Acts 9 Commentary
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Verse 4. There we have it: “…Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Paul is persecuting Jesus!
The risen Jesus orders Saul: “…go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Saul receives a vision concerning his own healing by the hand of Ananias. Ananias has a vision of his own. He is instructed to go and place his hand on Saul. The two visions are different. Saul’s vision is a movie confirming a future event. Ananias’ vision is a real-time interaction with Jesus in which the disciple receives instructions for Saul.
Ananias delivers the instructions of the LORD for Saul. Saul receives his sight at the laying of hands by Ananias. See how Jesus operates through His church (Ananias). The church should understand her role – never take on a healing mission unless you are sent. You are simply a tool. At the same time, never incorporate a healing company or ministry because you are simply a tool! There is a company already and the Holy Spirit runs it!
When you take off with the view of doing the job yourself or using the name of Jesus as a tool for healing, you will have failed an obedience test. Everything after this is false worship – reducing Jesus to a mere means rather than the source and the end at the same time.
And why Ananias? Couldn’t Jesus finish the work He started when He physically interrupted Saul’s evil mission? The LORD Jesus operates through His church (His children, the disciples). And the LORD communicates through direct interactions, visions, and through other disciples (His Church).
There is Ananias and then Barnabas. We also have the disciples who lower him in a basket for his safety. Others would take “him down to Caesarea” and send him off to Tarsus. Again, for his safety. The Body of Christ is fully involved in Saul’s life. It is the brotherhood of love and care. Jesus has provided for His servant through the Church.
And why Saul? We cannot answer for the sovereign LORD regarding His choices but we can speculate. Saul is a readymade weapon. The LORD prepared him for this moment long before he knew it. His education and zeal aren’t for nothing. No wonder Saul is commissioned immediately! But he is gravely sinful! It is a bad choice, so we think. We are all bad choices! We all hear the same voice of Jesus.
There is no blinding light as for Saul. We have a gentle knock on our hearts. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3 verse 20.
Saul responds with reverence: “Who are you, Lord?” Who are you, Master? He places himself in the position of the slave who is willing to obey and take instructions. Hitherto, Saul was armed with letters of authority from the High Priest to persecute the believers. He has a new Master now. He will be armed with authority from Jesus to serve the Body of Christ and preach the gospel far and wide. We shall read all about his new set of letters! The next book is one of them!
Jesus is operating at a different level now. No longer restricted by space and time, the Holy Spirit is at work in several places through the disciples. This volume hasn’t presented these events in a sequence. Peter had his own mission as he “traveled about the country”. Aeneas is healed by Jesus through Peter in Lydda. Many turn to the LORD. They turn to the one who heals – Jesus.
Tabitha has a special ministry. The Holy Spirit works in her through generosity. Generosity isn’t a department many churches have, but we can clearly see the need for it as we see many needy people in the church today – including widows and the elderly.
See how the Spirit worked in individuals without certificates, ordinations, functions, seminary training, charity institutions…
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