Acts 9:1-19
Father David often spoke of “God’s echo”, where we hear the same “message” two or three times in a short time frame. It’s probably no coincidence that our Men’s Group is focusing on the Holy Spirit at the same time that our RTNT group is reading Acts. As I mentioned a few days ago different scholars have counted 56 and 57 times that the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the book of Acts. And we see one here today that I don’t remember noticing before, with Ananias speaking: 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. (v. 17b) No doubt, from this point on Saul led a Spirit-filled life!
Jesus refers to Saul by his given name: “Saul, Saul…” (v. 4b). Likewise, Ananias addresses him as “Brother Saul” (v. 17b) He is also referred to as Saul in chapters 11 and 12. It’s not until chapter 13 that we have Saul’s name changed to Paul, and there it is pointed out only incidentally: But Saul, who was also called Paul… (v. 13:9a) Thereafter (as I recall) he is never referred to as Saul again. This incidental re-naming of Saul to Paul stands in direct contrast to Jesus re-naming Peter: And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church… (Mt. 16:17-18a) So we have the two great leaders of the early church both undergoing a re-naming, Simon to Peter and Saul to Paul. Interesting…!
See also: February 4 / Acts 9:1-9; February 5 / Acts 9:10-19