1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, |
2 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. |
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: |
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? |
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. |
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. |
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. |
8 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. |
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. |
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. |
11 And 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, |
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. |
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: |
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. |
15 But the Lord said unto him, 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: |
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. |
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. |
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. |
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. |
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. |
21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? |
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. |
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: |
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. |
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. |
26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. |
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. |
28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. |
29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. |
30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. |
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. |
9
9:1 Act 22:3, etc; Act 26:9, etc
9:2 Bound - By the connivance, if not authority, of the governor, under Aretas the king. See Act 9:14, Act 9:24.
9:3 And suddenly - When God suddenly and vehemently attacks a sinner, it is the highest act of mercy. So Saul, when his rage was come to the height, is taught not to breathe slaughter.And what was wanting in time to confirm him in his discipleship, is compensated by the inexpressible terror he sustained. By his also the suddenly constituted apostle was guarded against the grand snare into which novices are apt to fall.
9:4 He heard a voice - Severe, yet full of grace.
9:5 To kick against the goads - is a Syriac proverb, expressing an attempt that brings nothing but pain.
9:6 It shall be told thee - So God himself sends Saul to be taught by a man, as the angel does Cornelius, Act 10:5. Admirable condescension! that the Lord deals with us by men, like ourselves.
9:7 The men - stood - Having risen before Saul; for they also fell to the ground, Act 26:14. It is probable they all journeyed on foot. Hearing the noise - But not an articulate voice. And seeing the light, but not Jesus himself, Act 26:13, etc
9:9 And he was three days - An important season! So long he seems to have been in the pangs of the new birth. Without sight - By scales growing over his eyes, to intimate to him the blindness of the state he had been in, to impress him with a deeper sense of the almighty power of Christ, and to turn his thoughts inward, while he was less capable of conversing with outward objects.This was likewise a manifest token to others, of what had happened to him in his journey, and ought to have humbled and convinced those bigoted Jews, to whom he had been sent from the sanhedrim.
9:11 Behold he is praying - He was shown thus to Ananias.
9:12 A man called Ananias - His name also was revealed to Saul.
9:13 But he answered - How natural it is to reason against God.
9:14 All that call on thy name - That is, all Christians.
9:15 He is a chosen vessel to bear my name - That is, to testify of me. It is undeniable, that some men are unconditionally chosen or elected, to do some works for God
9:16 For I - Do thou as thou art commanded. I will take care of the rest; will show him - In fact, through the whole course of his ministry. How great things he must suffer - So far will he be now from persecuting others.
9:17 The Lord hath sent me - Ananias does not tell Saul all which Christ had said concerning him. It was not expedient that he should know yet to how great a dignity he was called.
9:24 They guarded the gates day and night - That is, the governor did, at their request, Co2 11:32.
9:26 And coming to Jerusalem - Three years after, Gal 1:18.These three years St. Paul passes over, Act 22:17, likewise.
9:27 To the apostles - Peter and James, Gal 1:18-19. And declared - He who has been an enemy to the truth ought not to be trusted till he gives proof that he is changed.
9:31 Then the Church - The whole body of Christian believers, had peace - Their bitterest persecutor being converted. And being built up - In holy, loving faith, continually increasing, and walking in - That is, speaking and acting only from this principle, the fear of God and the comfort of the Holy Ghost - An excellent mixture of inward and outward peace, tempered with filial fear.