Acts 9
Summary for Acts 9:1-19: 9:1-19 a The conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road is of central importance to the narrative of Acts—Luke recounts the story three times (also 22:1-21 b; 26:1-29 c). Paul (Saul) also alludes to this experience several times in his letters (1 Cor 15:8-10 d; Gal 1:11-17 e; Phil 3:4-11 f; see 1 Tim 1:12-17 g). Saul’s conversion was his prophetic call and commission as an apostle (Acts 9:15 h; 22:15 i, 21 j; 26:15-18 k). No one is beyond the power of God to reach, redeem, and use for holy purposes—nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37 l). Paul was prepared through his training, upbringing, and experience to play a unique role in taking the gospel into the broader world as the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13 m; see 1 Cor 15:9 n; 2 Cor 12:11-12 o; Gal 1:1 p; Eph 3:8 q).9:2 r The synagogues (Greek sunagōgē, “gathering place”) were local Jewish meeting places. After the Exile, Jews began to meet in local synagogues as places of instruction and centers of worship. Synagogue services consisted of the reading of the Law and the Prophets, exposition of the Scriptures, prayer, praise, and thanksgiving (see 13:15 s; 15:21 t; Neh 9:5 u; Matt 6:5 v; Luke 4:16-21 w). Jesus attended, taught, preached, and performed miracles in synagogues (Matt 12:9-10 x; Mark 1:21 y, 39 z; Luke 4:16 aa; 13:10-13 ab; John 6:59 ac; 18:20 ad), as did the apostles (see Acts 9:20 ae; 13:5 af, 14 ag; 14:1 ah; 17:1 ai, 10 aj, 17 ak; 18:4 al, 19 am, 26 an).
• Damascus, the capital of Syria, was an important center with a long and distinguished past and the nearest major city outside of Palestine. It took from four to six days to reach Damascus from Jerusalem, a fact that highlights Saul’s earnestness (9:1-5 ao; see 22:4-8 ap; 26:9-15 aq).
• The expression the Way is used in Acts for Christianity (see 19:9 ar, 23 as; 24:14 at, 22 au)—it is “the way of God” (18:26 av) that tells people “how to be saved” (16:17 aw, literally the way of salvation). See also John 14:6 ax; 2 Pet 2:2 ay.
9:10 az Ananias: See also 22:12 ba. The name Ananias was quite common (note the husband of Sapphira, 5:1 bb, and the Jewish high priest [AD 47–59], 23:2 bc).
• a vision: See thematic note for Visions at end of chapter.
9:15 bd Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles: In God’s plan for spreading the Good News, the Gentiles were the next step (see 1:8 be; cp. chs 10–11 bf). Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was God’s choice to spearhead this expansive missionary effort to bring the Christian message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. The rest of Acts illustrates Saul’s (Paul’s) faithfulness in carrying out this divine commission (e.g., 26:19-23 bg).
9:16 bh As Jesus predicted, Paul suffered greatly for his faith (see 2 Cor 11:23-27 bi; see Acts 13:45 bj; 14:19 bk; 16:22-27 bl; 21:30-31 bm; 26:21 bn; 2 Tim 1:11-12 bo).
9:17 bp Ananias’s God-given role was to welcome Saul into the Christian family, beginning with laying hands on Saul to heal him and fill him with the Holy Spirit.
Summary for Acts 9:20-21: 9:20-21 bq immediately he began preaching about Jesus: The genuineness of Saul’s encounter with the risen Christ is attested by the enthusiasm and boldness of his preaching. Saul’s outspoken declaration provoked astonishment, for he was the very man who had created such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem.
Summary for Acts 9:22-25: 9:22-25 br Despite the bewilderment of his hearers, Saul so compellingly presented the evidence for the claims of Jesus as Messiah that the non-believing Jews in Damascus found themselves unable to refute it. Apparently this went on for some time (see Gal 1:18 bs), so some of the non-believing Jews launched a plot on his life, but he was spared when some believers let him down out of the city in a large basket. Paul recounts this incident in 2 Cor 11:32-33 bt.
Summary for Acts 9:26-28: 9:26-28 bu When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, the Christian community understandably did not immediately trust him, given his recent history of violently persecuting Christians (8:3 bv; 9:1 bw, 13 bx; 22:3 by, 4 bz; 26:9-11 ca). Fortunately, Barnabas, the “Son of Encouragement” (4:36 cb), introduced the changed man to the apostles and explained his encounter with the Lord at Damascus, his sense of calling, and his subsequent boldness in preaching in the name of Jesus in Damascus. Barnabas was able to convince the apostles that Saul’s conversion was genuine, so Saul remained with the apostles in Jerusalem, where he preached boldly for his Lord. Paul recalls this visit in Gal 1:18-19 cc.
