Comments on Acts 9 v1-9 Saul has had considerable success in persecuting the Christians in Jerusalem, and so seeks to extend this success to Damascus to the North. However, in the process of doing so he is confronted by the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ in a blinding light and questioned as to why he is persecuting Him. Saul is struck blind by the incident and subsequently has to be guided to Damascus, where he fasts for three days and nights. v5 "it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks", this phrase is omitted in almost all modern translations because of the lack of support among the Greek manuscripts. v7 The IV/JST alters this verse to make it conform to the later account of the same event in 22:9. Much is made of this apparent contradiction by foes of the Bible, but the differences are in fact not a contradiction at all. This account says they saw "no man" and the 22:9 account says they saw the light, not a contradiction. The IV/JST does clarify and indicate they saw the light, and omits the "no man" presumably to dispose of the seeming contradiction. The "seeing no man" may simply mean they were blinded by the light, as was Saul in v. 8, but their blindness was transient while Saul's persisted until miraculously healed. v10-19 The Lord tells Ananias, a disciple at Damascus, to go and heal Saul. Ananias is surprised by the Lord's command given Saul's reputation, but the Lord explains to him what His will for Saul is. Ananias understands and complies with the Lord's command and heals the repentant Saul. Saul is subsequently baptized and stays with the disciples at Damascus for some time. v20-31 With his conversions Saul begins preaching the gospel in the synagogues in Damascus, confounding all who oppose him. The Jews are shocked at his conversion and conspire to have him assassinated. Saul is apprized of the assassination efforts and so covertly escapes from Damascus and travels to Jerusalem. He attempts to make contact with the disciples at Jerusalem, but they don't believe he is truly a convert. They probably suspect this is some kind of trick by him to discover the disciples who are in hiding. But, one disciples named Barnabas sees Saul in action arguing with the Hellenists at Jerusalem, who subsequently try to have him assassinated (v. 28-29), and is convinced of his conversion. So, he introduces Saul to the apostles, and when word of Saul's conversion spreads among the church they are greatly consoled and reconstitute themselves. v29 "Grecians", i.e., Hellenistic Jews. v32-43 With this new reprieve on the church as a result of Saul's conversion, Peter returns again to an active public ministry and performs miracles which result in many people in the towns of Lydda, Saron, and Joppa being turned to the Lord. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.