Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Acts 9

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

Acts 9:¹ Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

Acts 9:² and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• Damascus: Documented as the oldest city in the world overseeing kingdoms that would rise and pass away from before her eyes. Also prophesied to be utterly destroyed at the end of days.
  
  • Isaiah 17:11b But the harvest will be a heap of ruins
    In the day of grief and desperate sorrow. (During the Seven Year Tribulation)

Acts 9:³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

Acts 9:⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Acts 9:⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

• The Question of all centuries. If you cannot answer that He was born of a virgin through the Holy Spirit as the Son of God…you need to rethink.
• Matthew 12:31 – The Unpardonable Sin – “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

Acts 9:⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Acts 9:⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

Acts 9:⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

• He was blinded…in order to “see”.

Acts 9:⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

• The number seven is often broken down in scripture into 3-1-3 totaling seven where the “1” is always found in the middle and it always has a connection to Jesus (or the mimic messiah). It seems to be introduced, then followed by the pinnacle of 1, then the wrap-up of 3 again. The menorah has 7 branches. Three on the left, one in the middle, and three on the right. However, whenever there is a “three” mentioned with nothing more added it seems to be saying there is something incomplete and lacking or more to be added.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

 Acts 9:¹⁰ Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

Acts 9:¹¹ So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.

Acts 9:¹² And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

Acts 9:¹³ Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm (bad things) he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

Acts 9:¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

Acts 9:¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children (Literally: sons) of Israel.

Acts 9:¹⁶ For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

• Take Up the Cross and Follow Me!
• Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily (every single DAY!), and follow Me. Luke 9:23

Acts 9:¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 9:¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

• Saul was baptized giving up his old life to serve God. He was born by the Water and the Blood. He was chosen to serve. He was “Born Again”.

Acts 9:¹⁹ So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Saul Preaches Christ

Acts 9:²⁰ Immediately he preached (Jesus) the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Acts 9:²¹ Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

Acts 9:²² But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Saul Escapes Death

Acts 9:²³ Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.

Acts 9:²⁴ But their plot became known to Saul. And they (in Damascus) watched the gates day and night, to kill him.

Acts 9:²⁵ Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

Saul at Jerusalem

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.

Acts 9:²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:²⁸ So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.

Acts 9:²⁹ And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, (Greek-speaking Jews) but they attempted to kill him.

Acts 9:³⁰ When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

The Church Prospers

Acts 9:³¹ Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified (built up). And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

Aeneas Healed

Acts 9:³² Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.

Acts 9:³³ There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.

Acts 9:³⁴ And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.

Acts 9:³⁵ So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

Acts 9:³⁶ At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (Literally, in Aram., Gazelle), which is translated (Literally in Greek, Gazelle) Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.

Acts 9:³⁷ But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

Acts 9:³⁸ And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

Acts 9:³⁹ Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Acts 9:⁴⁰ But Peter put them all out, and knelt 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.

Acts 9:⁴¹ Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Acts 9:⁴² And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

Acts 9:⁴³ So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.

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