Chapter Nine
Acts 9:1–2. But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest and asked him for letters to Damascus to the synagogues, so that if he found any following this teaching, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Explaining the frenzy of Paul – Saul, the future great apostle Paul – against the faithful and against the Church, Luke shows that he was carried away by impure zeal, because in him was fulfilled what Christ said: "Everyone who kills you will think that he is thereby serving God" (Jn. 16:2). Because he did not do this the way the other Jews did. God forbid! That he did this out of zeal is evident from the fact that he went even to the outlying cities, whereas the Jews paid no attention even to those in Jerusalem. They cared about one thing only, that is, about enjoying honors. Saul goes to Damascus because it was a great and ruling city, and he feared that this city might be carried away by the Christian preaching. He does not go with a request to the praetor, but goes to the high priest, because he intended to do everything lawfully.
"So that he might bring bound to Jerusalem any he found who were followers of this Way, both men and women." What does "followers of this Way" mean? Perhaps the believers called themselves this, since their faith alone was the one through which we ascend to heaven. Or perhaps Paul called them followers of this Way out of contempt and to mock them, because they commonly called a dishonorable person one who had "gone astray from the way." He sought authority not to punish the Christians on the spot, but to lead them to Jerusalem, because he wanted to act with greater authority.
Acts 9:3–9. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city; and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
The vision occurred not in the city, but on the road and in stillness, because the crowd would not have believed, but would only have laughed, just as in the case of Jesus Christ, those who heard the voice from heaven "said that it thundered" (Jn. 12:29). And Saul was worthy of belief, because he was recounting what had happened to him. So then, not in Jerusalem and not in Damascus, but on the road "suddenly a light shone around him," so that what happened to him others would not explain differently, but so that he himself would explain it, since he was worthy of belief, since he both saw the vision and endured the affliction. Paul says this also when defending himself before Agrippa (see Acts 26:12–18).
"Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute Me?" Christ does not say to him: "Believe!", but reproaches him, saying: "Why do you persecute Me?" He is almost saying: "What small or great thing have you suffered from Me, that you do this to Me?"
"I am Jesus, whom you persecute." This is said instead of "do not think that you are warring against men, but against Me, your Lord." Why was this appearance and admonition to Saul not made at the beginning? In order to show that Christ truly rose from the dead. For how would the persecutor of Him, who did not believe in His resurrection and was furiously pursuing the believers, have come to faith if the power of His resurrection were not great? And why not immediately after the resurrection? So that the enmity against the teaching of the resurrection would be more clearly revealed, and the change in Paul's way of thinking would appear more Divine.
"And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one." The light shines upon all who were with him, so that they might bear witness to this apparition, but it blinds not all of them, but only Paul alone, so that they would not think this was some common and seemingly accidental misfortune, but so that it would be revealed that this was entirely the work of Divine Providence. Why then did those who were with him not believe? So that they could be trustworthy witnesses of what happened to Paul. For if they had believed, it would have seemed that they were testifying out of partiality. And whose voice did those with Paul hear? The voice of Paul himself, when he was answering, while the heavenly voice was heard by him alone. This is why it says here: "The men… who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice," that is, the voice of Paul, "but seeing no one" to whom he was responding. Later, in Jerusalem, Paul recounted: Those who were "with me saw the light and were afraid; but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me" (Acts 22:9).
"Saul arose from the ground, and with his eyes open he saw no one." Paul's eyes suffered because an excess of light ordinarily acts painfully, since the eyes too have a limit. They also say that an excessive sound makes one deaf and insensible.
"And for three days he did not see, and did not eat, and did not drink." Why did he do this? Because he greatly repented of having persecuted the Church, and he grieved, and prayed, and besought God that this might be forgiven him.
Acts 9:10–16. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias! And he said: Here I am, Lord. And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for behold, he is praying, and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Your name. But the Lord said to him: Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake.
Why did Ananias, not being among the most memorable and well-known disciples of the Savior, receive the authority to catechize and heal Paul, who was destined to become such a great preacher of the Gospel? Because Paul was to be instructed in the truths of the faith not by a man, but by Christ Himself. Therefore Ananias baptized and healed him, but did not teach him anything. And that he was not among the very well-known is evident from his apprehension and fear, which is revealed by his words. He was so afraid of persecution from Paul that he was struck with terror and filled with horror when he merely heard his name from the Lord. He did not even pay attention to what was said next: that Saul "is praying," that he saw a vision, that he is blind, and that Ananias is being sent to him in order to do him a kindness and save him.
"He saw in a vision a man named Ananias," because he could not see in reality, since he was blind.
"Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all." How was this known to them? It was natural for those living in fear to inquire and find out what was being plotted against them. See what fear is like, because it did not allow the name "Paul" to reach his hearing, and he already says: "I am afraid that somehow he might lead me away to Jerusalem."
"Go, for he is My chosen vessel." Not only, he says, will he become a believer, but also a teacher, and he will have great boldness, "before nations and kings" and will stand before the Jews. By this the Lord encourages Ananias, and at the same time puts him to shame, as if saying: "If he raged so on account of Me and killed, and yet will endure all things, will you not even baptize him? Therefore I command you to go to him, because 'he is My chosen vessel' and will carry My name." Ananias, hearing that Paul was blind, rejoiced, and the meaning of his words was this: "That is good, leave him blind; why do You command me to open his eyes? So that he may again start binding people? Or so that he may again start punishing us?" To this the Lord says: "Not only will he do nothing terrible, but he will also endure much for My sake."
Acts 9:17–19. Ananias went and entered the house and, laying his hands on him, said: 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. And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and suddenly he regained his sight; and he arose and was baptized, and having taken food, he was strengthened. And Saul was several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Look how much obedience there was after the greatest fear. And so, these words of Ananias were spoken by him not out of unbelief, but out of fear and trembling.
"Brother Saul! The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were traveling, has sent me." He immediately acquaints him with the name of the Lord. And moreover, Christ did not say to Ananias, "I appeared to Saul," but said, "he has been instructed by the Spirit"; and indeed, Jesus Christ did not appear to him personally, but, of course, appeared through deeds and actions. He says "who appeared to you"; he did not say, "who blinded you and turned aside the reproach." He says, "has sent me." This is not my doing, he says. I am a servant of grace. Thus, they could not fabricate anything on their own.
"And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes." The scales fall off and show that the inflammation was severe and that the healing is beyond doubt.
"Having risen, he was baptized, and having taken food, he was strengthened," because his strength had weakened partly from the journey, partly from fear, partly from hunger, and partly from faintheartedness. Note that he did not venture to take food until he had received the great gifts.
Acts 9:20–22. And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. And all who heard were amazed and said: Is this not the same one who persecuted in Jerusalem those who called on this name? And he came here for the purpose of binding them and leading them to the chief priests. But Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
Paul does not say that Jesus is risen, that He is alive, but what? He immediately carefully proves that "He is the Son of God." He immediately became a teacher, because he was not ashamed that a change had occurred in him with regard to what had become clear to him.
"Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews." The Jews were confounded because the things he had been taught from the Law of Moses, he questioned them about as well. They thought that by getting rid of Stephen, they had rid themselves of these arguments too, but instead they found another disputant, more powerful than Stephen. He, proving this, taught and explained from those Scriptures which were known to them.
Acts 9:23–26. When many days had passed, the Jews agreed to kill him. But Saul learned of their plot. And they watched the gates day and night in order to kill him. But the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a basket. Saul came to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.