THE BOOK OF ACTS. CHAPTER. OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 9: I. Saul's conversion and early preaching: Acts 9:1-31 A. His encounter with Jesus: Acts 9:1-6 B. The humbled persecutor: Acts 9:7-9 C. The message to Ananias: Acts 9:10-16 D. His baptism: Acts 9:17-19 E.... [ Continue Reading ]
"But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest"But Saul" "His attitude and conduct is put in contrast to that of Philip by the conjunction but" (Boles p. 140). "Yet breathing" "He had not changed since Stephen's death; he was still in... [ Continue Reading ]
"and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem"Damascus" In 64 B.C., this city had become part of the Roman province of Syria. Reputed to be one of the oldest continually occupied citi... [ Continue Reading ]
"And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him. light out of heaven"And as he journeyed" The distance from Jerusalem to Damascus was about 150 miles and would have probably taken. week. "We are not told the method of travel Paul used i... [ Continue Reading ]
"and he fell upon the earth, and heard. voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"He fell upon the earth" The text does not say that he fell off his horse,. popular corruption of this account found among some denominational writers. "Heard. voice" In the Hebrew dialect (Acts 26:14)... [ Continue Reading ]
"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said,. am Jesus whom thou persecutest"Who art thou, Lord?" At this point the word Lord probably means "sir", because Jesus has not yet fully revealed Himself. "Paul seems to be saying, 'Whose voice do. hear?' 'Who is speaking to me?'" (Reese p. 353). "I am Je... [ Continue Reading ]
"but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do"But rise" Saul had asked the question, "What shall. do, Lord?" (Acts 22:10). Notice that Jesus does not endorse the doctrine of faith only. He does not respond, "There is nothing you can do, salvation is solely of grace... [ Continue Reading ]
"And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man"The men" Possibly Jewish or Roman soldiers. "Stood speechless" "Denotes those who are so astonished or stupefied as to be unable to speak" (Reese p. 354). These men had also been knocked to the ground by t... [ Continue Reading ]
"And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus"He saw nothing" He found himself blinded (Acts 22:11). "Led him by the hand" "He who had expected to enter Damascus in the fullness of his pride and prowess, as.... [ Continue Reading ]
"And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink"Three days without sight" Evidently his companions had brought him to the place where arrangements had been made for him to stay. "Did neither eat nor drink" Imagine all the thoughts racing through Saul's mind at this time, and all... [ Continue Reading ]
"Now there was. certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in. vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold,. am here, Lord" From the text it appears that Ananias had come to Damascus before persecution had hit the church in Jerusalem (Acts 9:13). The name Ananias means "God is... [ Continue Reading ]
"And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul,. man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth" "So called from its running in. direct line from the eastern to the western gate of the city" (Vincent p. 492). At this poi... [ Continue Reading ]
"and he hath seen. man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight" God has given some comfort to Saul--showing him that an end to his blindness is in sight. Evidently, the apostles at some point in the past had laid their hands on Ananias (Acts 8:18). This... [ Continue Reading ]
"But Ananias answered, Lord,. have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem" This indicates that Ananias had never met Saul, and that he had been in Damascus when the persecution erupted in Acts 8:1. This also infers that Saul had gained for himself quite. reputat... [ Continue Reading ]
"and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name" Evidently news had quickly spread to Damascus that Saul was on his way to persecute Christians in that city. Possibly the apostles had sent Christians ahead of Saul to warn the brethren in Damascus of the coming... [ Continue Reading ]
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is. chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel" "Go thy way" McGarvey notes, "Ananias found, as all others have who have ventured to argue against. command of the Lord, that he listens to no such ar... [ Continue Reading ]
"for. will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake" "As if Christ were assuring Ananias that Saul would not inflict suffering upon others, but. will show him how much he must suffer" (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 237). And Paul did suffer (2 Corinthians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 11:23).... [ Continue Reading ]
"And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit"Brother Saul" Seeing that Saul was not. C... [ Continue Reading ]
"And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized" "As it were scales" "Luke does not say that actual scales came off his eyes, but that it felt to Paul like something was peeled off his eyes" (Reese p. 361). "Medical writers use th... [ Continue Reading ]
"and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus" God understands the importance of both our physical and spiritual well-being (3 John 1:2). This infers that not until after he was baptized did Saul understand that his sins would be removed. "T... [ Continue Reading ]
