ACTS LESSON 19

    We will begin this lesson in 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."

    You see, Saul (Paul) at this time felt that he was doing God a
favor by persecuting the Christians.  He was a Pharisee, and he
believed Jesus to be an imposter.  Saul was not only going out and
rounding up men and women followers of Jesus and putting them in jail,
but he was doing it joyfully.  In fact, he would even go and get
papers on his own to arrest these Christians.  He was eager to arrest
them and punish them.  This breathing out above just meant that Sauls'
spirit was in doing this punishment.

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

    This Light from heaven is the Light of the world (the Lord Jesus).
He was so eager in his persecutions that only the Lord Jesus could
stop him.

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

    Remember that Saul was a Pharisee and he was a proud man.  To fall
before the Lord would be humiliating, but to fall on his face before
this Light is a very humbling experience.  This voice leaves no doubt
who it is when a person hears it.  This voice coming from deity is
actually saying that Saul is persecuting Him.  Remember Saul is a
religious man who thinks he is doing right, so this will come as a
great shock to him.

    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."

    We see here, that Saul has been just like so many sinners before
they come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  They, and he, were
going headlong to destruction.  We see Saul was even putting himself
in great hardship to do this deed, thinking it was right in his own
sight.  He really hadn't stopped to consult with God and make sure he
was on the right course.  Self indulgence gets many on the wrong path.
Jesus, at some point in time, comes in nearness to each of us with His
glorious Light.  It stops us dead in our tracks and creates a point at
which we can follow Jesus to eternal life, or follow the way of the
world to destruction and hell.  Notice that Saul calls Jesus Lord.  He
recognizes that this is the Lord of the universe.  Saul is wise in
that he asks his name, so that he, too, might worship Him.  We see
that this encounter of Saul with the Light of the world will change
him forever.  Saul has been wanting to please God all along, he just
didn't know the will of God.  You cannot do the will of God, until you
know the will of God.  This dramatic encounter happens to very few
people.  I believe the Lord did this, because of His foreknowledge of
what Saul would do.  The Lord pricks our heart and some times we do
not accept it.  The Lord tells Saul, he has been pulling against Him.

    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."

    So many times, the people who have been the most outspoken against
the workings of the Lord are the very ones who do the greatest work
for the Lord, once they receive Him as their Saviour and Lord.  This
encounter has left Saul trembling before God.  Saul had been a
powerful man and was a proud man, as well.  This was quite a come-down
for him.  The cry of every one who has decided to follow Jesus is
"Lord, what would you have me to do?"  Very few get a direct answer
like Saul did here.  Now Saul's part in this is to obey the Lord.

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

    This does not say whether they heard what the Lord had said to
Saul or not.  They did hear a voice though, and knew that something
very unusual had happened.  I personally do not believe that they saw
the Light that Saul saw, or else they would have been blinded.  We do
know that the companions of Saul are aware that something extremely
unusual has happened and that the Lord did it.

    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."

    This great Light had blinded Saul to everything of this world.
The they, here, are Saul's companions.  Saul had to be led as a blind
man.  It appears Damascus was very close and they continued there.

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

    This could have been a three day fast of Saul's.  It was time to
do some serious praying.  Saul probably thought he might never see
again.  He was probably still in wonderment about what had happened to
him, as well.  He had to be confused about just exactly what this was
all about.  It was certainly time for serious prayer.  We all should
pray, "Lord open mine eyes that I might see."

    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."

    Here, again, is another way that the Lord speaks to His people.
To Ananias, it was in a vision.  (This is not the Ananias who was the
husband of Saphira).  This was a common name and this is an entirely
different person.  Notice Ananias answers as each of us should: "Here
am I Lord".

    Acts 9:11 "And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the
street which is called Straight, and inquire 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."

    Sometimes the places the Lord sends us, look hopeless in the
flesh.  In fact, sometimes we feel that it is dangerous to go where
the Lord sends us.  It is really none of our business though.  The
Lord can send us wherever He wishes.  Our only part in all of it is to
do exactly as we are instructed of God to do.  Whether we are
successful, or not, is not our concern.  We just do what God tells us
to do, and God does the rest.  Success or failure is up to Him.  This
would be a frightening thing for Ananias to do, but he must do it
anyway, because that is what God wants.  When he lays his hand on
Saul, God will restore Saul's sight.  God has gone ahead and prepared
Saul to receive Ananias.  God tells Ananias exactly where to find him.

    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."

    Ananias acts like the Lord does not already know all of this.  His
fear of this Saul, who has been capturing the Christians and throwing
them in jail, is showing.  Saul was most assuredly a dangerous man.
What Ananias does not realize is that Saul has had an encounter with
God.

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

    You see, God, realizes that Saul wishes to please God.  That
really was why he was capturing the Christians (he did not realize he
was working against God).  God knows Saul's heart.  Saul has a great
calling on his life.  He is to bring his message to the Gentile world.
He, as many others, tried to carry it to his Hebrew brothers first
though.  The greatest call a Christian can have is to suffer for
Christ.  Only the truly strong, such as Job, can suffer for Christ and
still remain true.  Saul's calling is great.  I think it is important
to note, here, that the first king of the Hebrews in the Old Testament
was named Saul, and now we see Saul called to service here to actually
lead the people that he had been persecuting.

    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."

    Now, we see an obedient servant in Ananias.  Ananias (even though
he was afraid of Saul) went right on over and told Saul exactly what
God had told him to say and do.  This had to be an humbling experience
for Saul, as well.  The very people he had wanted to destroy was where
his help came from.  Not only will Saul's physical sight be restored,
but his spiritual sight, as well.  Notice, also, that God, the Holy
Ghost, will empower Saul to witness the good news of the gospel of
Jesus Christ.

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

    As I said in the verses above, the scales fell from his spiritual
eyes, as well as his physical eyes.  His sight was two fold:  physical
and spiritual.  Now having eyes, he could see.  The Light of Jesus had
entered into his inner most being and drove out all of the darkness.
He was baptized to show that he had been born again not of the flesh,
but of the spirit.  He would rise from that watery grave (baptism) to
a new life in Jesus Christ.

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                           Acts 19 Questions


1.  Who did Saul go to, to get orders to capture and imprison the
    Christians?
2.  What town did Saul go toward?
3.  Was there any difference shown between men and women, if he caught
    them?
4.  Of what religious group was Saul?
5.  Did he realize he was offending God?
6.  What happened to Saul as he neared Damascus?
7.  What did this voice say to Saul?
8.  How did Saul answer?
9.  What had this Light done to Saul physically?
10. What does Saul call Jesus the first time in verse 5?
11. In verse 5, who did Jesus tell Saul He was?
12. What does everyone have in common with Saul before we are saved?
13. What effect does this encounter with the Lord have on Saul?
14. What effect did the encounter have on the men with Saul?
15. Why did they have to lead Saul into Damascus?
16. This period of time Saul was not eating and drinking could have
    been a ____.
17. How long was Saul without sight?
18. What should be everyone's prayer?
19. What was the name of the disciple at Damascus that had a vision of
    the Lord about Saul?
20. How does Ananias answer the Lord?
21. Where did the Lord tell Ananias to go?
22. What was he to do when he got there?
23. Why did Ananias not want to go?
24. What did Ananias remind the Lord of?
25. What did the Lord call Saul in verse 15?
26. Who would Saul be sent to actually?
27. In verse 16, what will the Lord show Saul?
28. What did Ananias do?
29. Besides his sight what would Saul receive?
30. What fell from Saul's eyes?
31. What did Saul do immediately after he received his sight?

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