Author: Beth Duncan

Acts 9:19b Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 

Again I have so many questions. What did Saul *think* about this profound change? How did he *feel* about his previous behavior and his new life? Was the old so completely gone that he couldn’t marvel at the fact that his old self, the epitome of a Pharisee, who had gleefully hunted and killed Christians, no longer existed?

Acts 9:20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 

Did he feel any guilt at all about his prior behavior? I think I would have been eaten up with guilt, as pointless as that would be. If the scales were gone from his eyes to the point that he truly understands Jesus, wouldn’t he have been so paralyzed with guilt for his previous actions that he would have been unable to move forward? How sad would that have been?

Acts 9:21 All 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?” 

Precious Savior, You know that I struggle with doubt, guilt, anger, and bitterness. Any one of those traits could have stopped Saul dead in his tracks, which would have been a huge loss since he was such a shining apostle for You. Help me not to beat myself up, help me not to waste precious resources being bitter or angry or feeling doubt or guilt. None of that will shine Your light. Help me to leave them all at Your feet. Amen.

Acts 9:22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

Have a blessed day.

Acts 9:13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 

Ananias’s comments here seem very bold to me. He basically asks God if He’s sure that Saul is the right one to use here. After all, Ananias has heard about Saul’s behavior, too. He’s a Pharisee of Pharisees. He has enthusiastically murdered people of the Way. I can practically feel Ananias’s incredulity: Seriously, God? This guy?

 Acts 9:14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

It makes me think of all the people we write off because they sin differently than we do. “God can’t possibly value this life because they… (fill-in-the-blank with a sin we would never even consider). Yet God chose as His instrument a murderous Pharisee on his way to persecute Christians. With love, God changed his heart, changed his name, changed his entire life.

Acts 9:15 But 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. 

Precious Savior, Forgive me when I write someone off because of something I deem unacceptable to You. In the words of the billboard I saw so very long ago, help me to “Just love everyone” and let You “sort them out later,” so that I don’t risk excluding the very instrument You are seeking. Help me. Amen.

Acts 9:16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 

Have a blessed day.

Acts 9:7a The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless;  

Talk about your life-altering moments. I know Saul had one, as truly he altered his life after this experience and went from being one of the chief prosecutors of Christ to being one of his biggest supporters, but I wonder if this experience changed the men traveling with Saul at all.

 Acts 9:7b …they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

They stood there. They heard the sound but did not see anyone. They stayed with Saul at least for a bit because they led him by the hand into Damascus. Did they stay with him through the entire experience? Were they changed by association? Were they as zealous as Saul in the beginning? Were their hearts softened as well?

Acts 9:8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 

Precious Savior, I have so many questions about those connected to Saul during this experience and how their lives may have been changed as a result of his Damascus Road experience. Thank You for an avid curiosity for Your word. Help me to draw closer to You with every breath. Amen.

Acts 9:9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.  

Have a blessed day.

Acts 9:5a “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

I have often said when it comes to making choices–especially big, scary, life choices–that I wish God would give me a big ole flashing neon sign that I can’t miss so that I would absolutely know the choice that keeps me in His will. I’m pretty sure that Saul’s Damascus Road experience is the equivalent of that prayer.

 Acts 9:5b “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 

But here’s what I find so interesting. Saul didn’t pray for flashing neon clarity. He didn’t even think he was out of God’s will. He relished the opportunity to persecute Christians, and he absolutely thought he was doing the right thing, and yet, when he is struck down, he pauses and pivots, asking only “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6 KJV).

Acts 9:6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Precious Savior, Thank You for the enthusiasm You have given me to embrace this life. When I am out of Your will, help me to see it, to know it, to have the strength and grace to say, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” so I can correct the issue. Amen.

Acts 9:7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.  

Have a blessed day.

Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest… 

The diction of verse 1 catches my attention this morning. Both meanwhile and still mean at the same time. Even though this is the first time in Acts 9, this is an action that had been occurring even during and at the same time as the events in Acts 8. Saul is described by one source as “a Pharisee of Pharisees.” He relished the ability to persecute Christians.

Acts 9:2 …and 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.  

And while it definitely seems like he enjoyed persecuting Christians, it seems pretty clear to me that prior to his Damascus road experience, he truly believed that persecuting Christians was the right thing to do, and he did it with passion and gusto until the Lord got his attention and helped him to see the light.

Acts 9:3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

Precious Savior, How often am I inadvertently Saul, so convinced that what I am doing is the right thing to do even when it is clearly not. I don’t want to pray for a Damascus road experience, Lord, but if I am out of Your will, please help me to see it, to know it, to correct it immediately. Amen.

Acts 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”  

Have a blessed day.