9:29 cd Again Saul debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, and again an assassination was planned (cp. 9:22-24 ce).
9:30 cf After the believers heard about the plot, Saul was once again sent away (cp. 9:25 cg), this time to Tarsus, his hometown, the capital of Cilicia (see 21:39 ch; 22:3 ci; 23:34 cj; cp. Gal 1:21 ck).
9:31 cl This verse is one of several in Acts that detail the numerical and spiritual growth of the church (see also 2:41 cm; 4:4 cn; 5:14 co; 6:1 cp, 7 cq; 12:24 cr; 21:20 cs).
• The first Christians were discovering the truth of the principle, “the fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge” (Prov 1:7 ct; 9:10 cu; cp. Job 28:28 cv; Ps 111:10 cw; Eccl 12:13 cx; see Luke 7:16 cy), and they were growing in their faith (cp. Acts 2:43 cz; 19:17 da).
Summary for Acts 9:32-43: 9:32-43 db These verses describe Peter’s itinerant ministry in Judea, particularly along the seacoast. Exercising spiritual powers given to him by God, Peter performed wonderful works, including the healing of Aeneas and the raising of Dorcas. Jesus had promised such signs and wonders to the disciples (John 14:12 dc).
• Typical of Luke’s writing, the healing of a man is matched by the healing of a woman (see Luke 13:10-17 dd; 14:1-6 de). The people in the area were deeply moved by these miracles, and many were drawn into the faith (Acts 9:35 df, 42 dg).
9:43 dh living with Simon, a tanner of hides: Tanning was an unclean business in Jewish eyes, which might suggest that Peter was not scrupulous in observing Jewish traditions (cp. Gal 2:11-14 di).
Thematic note: Visions
Visions are closely related to other revelatory experiences such as dreams (Gen 37:5-10 dj; 40:5-19 dk). Classic examples include Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezek 37:1-14 dl) and Isaiah’s vision of God’s throne (Isa 6 dm). Visions were often the means by which the Old Testament prophets received messages from the Lord. These visions often contained very striking imagery. The imagery generally offered a graphic, metaphorical depiction of an earthly reality, which was then interpreted for the one seeing the vision by God or an angel.
Visions are also prominent in the book of Acts, and they are usually connected with prayer (Acts 9:10-12 dn; 16:9-10 do; 22:17-21 dp; 23:11 dq; see Luke 1:8-20 dr). On one occasion, Cornelius, a Roman officer, was visited by an angel (Acts 10:1-6 ds, 30-32 dt), who told him to send for Peter. The following day, Peter received a vision as he prayed (10:9-16 du; see 11:5-10 dv) that directly related to his subsequent encounter with Cornelius. In Acts 9, the visions of Paul and Ananias likewise highlight God’s involvement in their lives (9:3-6 dw, 10-16 dx). These visions are not chance coincidences but the providential outworking of God’s saving purposes in the world.
Visions give divine direction and show Christian workers the way in which they should carry out the Great Commission. Paul had visions on the Damascus road at his conversion (Acts 9:3-6 dy; 22:6-10 dz; 26:12-19 ea), on the threshold of his missionary advance into Europe (16:9 eb), at Corinth (18:9-11 ec), in the Temple (22:17-21 ed), and again in Jerusalem before he set out on his trip to Rome (23:11 ee). Through visions God is active in guiding the affairs of the church and in extending its mission (see the study notes on 10:3, 9-16; 22:17-22; 23:11; see also Gal 1:8-9 ef and study note there).
Passages for Further Study
Gen 37:5-10 eg; 40:1–41:36 eh; Isa 6:1-13 ei; Jer 14:14 ej; Ezek 37:1-14 ek; Dan 8:1-27 el; 9:21 em; Hos 12:10 en; Obad 1:1 eo; Hab 2:3 ep; Luke 1:8-20 eq; Acts 9:3-6 er, 10-16 es; 10:3-6 et, 9-16 eu, 30-32 ev; 11:5-9 ew; 16:9-10 ex; 18:9-11 ey; 22:6-10 ez, 17-21 fa; 23:11 fb; 26:14-19 fc; 2 Cor 12:1-10 fd; Rev 1:9–22:7 fe
Acts 10
Summary for Acts 10:1-8: 10:1-8 ff a Roman army officer: Literally a centurion, the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer in the Roman army, in command of a century, a subdivision of roughly 100 men. Luke often describes centurions in favorable terms (10:22 fg; 21:32 fh; 22:25-26 fi; 23:17 fj, 23 fk; 27:6 fl, 11 fm, 43 fn; 28:16 fo; Luke 7:1-10 fp; 23:47 fq). It was important for Luke to show that Christianity was not hostile to Roman officials or institutions and could, like Judaism, be permitted in the Roman Empire (see Acts Book Introduction, “Purposes of Acts: Politics”).• a captain of the Italian Regiment: A regiment included six centuries; a Roman legion was usually divided into ten regiments. The New Testament mentions the Italian Regiment and the Imperial Regiment (Acts 27:1 fr).
