acts 9:21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

Acts 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Acts 9:23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

Acts 9:24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Acts 9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

This would be after the period of time Paul speaks of in Galatians in which he went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. He evidently went into Arabia during the "many days" referred to in verse 23.

Acts 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

Paul's own account of this trip relates how he abode with Peter for 15 days, but didn't see any of the other 12 apostles. He did, however, see James, the Lord's brother.

Acts 9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

This account clearly shows that Paul could not have had the "temple vision" he talks about in Acts chapter 22 at this time. In that vision the Lord had told him to "Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem." Reason: Because they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

To stay with Peter for 15 days, and being with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and speaking BOLDLY in the name of the Lord Jesus would clearly be "disobedient to the heavenly vision," had Paul had one at this time. The vision he speaks of in Acts 22 most likely occurred at the time of Acts 18:22. So here, the Grecians try to kill Paul.

Acts 9:30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

So Saul was sent forth to Tarsus. The indication is that he came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, as he says in Galatians, before reaching his home town of Tarsus.

Acts 9:32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

Acts 9:33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

Acts 9:34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

Acts 9:35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

From Lydda Peter goes to Joppa, and that is going to be significant in the events that play out in Acts chapter ten, where Peter goes to the home of a Gentile and preaches to the one and only group of Gentiles he ever preaches to in the bible.

Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Acts 9:37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

Acts 9:38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Acts 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

We can see by all this that healing the sick and raising the dead is still very much a part of Peter's ministry. It shows that he is still very much involved in preaching the Jewish kingdom gospel he has preached all the way through the book of Acts.

Acts 9:41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Acts 9:42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

Acts 9:43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

But the next series of events we see happening in Chapter ten and eleven turn out to be very upsetting to Peter. They are not according to the plan. Things are happening out of order. He is going to be sent to the home of a Gentile! The very first one, and the only one Peter ever goes to.