Thank you, Lord, for this day. May it be used for your glory!
Good morning everyone and welcome back to Biblit!
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Do you remember the original Star Wars movies?
Like the real originals from the ancient days?
Remember in the last movie [spoilers] when Luke is fighting the Emperor and he’s losing pretty bad? Luke is laying on the ground getting electrocuted and he’s calling out to his father, Darth Vader, for help.
The same Darth Vader who killed billions and for years served the most evil sith lord in the galaxy.
But in a final twist, when all hope seemed lost, Darth Vader had a change of heart. He throws the emperor down some big hole (to apparently come back in another movie, lol), and saves his son!
Well, in Acts 9 we get to witness a similar story about a man named Saul.
Let’s jump in!
Context
We have already mentioned Saul a few times in Acts so far. He was first introduced when we saw him lead the way in the stoning of Stephen.
We saw him again last Biblit when he led persecutions in Jerusalem causing the scattering of believers, which God used to bring salvation to many in Samaria.
Today, we transition and follow Saul on a journey. A transformative one.
Saul’s Big Trip Interrupted
We pick up with Saul, up to no good. He is walking to Damascus from Jersulaem, which is about 150 miles. Today it would take you about 4 hours, but back then it was a decent multi-day walk.
What was his main purpose behind this venture? He wanted to round up anyone that professed faith in Christ in Damascus, bind them up, and bring them back to Jerusalem to face a harsh punishment.
So Saul is on his way when all of a sudden this flash of light appears, brighter than anything the sun can produce.
And who is the light? It is of course Jesus Christ as He lives and breathes, appearing to Saul.
The light of Christ is so bright, Saul falls to the ground, still unaware of what’s going on.
Out of the blinding light, Jesus asks Saul why he’s persecuting Him.
Saul, confused, asks who this mysterious light is, to which Jesus says:
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:5-6 ESV).
We don’t get a glimpse of Saul’s emotions at this time, but we know he stands up, is physically blind, and gets his men to lead him into Damascus where he fasted for 3 days as a blind man.
Already, Saul’s trip is not going how he planned.
The Faith of Ananias
While Saul is doing his fasting and probably wondering if his blindness is permanent, we move our attention to a disciple of Jesus named Ananias.
Ananias is about to be tested in a big way.
The Lord speaks directly to Ananias and tells him that there is a man named Saul who is getting a vision that a man named Ananias is coming to heal him of his blindness.
Ananias puts up his first defense and says something like, “Wait, I know that guy, he’s a murderer, why would I go heal him?”
To which God says:
“Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:15-16 CSB)
And Ananias trusted God, did exactly what He asked, and went to heal Saul!
When he prayed over Saul, Saul was also filled with the Holy Spirit much like how the Samaritans needed the disciples' prayers.
Saul Stirs Up Trouble
Perhaps God chose Saul because he was already a class A trouble maker.
Once he was healed, ate some food, and felt strengthened by the Holy Spirit, Saul immediately began preaching the name of Jesus to the Jews in the synagogue.
This is wild because 3 days prior he was planning on coming to arrest anyone preaching the name of Jesus in that same exact synagogue!
I wish we got a little more insight into the conversations between the religious leaders because I bet it was hilarious.
“Saul is doing what?? The same Saul whose idea it was to persecute the disciples in Damascus?? Has now become one of those disciples!?”
We don’t get to see any of those conversations, but we do know they begin to plot Saul’s death.
Saul also gets wind of the plot and his disciples…yes he already has disciples…get him out of town.
Jerusalem Here We Come
After fleeing Damascus Saul goes down to Jerusalem where he wants to hangout with the original disciples of Jesus.
They are all skeptical at first…rightly so…but Barnabas stands up as a witness to Saul’s true faith.
Remember good old Barnabas? From way back in Acts 4 who sold everything and gave it to the disciples?
I’m not sure how he witnessed Saul seeing Jesus on the road, but apparently Baranabas did and also saw Saul preaching in Damascus.
This was enough of a testimony for the disciples and they allowed Saul to hangout with them. But of course the next thing Saul does is go preach the truth to all who would listen and many who didn’t want to listen throughout Jerusalem.
Saul is really good at making enemies…let’s just put it that way.
The Hellenistic Jews are also now plotting a way to kill Saul.
Back to Peter
After this, we leave Saul to preach the gospel and we focus on Peter.
It is actually an interesting little story. Peter is performing one single healing for a man named Aeneas, who has been paralyzed for 8 years.
Peter heals him, word spreads, and people call on the name of the Lord from Lydda to Sharon, which extends a 50 mile stretch of coastline above a town called Joppa.
Joppa was an ancient seaport, the same one Jonah set sail from when he was fleeing from the Lord.
In this town there is a disciple named Tabitha, or Dorcas depending on your language. Both names mean gazelle. Fun fact.
Well, she has apparently been doing tons of good works and charity all for the Lord, but unfortunately, she fell ill and died.
However, because Peter healed the paralyzed man in Lydda, they knew he was nearby. They send word to Peter and he comes up immediately where he heals Tabitha and raises her from the dead!
Peter’s Final Note
Last in this chapter we get one final verse that throws me for a loop:
“And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.” (Acts 9:43 ESV).
Why would the Bible make that clarification of Simon’s job? Why does it matter that Peter stays with a tanner?
Well, thankfully, others smarter than me know the answer.
It turns out that being a tanner was considered an unclean profession to the Jews because your whole job is touching dead things. Thus you were always unclean according to the laws of Moses.
So why did Peter stay with someone who was considered unclean? I’m sure you can guess, but that sounds more like an interpretation day question, so we’ll leave that for tomorrow.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed today’s Biblit, please consider sharing it with a friend!