Acts 9
As the disciples scattered away from Jerusalem, the apostles remained behind. Now, it was time for God to choose someone to go to the Gentiles (i.e. the rest of the world) in a big way and if it were up to you and me, we would certainly have not gone with God’s choice!
But God knows the hearts of man and His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours… and in today’s chapter, we read the first recounting of the choosing of Paul. This incident was so important that it was repeated 3 times in the Bible. And I always wondered why would Luke do that? Maybe you can share with me why?
But let’s read the passage first…
Bible Passage: Acts 9
I always wondered how it would be like and what would it feel like if I had been converted instead of being born into a Christian family in our Church.
The spectacular confrontation that Paul had with Jesus radically altered his life. He received both a conversion and a commission. Through Ananias, the Lord told Saul that he would take the Good News to Gentiles, kings, and the people of Israel. But it was not all glory and honour… he was also to suffer greatly for Jesus. But before all this was possible, he had to receive power from God – the Holy Spirit.
Over my many years in church, I have heard and seen for myself the many members who have been brought to church and then were baptised. And a number of them, because they responded to their conversion immensely by being very active in serving God. Some of their conversion stories are very encouraging and dramatic – and in the past, I had often wished that I also had a direct ‘calling’ from God so that I will similarly be inspired in my life as a Christian to serve Jesus faithfully.
But I realised this….
No matter whether we have been called to believe in the Lord when we are older or we were born into the Christian family and baptised as an infant – each of us will have ….
A Change and A Charge
A Change refers to the conversion of a Gentile who believes and is baptised. It also refers to a church member who was baptised as an infant but later develops his or her own personal faith in the Lord.
With each Change that the Lord brings – He has also given a Charge.
A Charge to go into all the world to be His witnesses. A Charge to love God and man. A Charge to look after the sheep of the Lord.
So as I read today’s passage, these thoughts came to mind.
Has the Change that has come into our lives inspired us to respond the Charge that has been given to us?
Paul indeed responded to his Change by carrying out his Charge with faithfulness, love and diligence.
What about us?
It is possible for us to think so much about the blessings of our conversion (Change) so much that we forget all about our commission (Charge).
All Christians are called to be Christ’s witnesses – a task that involves risk and suffering. Suffering for Christ is basic to faith (cf. 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Pet 4:12-16).
All Christians are called to care for fellow members – a task that involves lots of effort, patience and compassion.
All Christians are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and might. And our neighbour as ourselves.
We all have had a Change. But has that Change made us carry out our Charge?
Something to think about before the Holy Communion tomorrow.
3 Comments
Treasureinearthenvessel
Chapter 9 gave me many many food for thoughts.
From Ananias’ reluctance to go to Saul (Paul) but subsequently obeying God, to Paul starting his ministry and actually fleeing twice in this chapter alone, to Barnabas’ kind action of receiving Paul when nobody else believed he has changed, to the church seemingly enjoying peace and edification after Paul was sent away (am I right to read it chronologically?), to the widows showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while alive, suggesting that one’s good deeds will be remembered even after one has passed on.
Wow. (: do you also have any thoughts about the above?
However, can anyone enlighten me on the journey of Paul since his conversion? I understand that he “did not immediately confer with flesh and blood” (Galatians 1:16) and that he did not go up to Jerusalem but went to Arabia and then to Damascus again. My study bible stated this period from Acts 9:1-25.
Does this mean that in Acts 9:26, when it is recorded that Paul came to Jerusalem, it was not immediately after he had escaped through the wall in a large basket at Damascus, but after three years (Galatians 1:18)?
Can someone confirm with me if I am right?
Because if that is the case, then after three years, the disciples were still not able to accept Paul immediately! And, after three years, Paul still had to be sent away because of those who were attempting to kill him. Can you imagine the burning zeal he must have had within him, having had the direct revelation from Jesus, yet nothing seem to be working out right for him at the start? What was the lesson that Jesus wants him to learn?
biblereadingcompanion
Yes… one can find so many lessons and thoughts on just this chapter alone and if I were to get started (again), I am afraid you would all have to wade through another long comment… so I will spare you all 🙂
But just to address your question about the time frame of when Paul came back to Jerusalem. As you rightly pointed out, according to Galatians 1:17-18, Paul left Damascus and traveled to Arabia, where he lived for 3 years. This was when he received directly from the Lord Jesus many teachings which he was to expound upon later.
