Acts 8:36-9:1436And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. 1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And 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. 3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And 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. 6And 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. 7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8And 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. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10And 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. 11And 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, 12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. (Acts 8:36‑9:14)
36-38. “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? . . . And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”
If baptism were necessary for salvation—if it were commanded of a saved soul—the eunuch would never have said, “What doth hinder me?” A person under a command does not use such language. The only command given in this Gentile believer’s baptism is his own command to stop the chariot (see JND translation).
(Verse 37 is not in the most reliable manuscripts.)
39-40. “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.”
The channel God uses for a soul’s blessing is not necessary for the soul’s rejoicing. Believers are to rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 3:1; 4:41Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. (Philippians 3:1)
4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)). Thus, once Philip has been used to bring the eunuch to Christ, he—not the eunuch’s rejoicing—is caught away.
God directed his servant to a new field of service—evangelizing cities—even as He had previously directed Philip to the wilderness to evangelize one soul. His ways are past finding out (Rom. 11:3333O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33))!
Chapter 9
12. “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 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.”
In Saul’s conversion, we see a striking picture of that which marks true salvation.
Second, for all his religious zeal, Saul lacked love and compassion towards others, whether they were men or women (Rom. 1:3131Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (Romans 1:31); 2 Tim. 3:33Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (2 Timothy 3:3)).
Third, Saul—bound by a religion of “do”—actively sought to keep others from being made free by the Son of God (John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)).
3. “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.”
Fourth, though acting in good conscience, thinking he was doing God service (Acts 23:11And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. (Acts 23:1); John 16:22They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (John 16:2)), the darkness of unbelief blinded Saul to the truth. True light must come from God (Gen. 1:33And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3); Eph. 5:88For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:8)).
4. “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?”
Fifth, man—at enmity with God—must fall, humble and repentant, before the One with whom he has to do (Heb. 4:1313Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)), realizing that it is against God, “against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned” (Psa. 51:44Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalm 51:4)). Though our sin may often hurt or offend another person, it is first and foremost against God that we have sinned.
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.”
Sixth, Saul owns that there is One to whom he is responsible—who has rights over him. Thus he realizes that in persecuting Christians, it is Jesus Himself he has opposed. Repentance is a vitally important part of salvation (Acts 20:2121Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)).
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.”
Seventh, unlike Judaism in which man spends his life doing in order to gain favor with God, Saul, now having divine life, learns what he is to do to please the One who has become his Saviour God.
7. “And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.”
8-9. “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. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”
Christ now becomes the sole object of Saul’s heart. He, like the disciples of an earlier day, saw no man, save Jesus only (Matt. 17:88And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. (Matthew 17:8)).
The work of conversion deepens. We have no divine record of what transpired in the soul of the beloved Apostle, but we may say that he reflected upon the sufferings of Christ during those three days of darkness in a most solemn, real and deep way.
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.”
The meaning of Ananias’s name is connected with grace. Earlier, in chapter 5, a believer named Ananias and his wife failed of the grace of God (Heb. 12:1515Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:15)) and were removed under God’s governmental ways. Now the Lord calls another Ananias to a service—one which will both show and require much grace.
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.”
The path of service for the Lord Jesus may be difficult—one with trials and testings—but never does He send His servants on a confusing path. Ananias is to follow a straight path to find Saul. May God grant each believer (for each has some service to do for the Lord) to follow the path of His will.
Christian service includes obedience (“arise, and go” ), direction (“a street . . . called Straight”), and dependence (“he prayeth” ).
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.”
Though the servant of the Lord may not always know why he or she is sent on a service, the Lord who sends His vessel in service is perfect in wisdom and love. At times the servant may ask as Peter did, “I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?” (Acts 10:2929Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? (Acts 10:29)), while at other times, as here, the servant has a sense of the reason for his service.
But, whether fully understood or not, may the result of each believer’s service today be that of bringing spiritual sight to one abiding in darkness.
13-14. “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name.”
Ananias’s spirit is beautiful in its innocent concern. No unbelief is expressed as we see with Zacharias (Luke 1:18-2018And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. 20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. (Luke 1:18‑20)). Ananias’s expression is one of loving concern for God’s people. Though ignorant of the exceeding abundant grace and ways of the Lord, this dear servant beautifully displays divine, loving concern for God’s dear people. May it ever be so displayed in our service!
Ed.