#1565 Acts 9 Part 1 Blinded To See

 

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he was traveling, it happened that when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but rise up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 7 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.  Acts 9: 1- 9 LSB

Acts 9: 1-9

V. 1. Now Saul - This is the man who was present and gave approval to the stoning of Stephen. He is a highly educated Pharisee and very zealous about the law. Christianity is blowing up, he is probably witnessing people he knows turn to Christ, and he is coming off of the very brutal stoning of Stephen, and is left wanting more of the same. Men in their zeal can justify much, especially when they think they are on the right side of history. 

…4though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.…

7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.… Philippians 3: 4-9

V. 2 Letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus - Synagogues are places within each city, where you have a local population of practicing Jews, who gather to meet for reading from the Torah. Saul wants a letter from the high priest to go to these places and remove those who are calling Jesus the Messiah. Now some may think that it is disrespectful of these Christians to be teaching there, but these are Jews who have rightly accepted the Messiah Who they are reading about. Saul, in his unbelief, wants to punish them as heretics. 

Utley on letters - The Roman government had given limited authority to the Sanhedrin to conduct and control events in the synagogues or related to Jewish life in the Empire (cf. 1 Macc. 15:16–21 or Josephus, Antiq. 14:10:2). Judaism was a recognized, legal religion of the Greco-Roman world. Apparently these were letters of extradition for the Jewish Christians who had fled Jerusalem in the face of the Jewish persecution (cf. Acts 9:14, 21; 22:5; 26:10).

And asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus - It is fascinating that Saul's action illustrates the saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," because here we see Saul, a Pharisee, asking for letters from a Sadducee (probably Caiaphas)! Stated another way, their common hatred of Jesus made them "strange bedfellows!" - PA

Marty notes that "The designation of believers as belonging to the Way referred to a distinctive moral and spiritual way of life. Significantly, this is in contrast to Jewish “halacha,” a Hebrew term meaning “the way of walking,” used of rabbinic explanations and applications of Mosaic law. Instead of following “halacha,” these believers follow the way of the Messiah." (Borrow Moody Bible Commentary page 1692)

The opponents of the Way often referred to them as members of “the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5, cf Acts 24:14 "the Way which they call a sect"; Acts 28:22 = "concerning this sect"). Notice how they would generally avoid using the Name Jesus or Christ. Instead in this case they use Nazarene in a derogatory sense, for this name was repeatedly linked with Jesus in the NT - (Mt. 2:23; 26:71; Lk 18:37; Jn 18:5, 7; 19:19; Acts 2:22; 3:6; Acts 4:10; 6:14; 22:8; 26:9)

Notice that the Greek is very specific here - Luke says not "a Way" but "the Way." Christianity is not one of many ways to God but is "the way," the only way! Proverbs describes the approach of most people in the world declaring "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Pr 14:12). Jesus made it clear that He alone was the way (cf Acts 4:12) when He declared “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; (absolutely) no one comes to the Father but through Me." (Jn 14:6). Even the demon possessed girl knew that Paul and Silas were proclaiming "the way of salvation." (Acts 16:17). In Acts 18:25 Apollos "had been instructed in the way of the Lord." - Precept Austin

Vs. 3-4 Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me - Christ is at the right hand of the Father, Saul can't touch Him, yet Jesus describes what Saul is doing to His sheep quite personally. This should give us great pause before we run our mouths, before we disrespect our parents, slander one of our brothers and sisters in Christ, or take advantage of their kindness or generosity. Whatever you do to one of Christ's slaves you do to their Master, that is Who takes up the account. I said horrible things about John Macarthur when I was young; I disrespected my mother who tried to teach us in the Way. It is quite merciful to receive any number of earthly confrontations and discipline that would bring us aright, for it is truly a terrible thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. I think it is fair to say that we should actually feel distress for the one who is in the wrong. 

…18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”… Romans 12: 18-20

John MacArthur has a helpful note on why Saul would be going to Damascus - There were probably 150,000 minimum people in Damascus. At least 20,000 were Jews. We know that because it wasn't too long after this that Damascus was sacked and about 20,000 Jews were massacred (ED: Robertson says Nero killed 10,000, Longenecker above quotes Josephus at 10,000 and 18,000). So there had to be at least that many there. So there's a Jewish community in this place called Damascus. Another note that you need to understand. Christianity, in its original context, stayed within the framework of the synagogue. (ED: WHICH IS WHY THERE WERE "letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus" Acts 9:2) You remember that in Jerusalem, when the Jews were getting saved, they didn't necessarily leave the synagogue. You'll also remember that when Paul went to the Christians in various towns on his missionary journeys, where did he always go? To the synagogue. Because, in many cases, the Christians had not yet separated themselves from the synagogue. Christianity began in the synagogue and went from there. So in every area it began with a group of Jews who then saw the new covenant and moved away from that, but they didn't necessarily move out of the synagogue. That was a problem and that is the problem on which the Book of Hebrews is based, the fact that you had Jews who had come to Christ but who maintained their involvement in all of the rigmarole of the Jewish synagogue. And so that was why the Book of Hebrews was written....to detach the Christians from the traditions that were so much a part of their former life.

And suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him - In Acts 22:6 Paul describes the light from heaven as "a very bright light suddenly (exaiphnes) flashed from heaven all around me." This light was "brighter than the sun" and was "shining all around" Saul (Acts 26:13).

…39When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ 41Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.… Matthew 25: 39-41

V. 5 I am Jesus whom you are persecuting - Some have tried to say that this is a hallucination born of his guilt over killing Christians, but that isn't rational. It says he was still breathing threats and murder in verse 1. This is not a man grieving over his past actions, but someone who feels totally in the right and now has the paperwork to see it through. He is a man of action, and he wants to destroy what he sees as a cult. He hates Jesus and he hates His followers, but now this same Jesus is introducing Himself to him. It's great to be zealous, determined, driven, but not against God, not against His people. There are many people in the world who hold convictions and are sincere about what they believe, but if it goes against God, it's wrong, especially when you do it in His name. This is God being gracious, this is a vision of the void between us and Him, that we think our way is right when we are actually heading towards our destruction. 

…11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 2: 11-12

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. 13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. 14And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.… 1 Timothy 1: 12-14

Vs. 6-7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless - A shared hallucination? They couldn't see either but they could hear the voice. 

…6His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. 7Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves. 8So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.… Daniel 10: 6-8

Matthew Henry comments "Thus those who came to this place to be the instruments of Paul's rage against the Church (will in effect now) serve as witnesses of the power of God over him." One can just imagine the story these men would give the high priest and Sanhedrin when they returned to Jerusalem! You would think these religious leaders had seen sufficient supernatural signs clearly pointing to the hand of God and that this would shake them to their senses. But when men are hardened to the Gospel, only the Spirit can break through their calloused hearts, not supernatural signs and wonders.

Everett Harrison relates to story of Polycarp's martyrdom - Now when Polycarp entered into the arena there came a voice from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.” And no one saw the speaker, but our friends who were there heard the voice. - Precept Austin

Vs. 8-9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank - A glorious picture of salvation, being headed in a way that seemed right to him, but then completely turned around. The one that thought he could see so well, blinded by the light, like a man staring into the sun. I suppose he didn't want to eat, like a fast, praying and talking to God in a way he had not previously known. He can actually see now too, spiritually, he knows the truth, Jesus is the Son of God. He was so strong, so confident, now he must be led by the hand, dependent, shaken and vulnerable. 

Swindoll suggests that "According to Saul’s recollection of this entire episode before Agrippa, he spent those three days in communication with the Lord. Saul summarized what he heard during those three days in Acts 26:16-18 (see chart on the facing page). During that time, he also received a vision reassuring him that he would regain his sight through the ministry of a Christian in Damascus (Acts 9:12)." (See Insights on Acts)