Year 2, Week 41, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 41, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Acts 9-10.

Today’s reading continues with the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts is a selective history of the early church, which demonstrates how Jesus, by the Spirit, empowers His followers to continue His work. While the Book of Acts traces the early history of the church in general, eventually, as the history unfolds, there will be a strong focus on the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Acts 9 describes the conversion of Paul, but it first reminds us of Paul’s role as a persecutor of the church: “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2). Later Paul will provide more information about his zeal to persecute the church to the point where he would imprison, torture, and even seek the death of Christians (see Acts 26:10-11). But things are about to change for Paul. Acts 10 records Peter’s involvement in the conversion of an officer in the Roman army: “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God” (Acts 10:1-2). Cornelius was a man who greatly respected the one true God that Israel worshipped, but had never gone through the ritual of circumcision to become a Jew. Thus, as Gentile, Peter will come to see that the Gospel is for all people: “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35).  In a great challenge to a church that was mostly Jewish, the conversion of Cornelius was a surprising moment: “And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles” (Acts 10:45).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the unique way that Paul was converted to Christianity: “Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do” (Acts 9:3-6). The conversion of Paul is an important moment in the early church. Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road is a special, supernatural, divine event. It is not a typical conversion story, nor is it repeated with others in Acts (although Acts 22, 26, as well as Galatians 1, each describe the events surrounding Paul’s conversion, adding more details). Saul/Paul encounters the true revelation of Yahweh in Jesus of Nazareth, and his conversion is directly connected to his apostolic call.

Acts 9 does not explicitly say that Paul was converted on the Damascus Road, but it describes a conversion experience. In Galatians, Paul would refer to his former way of life in reference to what happened on the journey to Damascus: “For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13); as well as His new direction in life: "But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles” (Galatians 1:15-16). However, if conversion means a change from one view of life to another, abandoning a former sinful way of life, and turning to a different life with new values, goals, and fundamental beliefs, then no other term better describes what occurred with Paul. When anyone comes to Christ, it is a radical event, but certainly the description of Paul’s conversion is a uniquely radical event that leaves Paul stunned: “Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (Acts 9:8-9). Even Ananias, whom Jesus prepared to assist Paul, was skeptical of Paul’s conversion: “And the Lord said to him, “Rise and…look for a man of Tarsus named Saul…But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name” (Acts 9:11-14). Ananias does as Jesus instructed: “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17).

What is also somewhat unique in reference to Paul’s conversion is the near immediate role that Paul begins playing in proclaiming the Gospel that He just embraced: “And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ” (Act 9:20-22). Certainly, Paul’s training and background in the Old Testament Scriptures provided some important prior preparation for Paul being about to preach Christ, but the Lord was pleased to thrust Paul into the ministry immediately. And in so doing, hostility to Paul emerged immediately: “When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him” (Acts 9:23-24). Paul would escape for now.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe