Acts 9: 20-22 Saul Preaches at Damascus
“Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts 9:23-25 The Escape from Damascus
“After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.”
Acts 9:26-30 Saul in Jerusalem
“When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.”
What do you do with an evil sinner whom God has transformed gloriously into a vibrant and outspoken saint? Although the believers in Damascus have rejoiced at the news of Saul’s conversion, Saul is now giving them almost as many problems as he was before he converted! Saul is one of these guys who NEVER shies away from an argument or a confrontation. As a brilliant scholar, Saul is well versed in the traditional Jewish methods of debating over religious points. Previously, Saul was intent on punishing anyone daring to promulgate the Christian heresy; now Saul has become its greatest proponent. And Saul has a talent for showing up in the most public places and humiliating anyone who tries to disprove him. The news of Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus has also spread throughout the city, leaving people in awe. Many of the common people fear Saul; after all, if God has really chosen this man, do they want to fight God?
“But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.” Hitherto, the Jewish scholars in Damascus have been basking in public acclaim and have paraded themselves as experts. Now Saul appears and destroys all the well-constructed arguments on which these leaders have built their reputations. The Jewish religious leaders are not only confounded, but also infuriated. How can Saul be eliminated? While spies watch the gates, Saul remains in someone’s home. One night, those who have already become Saul’s disciples open a window on the city wall and lower him in a basket.
Saul makes his way to Jerusalem, where he attempts to join other believers. But all these people remember about Saul is how he watched the cloaks of those who stoned Stephen. This guy is bad news, so why mess with him? Has this man really changed, or is this a ruse to entice believers to come out of hiding so that he can arrest them? Only when Barnabas intervenes and describes Saul’s conversion do church leaders begin to trust Saul. But now there’s another problem, the same one that cropped up in Damascus. Bluntly speaking, SAUL WON’T STOP TALKING!
While many believers in Jerusalem have been trying to keep a low profile in hopes of avoiding persecution, Saul revels in confrontation. When Saul confronts the Grecian Jews (likely in their own language) and refutes all their arguments, these men become so infuriated that they too are prepared to kill Saul. With no other choices left, church leaders send Saul to the port of Caesarea on the coast and get him on a ship for Tarsus, his home town. It’s quite possible that believers in Jerusalem might even take up a collection to pay Saul’s fare, just to get him out of town.
Who is right, church leaders in Jerusalem, or Saul? The church leaders are trying to have a nice quiet ministry, worshiping, praying for people, carrying out charitable works, and witnessing where they will not attract undue attention. Why does God send Saul to Jerusalem? Bluntly speaking, things are becoming too comfortable in Jerusalem, and God wants to shake things up. You can’t worship someone who has died a violent, shameful death and has then risen from the dead without having to speak radically.
Jesus has never avoided controversy in his preaching and this is not the time for his followers to start. Before Jesus ascended, he told his disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Nowhere in Jesus’ instructions does he order his followers to hide and to avoid confrontation. Jesus is the one who drove the money changers and sellers of animals out of the temple in Jerusalem. Now God is using this fiery new convert, Saul, to shake up a group that is already becoming complacent and perhaps looking inward too much.
Encountering people like Saul can be very upsetting! We may feel that our lives are well-ordered and our ministries progressing well, only to have some new convert who’s on fire for the Lord embarrass us with their zeal. Our response to such people will indicate our personal zeal for the Lord. If we truly love the Lord, we will be inspired; however, if our passions have become cold, we will feel irritated or even threatened. Eventually, the church leaders in Jerusalem put Saul on a ship back to his home town so that he will stop drawing unwanted attention to the church in Jerusalem.
What is our response when we encounter someone whose zeal is glowing while ours is faltering? Are we inspired or irritated? Do we try to catch some of the fire or do we try to get them to go somewhere else to bother people? When speaking to the Church at Ephesus, Jesus warns them, “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:1-5)
May God help us so that we will be inspired and not merely agitated! May our love for God grow exponentially so that God will not have to reprove us for leaving our first love!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to be inspired by new believers and not irritated. Help us to encourage new believers and not to stifle them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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