Acts9
New International Version
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest
2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.
14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
20At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
21All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
22Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,
24but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.
25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.
30When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
32As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.
33There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
35All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.
41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.
42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 9.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The conversion of Saul. (1–9). Saul converted preaches Christ. (10–22). Saul is persecuted at Damascus, and goes to Jerusalem. (23–31). Cure of Eneas. (32–35). Dorcas raised to life. (36–43).
vv1-9
So ill informed was Saul, that he thought he ought to do all he could against the name of Christ, and that he did God service thereby; he seemed to breathe in this as in his element. Let us not despair of renewing grace for the conversion of the greatest sinners, nor let such despair of the pardoning mercy of God for the greatest sin. It is a signal token of Divine favour, if God, by the inward working of his grace, or the outward events of his providence, stops us from prosecuting or executing sinful purposes. Saul saw that Just One, ch. 22:14; 26:13. How near to us is the unseen world! It is but for God to draw aside the veil, and objects are presented to the view, compared with which, whatever is most admired on earth is mean and contemptible. Saul submitted without reserve, desirous to know what the Lord Jesus would have him to do. Christ's discoveries of himself to poor souls are humbling; they lay them very low, in mean thoughts of themselves. For three days Saul took no food, and it pleased God to leave him for that time without relief. His sins were now set in order before him; he was in the dark concerning his own spiritual state, and wounded in spirit for sin. When a sinner is brought to a proper sense of his own state and conduct, he will cast himself wholly on the mercy of the Saviour, asking what he would have him to do. God will direct the humbled sinner, and though he does not often bring transgressors to joy and peace in believing, without sorrows and distress of conscience, under which the soul is deeply engaged as to eternal things, yet happy are those who sow in tears, for they shall reap in joy.
vv10-22
A good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to Christ's feet with those words, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And never did Christ leave any who were brought to that. Behold, the proud Pharisee, the unmerciful oppressor, the daring blasphemer, prayeth! And thus it is even now, and with the proud infidel, or the abandoned sinner. What happy tidings are these to all who understand the nature and power of prayer, of such prayer as the humbled sinner presents for the blessings of free salvation! Now he began to pray after another manner than he had done; before, he said his prayers, now, he prayed them. Regenerating grace sets people on praying; you may as well find a living man without breath, as a living Christian without prayer. Yet even eminent disciples, like Ananias, sometimes stagger at the commands of the Lord. But it is the Lord's glory to surpass our scanty expectations, and show that those are vessels of his mercy whom we are apt to consider as objects of his vengeance. The teaching of the Holy Spirit takes away the scales of ignorance and pride from the understanding; then the sinner becomes a new creature, and endeavours to recommend the anointed Saviour, the Son of God, to his former companions.
vv23-31
When we enter into the way of God, we must look for trials; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape. Though Saul's conversion was and is a proof of the truth of Christianity, yet it could not, of itself, convert one soul at enmity with the truth; for nothing can produce true faith, but that power which new-creates the heart. Believers are apt to be too suspicious of those against whom they have prejudices. The world is full of deceit, and it is necessary to be cautious, but we must exercise charity, 1Co 13:5. The Lord will clear up the characters of true believers; and he will bring them to his people, and often gives them opportunities of bearing testimony to his truth, before those who once witnessed their hatred to it. Christ now appeared to Saul, and ordered him to go quickly out of Jerusalem, for he must be sent to the Gentiles: see ch. 22:21. Christ's witnesses cannot be slain till they have finished their testimony. The persecutions were stayed. The professors of the gospel walked uprightly, and enjoyed much comfort from the Holy Ghost, in the hope and peace of the gospel, and others were won over to them. They lived upon the comfort of the Holy Ghost, not only in the days of trouble and affliction, but in days of rest and prosperity. Those are most likely to walk cheerfully, who walk circumspectly.
Key Words
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
Σαῦλος (Saûlos): Saulus (i.e. Shaul), the Jewish name of Paul
ἔτι (éti): "yet," still (of time or degree)
ἐμπνέω (empnéō): to inhale, i.e. (figuratively) to be animated by (bent upon)
ἀπειλή (apeilḗ): a menace
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
φόνος (phónos): murder
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
μαθητής (mathētḗs): a learner, i.e. pupil
κύριος (kýrios): supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Cross References
Acts 9Paul's subsequent account detailing that the Lord spoke in the Hebrew tongue.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul's own autobiographical recollection of how he beyond measure persecuted the church.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Our Lord's identification of Himself with His persecuted, suffering members on earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul's account of his escape from Damascus in a basket under Aretas.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul's testimony of his authorization from the high priest and estate of elders.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul's description of Ananias as a devout man according to the law.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Paul's reflection on his sovereign separation from his mother's womb to preach Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Peter's assertion that healing power belongs solely to Jesus Christ's name, not his.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Paul's description of his pre-conversion life as a blasphemer and persecutor.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Scriptural source for kicking like a pampered, stubborn ox against the master's goad.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Lord's direct commission to Paul to bear His name to the Gentiles.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Peter putting everyone out of the room, mimicking Jesus' manner at Jairus' house.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Paul clarifies he was blinded by the glory of that brilliant heavenly light.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul's first journey to Jerusalem three years after his Damascus conversion.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB