Day 236: Acts 9:10–22

All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name?” (v. 21).

Few things are more precious than the expressions on a newborn’s face as he or she is suddenly cast from the darkness of the womb into the bright lights of the delivery room. I remember both laughing and crying at my daughters’ faces screwing up indignantly as if to say, “Would the same wise guy who turned on that light mind turning it off?”

Many years ago when a grown man was born again on the dusty road to Damascus, a light came on that no one was able to turn off. We will soon discover many who tried.

The Lord told Ananias to look for Saul praying at a certain house. The Bible doesn’t tell us the content of Saul’s prayer, but it does tell us what happened next. Ananias came to Saul, and . . .

Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized (Acts 9:17–18 hcsb).

Paul’s version of these events appears in Galatians 1:14–18. He was careful to tell the reader that he did not consult any man but went immediately into Arabia following his conversion. Apparently Saul thought he’d better get to know the One who obviously knew him so well. He had already learned more about Scripture in his young years than most learn in a lifetime. What he needed now was to come to grips with the Author.

When his quiet exile with the Savior was over, he once again approached the ancient city of Damascus. What strange thoughts must have clouded his mind. He first came to Damascus to profane the name of Christ. Now he returned to preach the name of Christ. He first came to Damascus to take prisoner the followers of the Way. Now he would stay in their homes. He had to know he would be the talk of the town, yet the inevitable mockery did not slow him down.

In fact, we read that “Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:22). This verse tells us two wonderful things about Saul:

1. He grew more powerful. The Greek word for “powerful” is endunamoo, also used in Hebrews 11:34 as a description of Samson. The supernatural power Samson possessed physically, God gave to Saul spiritually! Saul was probably a man of small physical stature. A writer in the second century described him as “a man rather small in size, bald-headed, bow-legged, with meeting eyebrows, a large, red and somewhat hooked nose.”56 Little about his physical appearance was intimidating, but when the Spirit of God fell on him, he became the spiritual heavyweight champion of the world!

2. He proved to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. The word translated as “proved” or “proving” means “to cause to come together, to bring together . . . to join or knit together.” Let’s insert one of these phrases in the Scripture so we can see the picture God is drawing for us. “Saul . . . [knit together to] the Jews . . . that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:22). What did he knit together? The old with the new! He knit the teachings of the Old Testament Law and Prophets with their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

His speech to them was probably much like Christ’s speech to the two travelers on the road to Emmaus. Luke tells us that Christ appeared to the men on the road, but they did not recognize him. “Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27 hcsb). Both Christ and Saul proved He was the promised Messiah by knitting the promises of the Old Testament to their fulfillment in Jesus. The proof was there. All they needed to do was believe. Unlike the Gentiles, the Jews knew Scripture. They just hadn’t recognized the One about whom the Scriptures were written!

Saul was hardly the kind of man to be ignored. Saul with the gospel was like a teenager with the radio. He kept turning up the volume. Inevitably, ironically, the Jews conspired to kill him, so Saul took the first basket out of town. According to his personal testimony in Galatians 1:18, Saul wanted to get acquainted with Peter anyway. From the look of things, this was a perfect time for a visit to Jerusalem.

Can you imagine how differently Saul must have approached the city this time? Every step he took had new significance. Damascus was northeast of Jerusalem, so Saul walked past the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. He walked through the Kidron Valley, dodging the hardened ground over ancient graves. He walked through the city gates where his face was recognized instantly. The chief priests expected him to return with prisoners. Instead, only one prisoner returned: a prisoner of Jesus Christ.