10:2 fs a devout, God-fearing man: Gentiles who are described as God-fearing were attracted to the high ethical standards of Judaism but were not prepared to accept the rite of circumcision or the full implications of the Jewish law by becoming full converts to Judaism (cp. 13:43 ft). Christianity was an attractive option to Gentiles who worshiped God (18:7 fu; see 13:48 fv; 16:30 fw; 17:4 fx, 12 fy, 17 fz). These people would be wide open to the message of the gospel that announced that “there is peace with God through Jesus Christ” (10:36 ga).
10:3 gb In Acts, visions are usually related to prayer (9:3-6 gc, 10-16 gd; 10:2-6 ge, 9-12 gf; 11:5-9 gg; 12:9-17 gh; 18:9-10 gi; 22:17-21 gj; 23:11 gk). These visions are not chance coincidences, but expressions of God’s saving work, providing divine direction and encouragement.
Summary for Acts 10:9-16: 10:9-16 gl Peter received the same vision three times to confirm its truthfulness (see Gen 41:32 gm; 2 Cor 13:1 gn).
10:14 go See Lev 11 gp for a description of animals that Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.
10:17 gq Peter was very perplexed: The meaning of the vision would become clear through the events that followed (10:17-48 gr; see 11:1-18 gs): Peter should not hesitate to enter or even eat in the home of a Gentile because God has accepted Gentiles and cleansed them.
Summary for Acts 10:25-26: 10:25-26 gt Cornelius ... worshiped him: This act must have been more than traditional obeisance to a high-ranking person. The Bible restricts worship to God alone (see 14:11-17 gu; Exod 20:3 gv; Deut 5:7 gw; Matt 22:37-38 gx; Mark 12:29-30 gy; Luke 10:27 gz; 1 Cor 10:14 ha; Col 3:5 hb; 1 Pet 4:3 hc; 1 Jn 5:21 hd; Rev 4:10 he; 9:20 hf; 22:8-9 hg). Peter was just a fellow human being whom Cornelius should not worship.
Summary for Acts 10:34-35: 10:34-35 hh God shows no favoritism: See Deut 10:17 hi; 2 Chr 19:7 hj; Job 34:19 hk; Luke 20:21 hl; Rom 2:11 hm; Gal 2:6 hn; Col 3:25 ho; 1 Pet 1:17 hp. The application of this principle is the meaning of Peter’s vision (10:9-16 hq).
• In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right: See Rom 10:11-13 hr.
Summary for Acts 10:36-43: 10:36-43 hs Peter repeatedly underscores the importance of the apostolic witnesses to the message of Good News. The apostles ate and drank with Jesus (see Luke 24:41-43 ht) and were eyewitnesses of his resurrection, so they could attest that he had conquered death (see Acts 3:15 hu; 4:33 hv; 13:30-31 hw). The original apostles were chosen in advance to be his witnesses (see 1:12-26 hx); gradually, others such as Paul and Barnabas carried on this powerful preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus Christ (9:15 hy; 14:1-3 hz; 26:16 ia).
10:43 ib Based on what they had seen and heard (10:39-42 ic), the apostles could proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the one all the prophets testified about. The whole plan of the Scriptures is profoundly centered in Christ (see Luke 24:25-27 id, 44-47 ie; John 5:39 if).
• The major point of their message was that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name (see Luke 24:47 ig).
Summary for Acts 10:44-48: 10:44-48 ih On the day of Pentecost, Peter told the assembly that if they would repent, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, they would receive “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (2:38 ii; cp. 19:1-7 ij). As Cornelius and his household listened to Peter’s message, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, too, and they were baptized. They received the Holy Spirit just as the Jews did, so clearly God had shown no partiality (10:34-35 ik). This event parallels the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (2:1-47 il) and marks the spread of the Holy Spirit’s power to Gentiles (1:8 im; 2:39 in).
10:48 io Cornelius asked Peter to stay with them for several days, perhaps because of his need for instruction in the Christian way.
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