Acts 9:1-19a
Dear RTB’ers,
Damascus is about 150 miles from Jerusalem, a five- or six-day journey by foot. [NOTE: In paintings Saul is often depicted as falling from a horse.] Why would Saul request permission to travel so far to round up Christians? Galilee was less than half the distance. Were there no believers in the Apostles’ hometowns? Why Damascus?
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, 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!
The Lord has a long back-and-forth conversation with Ananias – seven verses (Acts 9:10-16). There are probably others, but I can recall only one other incident in Scripture when we see the Lord having a long conversation with one person – when He appears as a burning bush to Moses in Exodus 3:4-4:17 (36 verses!).
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… (Acts 13:9a) Thereafter (as I recall) he is never referred to as Saul again. This incidental renaming of Saul to Paul stands in direct contrast to Jesus’ renaming of 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 renaming, Simon to Peter and Saul to Paul. Interesting.
Blessings!