GOSPEL MEDITATION #29
Acts 9:1-19a
The Conversion of Saul, part 1
- 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.
- We can only wonder at the extreme reaction Saul/Paul had toward the followers of Jesus. Were we that way as well?
- There were about 10 synagogues in Damascus at that time; Paul needed the commission of the Council of Israel, which they gave to him. The Sanhedrin was in crisis mode.
- On the road to Damascus (Syria), a light from heaven flashes around Paul; God is present right there.
- “Why?” Paul are you persecuting Me. To persecute the disciples of Jesus is to persecute Jesus Himself. We are His body after all. (see1 Corinthians 12:27)
- Paul’s travelling companions also heard the voice, now utterly stunned, they lead blind Paul into the city.
- Ananias, a disciple, God also speaks to in a vision (orama in the Greek), not a trance state, likely while in prayer. He receives instructions about Paul, but he is reluctant since he has heard about the evil Paul was doing.
- God’s ways are not our ways, and He has plans for this persecutor. His commission of this “chosen instrument” will be three-fold: preach to Gentiles, kings, and to the “children of Israel.”
- Ananias obeys, comes to Paul, lays hands on him, which shows fellowship and a setting aside, a common Jewish practice, and Paul experiences conversion.
- At once Paul is baptized. Wish we knew more of this.