Acts 9:1–19

9:1
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord’s
disciples, went to the high priest
2
and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if
he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring
them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3
As he was going along, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven
flashed around him.
4
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why
are you persecuting me?”
5
So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” He replied, “I am Jesus whom you are
persecuting!
6
But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do.”
7
(Now the men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, because
they heard the voice but saw no one.)
8
So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he could
see nothing. Leading him by the hand, his companions brought him into
Damascus.
9
For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything.
10
Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him
in a vision, “Ananias,” and he replied, “Here I am, Lord.”
11
Then the Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’
and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is
praying,
12
and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his
hands on him so that he may see again.”
13
But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man,
how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem,
14
and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call
on your name!”
15
But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to
carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.
16
For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17
So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and
said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you
came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the
Holy Spirit.”
18
Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see
again. He got up and was baptized,
19
and after taking some food, his strength returned.For several days he was
with the disciples in Damascus,

One thought:

Paul left with authority to arrest. He was in turn arrested by a far higher authority.

Three questions:

Consider verses 15-16, what could this mean for us?

 

Reflect on your conversion – what your life was or maybe would have been like if God had not crashed into your world.

 

Pray for one person who needs their blind eyes opened.

Prayer:

Give thanks for salvation – that God opened your eyes.

Ask God to help us endure whatever suffering has been ordained.

Ask God to open the eyes of someone else.

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