Acts 9 - Introduction

The Conversion Of A Persecutor Acts Nine

Those that stoned Stephen "laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul." Saul "made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." Not being content with persecuting Christians in Jerusalem Saul pursued Christians to Damascus. (Acts 9:1-3)

As Saul was approaching Damascus a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" He was told to go into Damascus and there he would be told what he must do. Saul was led blind into the city where he prayed for three days, neither eating nor drinking.

Jesus sent Ananias to restore Saul's sight and to tell him what he must do to be saved. He also told Saul that he was a chosen vessel with a great mission to the Gentiles. Saul's sight was restored and he was baptized to wash away his sins. He began immediately preaching that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. The Greek speaking Jews plotted to kill Saul. The disciples helped him escape from Damascus by letting him down by the wall in a basket.

Saul later went to Jerusalem where Barnabas spoke on his behalf. After that he was accepted by the brethren. But again the Jews sought to kill him. "When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus." Acts chapter nine closed with the accounts of two great miracles. First in Lydda, Peter healed Aeneas, a man that had been paralyzed for eight years. The second miracle took place in Joppa. A sister named Dorcas was raised from the dead. This "became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord."