“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said,”I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
Acts 9:1-6
The troublesome events of the day made Saul of Tarsus reminisce of more pleasant times. As a boy, His father and mother would whisper the Shema as he lay down to sleep , and when he awakened in the morning it was always heartening to hear: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your strength.” (Deut.6:4) This was what he was doing. Or so he told himself.
On the road to Damascus Saul planned to extradite those of “the Way” who were seeking to contaminate the purity of Jewry with these tales of a resurrected Savior. Everyone knows that “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”. And they have the audacity to claim that Jesus the Nazarene is the Messiah, who was crucified between two thieves! Blasphemy! How could anyone so desecrate the name of the Holy One?! I will put a stop to this madness or my name isn’t Saul of Tarsus!
But It was disconcerting that the image of Stephen haunted his thoughts. He had agreed to kill him, thinking he was doing service to God. Why didn’t he feel good about it? What was that he said while he was dying? “Behold, I see the heavens open up and the Son of Man standing at the right of God.” He couldn’t get Stephen’s voice out of his head.
Suddenly, a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And He said, “I AM Jesus whom you are persecuting , but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” He recognized the “I AM” of the Scripture. It was the same voice that spoke to Abraham :”I AM the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” (Gen.15:7) It was the same “I AM” who spoke to Moses when he asked God, “What shall I say to Pharaoh if he asks ‘What is your name? “I AM WHO I AM” is my name.’ “ (Exo.3:14)
The scripture says “Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing…..He was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.” (9:8-9)
God bless Ananias of Damascus, a disciple who had the temerity to argue (respectfully) with the Lord but ultimately did what God required. For the Lord had spoken to him in a vision that he was called to lay hands on this " butcher “of Jerusalem so he might regain his sight. The Word of God had the final say in Ananias’s heart: But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel, for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (9:15-16)
So Ananias departed and entered the house to the room that Saul was in. He beheld a man that was sightless, humble and not without any small amount of fear, for he was in hostile company. He no longer was the “butcher” of Jerusalem. With faith Ananias prayed and laying his hands on Saul said, “Brother Saul…..The Lord Jesus…has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened.” (9:17-19)
Ananias’ term of endearment “Brother Saul” was like honey to his soul. With the psalmist he cries: “On the day when I called, You answered me; On the day my strength failed, You strengthened me.
You will perfect everything concerning me;
You will not forsake the works of Your own hands.” (Ps. 138:3,8)
Questions To Think About:
Acts 9:1-6
The troublesome events of the day made Saul of Tarsus reminisce of more pleasant times. As a boy, His father and mother would whisper the Shema as he lay down to sleep , and when he awakened in the morning it was always heartening to hear: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your strength.” (Deut.6:4) This was what he was doing. Or so he told himself.
On the road to Damascus Saul planned to extradite those of “the Way” who were seeking to contaminate the purity of Jewry with these tales of a resurrected Savior. Everyone knows that “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”. And they have the audacity to claim that Jesus the Nazarene is the Messiah, who was crucified between two thieves! Blasphemy! How could anyone so desecrate the name of the Holy One?! I will put a stop to this madness or my name isn’t Saul of Tarsus!
But It was disconcerting that the image of Stephen haunted his thoughts. He had agreed to kill him, thinking he was doing service to God. Why didn’t he feel good about it? What was that he said while he was dying? “Behold, I see the heavens open up and the Son of Man standing at the right of God.” He couldn’t get Stephen’s voice out of his head.
Suddenly, a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And He said, “I AM Jesus whom you are persecuting , but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” He recognized the “I AM” of the Scripture. It was the same voice that spoke to Abraham :”I AM the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” (Gen.15:7) It was the same “I AM” who spoke to Moses when he asked God, “What shall I say to Pharaoh if he asks ‘What is your name? “I AM WHO I AM” is my name.’ “ (Exo.3:14)
The scripture says “Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing…..He was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.” (9:8-9)
God bless Ananias of Damascus, a disciple who had the temerity to argue (respectfully) with the Lord but ultimately did what God required. For the Lord had spoken to him in a vision that he was called to lay hands on this " butcher “of Jerusalem so he might regain his sight. The Word of God had the final say in Ananias’s heart: But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel, for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (9:15-16)
So Ananias departed and entered the house to the room that Saul was in. He beheld a man that was sightless, humble and not without any small amount of fear, for he was in hostile company. He no longer was the “butcher” of Jerusalem. With faith Ananias prayed and laying his hands on Saul said, “Brother Saul…..The Lord Jesus…has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened.” (9:17-19)
Ananias’ term of endearment “Brother Saul” was like honey to his soul. With the psalmist he cries: “On the day when I called, You answered me; On the day my strength failed, You strengthened me.
You will perfect everything concerning me;
You will not forsake the works of Your own hands.” (Ps. 138:3,8)
Questions To Think About:
- Saul believed he was fulfilling the Shema (Deut.6:4) by persecuting “The Way.” Are there areas in your life where you might be following a religious “rule” or tradition while missing the heart of God’s actual will?
- Saul recognized the voice of the burning bush and the voice that called Abraham in the voice of Jesus. When God speaks to you—whether through Scripture or prayer—do you recognize Him as the eternal, unchanging “I AM”, or do you treat His voice as just another opinion to consider?
- Ananias had every reason to fear the “butcher of Jerusalem”. Is there someone in your life whom you have “written off” as unreachable or too dangerous to love? What would it take for you to show them the “temerity” and obedience of Ananias?
- Saul spent three days in darkness , fasting and praying. Why do you think God often used periods of “blindness” or forced stillness before giving us a new mission?
- The devotional ends with Psalm 138:8—“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” How does Saul’s story give you hope that God can “perfect” your own messy history or current failures?
Posted in Brother Saul