Studies in the Book of Acts

Acts 9:1-16 Dr. Ronald C. Hill, Sr.

Dec. 21-24, 2011

A. In Chapter 9 we find a distinct turning point in the book of Acts. Up to this time Peter has held a position of prominence as he preached to the nation of Israel. From now on the Apostle Paul will

A. gradually become the foremost figure, and the gospel will increasingly go out to the Gentiles.  

Acts 9:1 1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Acts 9:22 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 

B. Paul watched the growth of the Christian faith, known as “the way”; he saw it as a threat to his own religion. This threat caused Paul to go all out to destroy what he considered to be a false doctrine.  

B1 Religious hatred is one of the strongest sources of hate in the world, and it had led and will continue to lead people to destroy other people.

Acts 9:3-6 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 

Acts 9:3-6 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Acts 9:3-6 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 9:3-6 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

C. Saul was convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was dead and buried in a Judean grave. Since the leader of the sect had been destroyed, all that was now necessary was to destroy his followers.  

D. As Saul was on his way to arrest the people of God one of the most phenomenal events recorded anywhere on the pages of history occurred. Although it was mid-day a light shined out of heaven that completely engulfed the light

D. of the sun. Now with crushing force, Saul learns that Jesus is not dead at all, but that He has been raised from the dead and has been glorified at the right hand of God in heaven.

E. Saul also learned that day when he had been persecuting the disciples of Jesus; he had been persecuting the Lord Himself.

1. The head of the Body in heaven feels pain that was and still inflicted on the members of the Body of Christ on earth.

2. Every sin that is committed will affect others and it will also affect God.

3. Young Joseph understood this when he rejected the advancement of Potiphar’s wife.

Gen 39:99 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

F. The Prodigal Son recognized this, for when he came to himself, he determined to return to this father and say, “I have sinned against heaven and before thee.”

St. Luke 15:18  18 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 

G. It is most important that we also recognize that the way we live will have an impact on our families and the people we are associated with.

Jonah 1:1-5 1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 

Jonah 1:1-5 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 

Jonah 1:1-5 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into

Jonah 1:1-5

3 it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. 

Jonah 1:1-5 4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 

Jonah 1:1-5 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the

Jonah 1:1-5 5 ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

H. The disobedience of Jonah caused the lives of other men to be put in danger.

1. In the book of Joshua Achan’s sins caused the death of his entire family.

2. One of the greatest ways we can show love for God and for others is to live a holy life before God.

Acts 9:7 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 

Acts 22:9  9 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

I. The companions of Saul saw the light and they heard a voice but they saw no man. They heard the sound of a voice but they did not hear the distinction of the words spoken.

1 This proves that a person can have an experience with the super natural God and still not follow His word. Saul saw the light and heard and understood the instruction given by God and he obeyed the word. The

1 men with him did not receive the instruction of the word spoken by God.

The questions tonight are: What have we seen?

What have we heard and did we understand what we

heard?

Acts 9:8 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

Acts 9:9 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

J. The proud Pharisee was now led by the hand into Damascus where he remained three days without sight. During that time he neither ate nor drank. He saw no man, but he had seen the Lord while in the trance.

Acts 9:10 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

K. Ananias saw the Lord and actually heard His voice in a Vision. Visions are more than ideas in the mind, but real pictures to the eyes.

Acts 9:11 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

L. The Lord now gives instruction to Ananias. He tells him where to go, “straight street”. He tells him what house to go to and whom he was to ask for.

1. He also tells Ananias that Saul is now praying, instead of persecuting.

Acts 9:1212 He also tells Ananias that Saul is now praying, instead of persecuting.

M. The Lord tells Ananias Saul had already seen the Vision of him coming in and putting his hands on him in order for him to receive his sight. In other words, God had revealed to Saul what Ananias was going to do

M. before He told Ananias what he would do. God knew Ananias would obey Him. I wonder does God know we will obey Him. I certainly hope so.

Acts 9:13-15 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

Acts 9:13-15 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Acts 9:13-15 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

N. Ananias was quick to object to this request and just like people today Ananias saw the need to explain to God how evil Saul had been. However, his objections are overruled, and his concerns alleviated by the Lord who

N. said, “for his is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles.”

O. It is noteworthy that Saul was now chosen by God to be sent to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Saul was a proud Jew, he wanted nothing to do with the Gentiles before; but now God sends him to the very people he looked down upon and hated.

Acts 9:1616 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 

P. Faith in Christ brings great blessings but often-great suffering, too. God said he would show Saul what great things he would suffer for the name of the Lord.

II Corinthians 11: 23-27 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

II Corinthians 11: 23-27 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

II Corinthians 11: 23-27 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

II Corinthians 11: 23-27

Q. God had already forewarned Paul of the suffering that he would have to endure and we see that it came to pass.

R. God has also warned us of the suffering and trials we will have to go through as a Christian. We don’t hear a lot of preaching and teaching on this subject ,but none-the-less it is a fact that we will suffer if we walk with God.

St. John 16:33  33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

S. As a child of God we will experience trials, distress and frustration; but be of good cheer, take courage, be confident because Jesus overcame and through Him we too will cheer because God has overcome and we too will overcome.

I Peter 4:12-19

Romans 5:1-5

LIFE LESSONS

1. EVERYONE MUST HAVE A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE WITH GOD.

2. WE MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED; THAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLED BY GOD. 

3. WE MUST BE ABLE TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD.

4. WE MUST NOT EXPECT EVERYONE TO CELEBRATE THE CALL GOD HAS PLACED ON US; AND BE WILLING TO WALK ALONE IF NECESSARY. 

5. WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT BEING REJECTED AND SUFFERING AFFLICTIONS IS A PART OF WALKING WITH GOD. WE MUST LEARN TO ENDURE THE TRIALS AND DISTRESS THAT IS SURE TO COME.

Studies in Acts

Notes available online for download

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