Bible Commentaries
Acts 9

Verse 1

Acts 9:1

EXAMPLES OF CONVERSION:

1. Pentecost- Acts 2:22 & Acts 2:36-47

2. Samaria- Acts 8:4-13

3. Ethiopian eunuch- Acts 8:26-39

4. Paul (Saul)- Acts 9:1-20 & Acts 22:6-16

5. Cornelius– Acts 10:1-48 & Acts 11:1-18

6. Lydia- Acts 16:13-15

7. Philippian jailer- Acts 16:23-34

8. Corinthians- Acts 18:8

What Paul Saw When Blind

(Some Things Paul Saw While Blind)

Acts 9:1-18

1. David said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” (Psalms 119:71.

2. I heard of a man, a very wicked fellow, going blind.

A. To pass the time his little daughter read the Bible to him.

B. He learned the Truth and obeyed the Gospel.

3. Pain and sorrow are not God’s converting power but the Gospel it.

A. Yet, sometimes there are blessings in darkness.

B. The “Treasures of Darkness” (Illust. 87-At-Ha C-6 )

4. Now let us consider what Paul saw while blind.

1. PAUL SAW THAT HE WAS A SINNER –1Tim. 1:15

1. 1 Timothy 1:15; Romans 3:23

2. One thing the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 could never see what that he was a sinner. V. 9.

3. The prodigal son was very frank to admit “I have sinner against heaven...” Luke 15:18.

4. Judas said, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us, see thou to that.” Matthew 27:4

2. PAUL SAD THAT HE HAD BEEN RELIGIOUSLY WRONG

1. Acts 26:4-5 -- Paul had gloried in the strictness of the law he kept.

A. Acts 22:3 – Paul was taught and was zealous toward the law of the fathers.

2. Many people think their religious was good enough for their father and is therefore good enough for them. Philippians 3:5-6.

3. We do not measure other things by this standard.

A. The way my father traveled... Living standards... his salary, etc...

4. Paul could have reasoned that the religious of his fathers was older than that which began with Jesus. But Paul was not guided by that type of human reasoning.

A. Galatians 1:11-12

3. PAUL SAW THAT CONSCIENCE WAS NOT A SAFE GUIDE.

1. Paul had always had a good conscience.

A. Acts 23:1

2. One should always have a clear conscience, but conscience is not always a safe guide.

3. Conscience condemns, but good judgment restrains –

A. 1 Peter 3:21.

4. I can think of no more lamentable condition than one have a seared conscience.

A. 1 Timothy 4:2 “speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” NKJV

5. When Paul’s conscience was properly taught he obeyed the truth.

A. Acts 26:9; James 4:17; 1 John 3:20-21

4. PAUL SAW HE NEEDED HELP OUTSIDE OF HIMSELF

1. Acts 9:8

2. Men had to led him.

A. He was going to let God led him henceforth.

3. We need God to led us.

A. God sometimes helps us through others – such an Ananias vs. 10-12

B. Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” NKJV

5. PAUL SAW THAT MAN NEEDED MORE THAN BREAD ALONE – V. 9

1. Matthew 4:4 “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

2. Paul fasted – and true fasting means you are engaged in something else more important than eating.

A. Acts 13:1-3 The church at Antioch.

B. Jesus in Matthew 4:2.

1) Jesus was probably praying and meditating

2) “Afterwards” he was an hunger – Matthew 4:2

6. PAUL SAW THAT PRAYER DID NOT SAVE – Acts 9:11

1. There is no teaching in the book of God where alien sinners are taught to pray for anything.

A. Saul prayed for 3 days without it bringing salvation.

B. The Publican in Luke 18 was in a covenant relationship with God already since he was a Jew.

2. All the needs of the alien sinner are supplied in the Word of God.

A. Paul was told that one would come and tell him what he must do – Acts 9:6

3. Prayer is for the child of God.

A. Solomon said, “He that turneth his ear from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination.” Proverbs 28:9

B. 1 Peter 3:12 “The eyes of the Lord are over the -- . “

7. PAUL SAW THAT IT WAS NO DISGRACE

TO CHANGE WHEN WRONG.

1. 2 Peter 3:9 “God is longsuffering to us, not willing....”

Paul turned from being ....

A. A Persecutor of the Way (Acts 26:10; Acts 9:1-2) to being

B. A Preacher of the Way – Acts 9:20.

2. Paul changed out of conviction –

3. Acts 2:38 – Repentance

4. I have no doubt that many of us have changed over the years and will continue to change when we are convicted we are wrong on any point.

5. What is the motive of our change?

A. Saul’s motive was not for wealth, nor popularity, but of conviction.

B. He had greater promise of wealth, power, and popularity in the Hebrew religions. Phil. 3:

C. This kind of change is honorable in anyone.

8. PAUL SAW THAT AT BAPTISM

SINS WERE WASHED AWAY

1. Acts 22:16 “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ NKJV

2. Members of the Lord’s church have been accused of thinking that water washes sins away.

A. I don’t believe in “water” salvation – I believe in the power of the blood of Jesus Christ to save –

Revelation 1:5 " and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,” NKJV

3. But the blood of Christ washes sins away – Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” NKJV

4. The poet has said in a song:

What can wash away my sins,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus .”

5. We should all want to learn how and when we reach the blood of Jesus?

A. Paul said “We are baptized into his death” – Romans 6:3-4

B. Christ shed his blood in his death – John 19:34

C. Romans 6 tells us that we reach the blood of Christ in baptism –

Verse 2

Acts 9:2

Letters -- Authority, documents that gave him authority and a commission to the rulers of synagogues.

Of this way -- Some think the Christian movement was called by some "the way."

Verse 6

Acts 9:6

What wilt thou have me to do? -- A most important question!

What thou must do? -- Saul’s question will be answered? After showing his repentance, by fasting and praying, he is give the command in Acts 22:16; Acts 9:18;

Verse 7

Acts 9:7

Hearing a voice -- From the information given in Acts 9:7; Acts 22:9 and Acts 26:14 it appears that the men with Saul saw the light and hear someone speaking but did not understand it apparently because the Lord was speaking in Hebrew to Saul.

Verse 9

Acts 9:9

Neither did eat -- Saul’s fasting and praying Acts 9:11 infer Saul’s repentance Acts 2:38

Verse 10

Acts 9:10

Said the Lord -- Another proff of Jesus’ resurrection. Why did Annias go to Saul to baptize him?

Verse 11

Acts 9:11

He prayeth -- Inference that Paul had repented Acts 2:38., Acts 9:9

Verse 18

Acts 9:18

Fell from his eyes -- See Acts 9:1 notes for "What Saul Saw While Blind."

Verse 20

Acts 9:20

He preached Christ -- Saul had heard much about the Christ from Stephen and those he persecuted. Now he could be a witness himself that Jesus was resurrected and now in heaven with the Father.

Verse 21

Acts 9:21

Vs. 21 - Those who change their lives for the Lord can expect close examination and criticism.

Verse 22

Acts 9:22

Saul increased -- Saul spent three years in Arabia, the same length of time that Jesus spent with the other apostles teaching and preparing them for their commission. Paul received his instructions from the Lord by revelation and then returned to Antioch. So somewhere beteen vs. 19 and vs. 23 there is a three year gap. Galatians 1:17-18; Galatians 1:12; Galatians 2:2; Ephesians 1:17; Ephesians 3:3

Verse 27

Acts 9:27

Barnabas -- One stepped in, and made a difference.

Verse 36

Acts 9:36

Whis is this story included in the Acts? To show relationship between the gospel and service.