Acts 9:20-25

Saul's Ministry in Damascus (9:20-25).

With his usual enthusiasm Saul could not wait to get to grips with those who had once been his supporters, and it was not long before he was in the synagogues proclaiming the Good News which had so profoundly affected him. Thus began a ministry in the synagogues that amazed all as they recognised that this Jewish teacher who was proclaiming Christ was the same one who had persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem and had come to Damascus for the same purpose as the official representative of the High Priest. His ministry continued for some time although seemingly interrupted for a while by a visit to Arabia of unknown duration (Galatians 1:17), possibly because of the feelings that he sensed were arising, or possibly because he felt in need of rest and thought (he had had a very busy period in his life) and to get back to the roots of his religion (Mount Sinai was seen as being in ‘Arabia' (Galatians 4:25). He then returned to Damascus and continued his ministry until at length such feelings were aroused that he had to escape in order to avoid martyrdom.

We cannot but recognise the irony of the situation. When Stephen saw the heavens opened and cried out concerning what he saw of the Lord Jesus, he was hauled off and stoned, and a severe young man watched over the coats and consented to his death. Now that same young man was declaring how he had seen the heavens opened, and what he had seen of the exalted Lord Jesus. No wonder that they were intending to martyr him too.

The description of Saul's ministry in Damascus is a part of Luke's ongoing description of the spread of the Good News since Pentecost. Saul's conversion is ‘the incident' and this ministry is the consequence (see introduction to chapter 2). It also represents one of the two ministries of Saul which come between Philip's and Peter's (see introduction to chapter 8). It is an essential and important part of the narrative.