Bible Commentaries
Acts 9

Verses 1-43

Opposition, the leader of which seems to have been Saul, continued. Armed with letters from the high priest, he attempted to put an end to the Nazarene heresy. It was on his journey with this intent that he was arrested by Christ. The action of Ananias stands out as a revelation of a man ready for his Lord's command, and carrying it out without any hesitation and with all brotherly love.

How important was the apprehension of Saul is evident at once. He completely devoted himself to the service of his new Lord. This change of attitude in the man necessarily issued in a change of attitude toward him. The persecutor became the persecuted. When, after a lapse of time, Paul came to Jerusalem, the Christian disciples were afraid of him, but Barnabas stood by him.

At this point the book returns to Peter. Two incidents are recorded, one at Lydda, where Eneas was healed; the other at Joppa, where Dorcas was raised from the dead. This paragraph ends with a significant announcement. Peter abode many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner. The calling of the tanner was absolutely repugnant to the Jew, and the fact that Peter was willing to tarry in his house is a sign that in spirit he was already learning the lesson of how mere national exclusivism was at an end in the economy of Christ.