"And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that He is the Son of God" Note the plural, many synagogues existed in Damascus. It is easy to overlook all that is taking place in the above verse. The great opponent of Christianity, who had come to Damascus with authoritative letters from th... [ Continue Reading ]
"And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests. But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at... [ Continue Reading ]
"And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him"When many days were fulfilled" "A considerable number of days were being fulfilled" (Rhm). This expression can also refer to. number of years (1 Kings 2:38). The above expression seems to be the most logical place to fit... [ Continue Reading ]
"but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him" "His enemies suspected that one day Paul would attempt to leave the city through one of these gates; so they stationed guards at the gates to intercept him" (Reese p. 365). The former "hunte... [ Continue Reading ]
"but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in. basket"His disciples" Not in the sense of his own personal followers, an idea that Paul clearly opposed (1 Corinthians 1:12), but rather those he had taught. Houses were built on the city wall and the windows w... [ Continue Reading ]
"And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was. disciple"He assayed to join himself to the disciples" "Was trying to associate with the disciples" (NASV). "Made several attempts to associate with the discipl... [ Continue Reading ]
"But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus"But Barnabas took him" "He may have sought an interview with Saul, or the latter, having... [ Continue Reading ]
"And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem" For 15 days he was with them (Galatians 1:18). "He moved about freely and fearlessly in and out of houses in the city" (Bruce p. 207).... [ Continue Reading ]
"preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were seeking to kill him" "Paul appears to be right in the same synagogue where he before had debated with Stephen" (Reese p. 367) (Acts 6:9). "It appears then that Saul took up the work which Ste... [ Continue Reading ]
"And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus"Caesarea" (sees uh REE uh). Located 65 miles from Jerusalem on the Mediterranean, this was the major seaport in the region, from this point Paul could journey to Tarsus by land or sea. In addition, it was... [ Continue Reading ]
"So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied"Had peace" The church enjoyed peace for the first time since the death of Stephen. At least two things contributed to this... [ Continue Reading ]
forms transition into chapter 10. Thus we are given the sequence of events that led to Peter being found at Joppa. "Luke is now about to show how Peter opened the gates of the kingdom for their (the Gentiles) admission; and he approaches the subject by recounting the labors which led Peter to the sp... [ Continue Reading ]
"And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda"Peter" Who was last mentioned in Acts 8:25. "Went throughout all parts" The territory mentioned in Acts 9:31, that being Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. Evidently Peter has been visiting and st... [ Continue Reading ]
"And there he found. certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years; for he was palsied"A certain man". real person. "Aeneas" (ee NEE us). "Kept his bed" "Bed-ridden for eight years with paralysis" (TCNT).... [ Continue Reading ]
"And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise and make thy bed. And straightway he arose" "Peter knew that he could not overcome disease and death by his own authority and power" (Stott p. 183). "He was commanded to get up from the pallet, and take care of it in the manner in wh... [ Continue Reading ]
"And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord"Sharon" "Was the coastal plain, about 30 miles long extending from Mt. Carmel on the North to Joppa on the South" (Reese pp. 372-373). "Turned to the Lord" Inferring this man who was healed was well-known to the inhabita... [ Continue Reading ]
"Now there was at Joppa. certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did" "Joppa" Located on the Mediterranean, about 30 miles south of Caesarea, and about 35 miles NW of Jerusalem. Prior to the building of Caesa... [ Continue Reading ]
"And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber" It was customary to wash the body before burial, and the upper chamber was much more quiet and private than. room on the ground floor.... [ Continue Reading ]
"And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, Delay not to come on unto us" The towns were about 10-12 miles apart. 'A walk of three hours brought the two men with their sad message to Peter.' (McGarvey p. 194)... [ Continue Reading ]
"And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them" Nothing in the text reveals whether Dorcas was also. widow. McGarvey notes, "Her... [ Continue Reading ]
"But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up" As Jesus had done years previously at the house of Jarius (Luke 8:54), Peter removed all the bystanders. "Tabitha, arise" Note th... [ Continue Reading ]
"And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive" Consider the restraint of the Biblical writers. How much more could have been written!... [ Continue Reading ]
"And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord" Again, the purpose for the miracles was to confirm the truthfulness of the gospel message.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore Stand. pp. 413,414. Acts 9:1 Bakers Bible Atlas p. 202... [ Continue Reading ]