It is unclear whether his 3 year stay occurred between verses 22 and 23, or between verses 25 and 26.
Some commentators say that “many days” could mean a long period of time. They suggest that when Paul returned to Damascus, the governor ordered his arrest (2 Cor 11:32) in an effort to keep the peace among influential Jews.
The other possibility is that Paul’s night escape occurred during his first stay in Damascus just after his conversion. This sounds plausible as the Pharisees were greatly upset about his defection over to the ‘other side’. He then fled so that there could be a ‘cooling off’ period for the Jewish religious leaders.
No doubt about it, the 3 years was well spent alone with God.
Regardless of which theory is correct, there is a period of at least 3 years between Paul’s conversion and his trip to Jerusalem (9:2).
Which brings me to the very interesting point that Treasureinearthenvessel highlighted:
After 3 years away and learning much from Jesus… Paul was all eager to start and yet…. the disciples were still wary of him and did not accept him. And he knew that his former associates would shun him.
What lessons did Jesus want him to learn? What about for me today?
I am sure you may find your own lessons to this question. For me, one of the pivotal “buts” of Acts introduces God’s lesson for me (Acts 9:27).
“But Barnabas…”
Barnabas advocated for Saul and became the bridge between Saul and the apostles.
The risk that Barnabas took was immense. But he was a follower of Christ – preaching a message and faith based on love. Risking belief in others, possibly at the expense of our own reputations, is one expression of love.
There Gospel is not just for the popular and the praised but also for the feared and despised as well.
When we look around us, do we see some fellow brethren with ‘tarnished’ reputations? Or maybe we are one of them?
We need to be like Barnabas to come alongside those brethren and encourage, teach and introduce them to other believers. We all need people to believe in us and help us start again… after we have fallen short of God’s work and standards in the past.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” ~ Rom 8:28
It might all be very frustrating, disappointing, discouraging etc for Paul when he first came back to Jerusalem… and it can be the same for us if we are in a similar situation.
But all this is to serve a purpose. This is a good lesson for me to think about and find ways that I can be a Barnabas to my fellow brethren.
For Paul, I believe this was was the lesson which he also learned. Having experienced directly the love and encouragement of Barnabas in this act of taking Paul under his wing, I would like to think that this helped shaped Paul in his ministry from henceforth. If you read the rest of Acts and his epistles, you will find that although Paul can be very tough on the members, this was always accompanied with much love and encouragement. Pretty much what Barnabas displayed also.
A good goal to have to start the week 🙂
PS
Acts 9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
May the benefit of doubt be given to the disciples. Nearly 2000 years ago, communication was not as easy and efficient as now. The disciples whom Saul first came into contact might be simple general believers who simply were unaware of his conversion, ie baptism per say. Barnabas, who although was not one of the 7, might be better informed than them (he was close to the apostles enough for them to give him a name, Son of Encouragement, Acts 4:36).
It was interesting to note that Barnabas brought Saul to see an apostle (namely James, as in Gal 1:19), instead of attempting to make them accept Saul. Barnabas was really a good relationship-manager.
Added my childish imagination, 3 years ago, Ananias reported to Jerusalem that he had baptized Saul, the previous persecutor of the followers of the way, in Damascus and that Saul, this new brethren, amazed many (both brethren and opposing Jews) as he was writing the report, was already increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ (Acts 9:22). And Barnabas was aware of this miraculous conversion.
The happy ending: after the introduction of Saul to James by Barnabas, Saul was quickly accepted into the big family (Acts 9:28)
i too think that there was a gap of 3 years between Acts 9:25 and Acts 9:26.
But what biblereadingcompanion shared about Acts 9:22 and 23 is also reasonable bec by the time Saul left Damascus, Saul already had some followers if Acts 9:25 of the chinese bible and RSV is taken literally.