GOSPEL MEDITATION # 30
Acts 9:19b-31
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues & Saul Escapes from Damascus & Saul in Jerusalem
- Find a quiet place without distractions.
- Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
- Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
- Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
- Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
- Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
- Paul is “some days” in Damascus and immediately begins presenting Jesus as Messiah and Son of God, thus showing that the Messiah, Jesus, is fully deity.
- Paul has to flea now since the Hellenistic Jews in Damascus understood the import of Paul’s message.
- “His disciples”—we see this in verse 25 indicating that Paul has attracted others around him. These would support him and see to his well being.
- At this point, according to Galatians 1:11-23, Paul goes into Arabia, the ancient Nabataean kingdom, for some period of time. Luke does not present this short departure.
- Luke now jumps to Paul’s visit to Jerusalem, also found in Gal. 1, and “attempts” to join with the disciples there.
- The early and original disciples, with the apostles, were yet afraid of Paul. This is curious and Luke does not explain their reluctance.
- Now Luke brings in Barnabas. He was introduced in Acts 4:36 and now we find Barnabas instrumental in making reconciliation with the church in Jerusalem and Paul. Indeed Barnabas lives up to his nickname, Son of Encouragement.
- Paul is boldly preaching Jesus now right in the midst of those who were antagonistic to him. Again, Paul’s enemies want to kill him.
- The “brothers” direct Paul to Caesarea and then onto his home in Tarsus. The church grows via the Holy Spirit.