We have here the story of Saul's conversion, the chosen vessel to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. His zeal for his religion has already been seen in taking part in the murder of Stephen, and in making havoc of the assembly at Jerusalem, and entering into houses, arresting men and women, and putting them in prison; and here we find him breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the believers, and desiring letters of the high priest to do the same at Damascus, to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. He thought he was doing right as he wrote afterward, "concerning zeal persecuting the Church, touching the righteousness of the law, blameless." Such is the heart of man at the best, and this man, so full of energy, and determination to wipe out the name of Jesus from the earth, God, in sovereign grace, is going to make him His servant, to carry that Name to the Gentiles, and to suffer for it willingly.
As he journeyed to Damascus for this purpose, in the brightness of noonday, a light brighter than any created light shone round about him from heaven, which caused him and his company to fall to the earth. Then he heard a voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" Thus the Lord arrested him, and revealed Himself to his soul, and to his sight, and blinded him to everything else. He saw the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is revealed to him in glory. He had not known Him on earth, as the twelve apostles had. Saul saw the Lord of Glory, but asks, "Who art Thou, Lord?" and receives the answer that changed all his ways, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." His conversion gives character to his ministry. His teaching is of a glorified Christ, and of all believers being members of His body; he preached of the glorified Son of God, with all his zeal and energy, that is now used by God. Jew and Gentile were alike lost by nature, and Jew and Gentile saved by grace are alike members of the body of Christ.
The Lord directs him to go into the city where it should be told him what he was to do. The men who were with him saw the light, and heard the sound, but did not distinguish what was said. When Saul arose from the earth and opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus, and for the three days he sat there, he was blind, and neither did eat nor drink.
God had spoken, he knew now his rebellion against the God he was trying to serve after a carnal manner (Rom. 10:3), but now he submits to the righteousness of God, and owns himself the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:12-16); calls himself a blasphemer, and persecuter, an insolent, over-bearing man, the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, "because," he said, "I persecuted the Church of God" (1 Cor. 15:9).
God had taken him aside where, in the solitude of blindness, he could learn what he was as a man in the flesh, even when maintaining a good conscience (Acts 23:1; Born. 7:18). What a revolution of mind he here went through! Three days of deep agony of soul repentance God allows him, then He sends His messenger, gives Saul notice that God's messenger is coming, and he, now humbled, is ready for the message. A certain man lived there of whom we hear nothing before, and nothing afterward, but one living near enough in his soul's intimacy to the Lord, to hear Him call "Annanias," and he immediately responds, "Behold, I am here, Lord." The Lord gives him full directions as to where to go, and adds, "Behold, he prayeth," (he might often have said prayers before), "and hath seen in a vision a man named Annanias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight." Annanias told the Lord of Saul's character, as if he was afraid to go to such a persecutor, but the Lord replies in words to encourage him to go, yet with firmness, "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: for I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake." Annanias, therefore, goes to him, and putting his hand on him, Said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." Thus his sins were remitted, and he was received into the House of God (John 20:23) by this quiet disciple who does not claim for himself any gift, but just that the Lord Jesus sent him; this was his only authority. He was received by man through baptism into the House of God, and by receiving the Holy Spirit he became a member of the body of Christ (1 Tim. 3:15 1 Cor. 12:12, 13; compare 1 Cor. 3:10 for man's responsibility). He is not a Jew any longer except externally, and he did not become a Gentile. He is in a new place, and his part in God's new creation is where he knows no man after the flesh (2 Cor. 5:16). He knows the
Lord Jesus, and all His people as united to Him, the risen and glorified Head. Jews and Gentiles were alike under the wrath of God in nature as sinners against Him and now as saved ones believers are all one in Christ Jesus. What a, change for Saul! how it filled his soul with new thoughts, new desires, and made him count everything but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, his Lord and newfound Savior, and he saw all his own righteousness as filthy rags, which now he was glad to be rid of (Phil. 3:7-10). Sovereign grace it was that called him, and revealed God's Son to him, and made him His servant to unfold the mystery of Christ and the Church. He is willing now to suffer for the One he before persecuted, and desires to know the fellowship of His sufferings.
It is important to remember that the Lord Jesus is ever a man in the glory of God, and calls us His brethren. He is also ever the blessed God at the same time, and what love to us since its only measure is the Father's love to Him. He knows everything as God, and yet had the experiences of a man. He can take part with us in all our sorrows and trials and there is nothing too small for Him to notice. He has passed through the world, and knows practically its trials and difficulties, and sympathizes with us in everything, but sin. He knows and feels all, and passed through everything to help us, because lie loves us. Precious truth! Wonderful grace! What an encouragement to our feeble faith to trust Him more fully.
Saul continued in Damascus for a number of days, but straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. It surprised the Jews, they were amazed at the change, that the persecutor was now himself a disciple of Jesus. But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews which dwelt in Damascus, proving that Jesus was the very Christ.
We find from Gal. 1:17 that Saul went away about this time to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus before going to Jerusalem. It was needful and proper discipline that he should have opportunity to mature in the truth now committed to him before entering on the commission given him by the Lord. (Compare Acts 22:15; 26:16-18). "After many days," (verse 23) would cover the three years before he went up to Jerusalem. Persecution drove him out of Damascus, let down by the wall in a basket. At Jerusalem the disciples were afraid of him, till Barnabas told them of his wonderful conversion and experience in speaking with the Lord, and in his testimony for the Lord in Damascus preaching boldly in the name of Jesus. His visit there was a short one (Gal. 1:18), about fifteen days going in and out with the disciples, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputing against the Grecians, but they went about to slay him, so that the brethren sent him down to Caesarea, and then to Tarsus, his native city; there we leave him for the present.
At that time, a period of rest came to the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, they were edified, and were walking in the fear of the Lord, and were increased through the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
Verse 32. We find Peter again here carrying out the ministry given him in the power of the Holy Ghost. Visiting in many places as he goes along, he also came to the saints who dwelt at Lydda. A man lay sick there for eight years, paralyzed, called Aeneas. Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: Arise, and make thy bed." And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
Then the Lord wanted him for a time at Joppa, where a disciple called Tabitha, or Dorcas, lived. She was full of good works and alms-deeds till she became sick and died, whom when they had washed, they laid the body in an upper room. And having heard that Peter was at Lydda, the disciples sent two men beseeching him to come to them without delay.
And Peter arose and went with them. When lie was come they took him into the upper room where all the widows stood by weeping, and showed the coats and garments Dorcas made while with them. But Peter put them all out, and kneeling down, prayed, and turning to the body, said, "Tabitha, arise," and she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. And having given her his hand, he raised her up, and having called the saints and the widows presented her living. When it became known, many believed on the Lord, and Peter remained many days in Joppa in the house of one Simon a tanner, waiting on the Lord for his next step.