Acts 9:19-20 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.… I. THE CHARACTER OF HIS SPIRITUAL CHANGE. 1. It was radical. He preached Christ as the Son of God, what he had previously given his whole being to deny. Saul the persecutor becomes Paul the apostle. 2. It was genuine. He preached in the synagogues, where he was well known as the High Priest's commissioner — the worst place for an impostor, but the best place for one who wished to make some atonement for his past life. 3. It was startling. The people were "amazed," as well they might be. II. THE NATURE OF HIS NEW FAITH (ver. 22). It was — 1. Growable — "he increased." The more he examined Christ's claims, and reflected on His truths, the stronger grew his confidence and affection. Christianity is not a dry notion, but a living germ. Once planted, every earnest thought about it will only serve to strike its roots deeper. 2. Discussable. It was a thing Paul felt he could take into the synagogues and submit to competent critics. Christianity is no mystic sentiment that admits of no explanation, nor a musty sentiment that totters on scrutiny; it is intelligible in its facts, and rational in its theories. 3. Demonstrable. "Proving." By manifestation of the truth he commended himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God. III. THE SPIRIT OF HIS FIRST AUDITORS (ver. 23). Their malignity was — 1. Deadly. They sought to kill him. Violence has always been the argument of bigotry, which no man knew better than Saul; but truth ever seeks to kill error by saving the advocate. 2. Deliberate evil as well as good has its plans. 3. Frustrated (ver. 25). In his deliverance we see — (1) The way in which Providence delivers the good. God could have launched a thunderbolt and crushed Saul's enemies; but as is usually the case God saved him by his own caution and the assistance of the disciples. (2) The inevitable doom of evil. God "taketh the wise in their own craftiness." (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.WEB: He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. |
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