Day #323

Sermon - Audio
Acts 9-10 - Reading
Acts 9-10 - Audio

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Acts 9-10

Acts 9 tells the timeless story of the conversion of Saul. His name has been mentioned in chapters 7 and 8, but now we get the full picture of his attacks on the church and God’s plan for him. At the same time we find ourselves left hanging by the author since we introduced to Saul but then the story goes back to Peter. It is a masterful stroke of suspense writing, as well as, preparation for Saul/Paul’s mission to the gentiles.

Notes:

• 9.1: “breathing threats and murder” is a phrase that means to threaten to kill a person. Saul is definitely someone who kills others, not just puts them in prison.
• 9.2: “the Way” Before followers of Jesus were called Christians, they were know as followers of the Way. “The expression “the way” in ancient religious literature refers at times to “the whole way of life from a moral and spiritual viewpoint”.
• 9.5: In a provacative and comforting word Jesus says that Saul is persecuting him. This speaks of Jesus’ close connection with those who believe in him.
• 9.13-14: Even when God speaks his followers can have a hard time believing him and following his instructions. Does Ananias really think God doesn’t know who Saul is and what he has done?
• 9.18: “scales from his eyes” The scales represent both physical and spiritual blindness. When the scales fall of Saul sees the truth of Jesus in the Scriptures (think Luke 24 and the road to Emmaus) and becomes an unstoppable force.
• 9.21: The 180 turnabout stuns people. We sometimes become so familiar with the story that we miss the startling nature of what is happening.
• 9.31: With Saul now a follower of Jesus there is peace and growth for the church. Saul now fades from the scene for a bit and we return to Peter and the solid beginning of the Gentile mission.
• 9.32-42: Two healing result in the growth of the church.
• 9.43: “Simon the tanner” Peter is staying in the home of one who lives on the edge of being unclean because of his profession. While Peter has managed to stay clean, staying with Simon shows an openness to seeing the world though different eyes.
• 10.2: giving alms, fearing God and prayer show a life of piety
• 10.12: These animals, according to Old Testament law, were unclean and therefore not to be eaten.
• 10.18: Being knowledgeable about Judaism themselves (10:2), Cornelius’s messengers “call out” rather than simply going up to the house to enter (10:28), although as representatives of a Roman centurion they could surely have done so with impunity under Roman custom. IVP NT Commentary
• 10.19: Notice the number of times the number 3 appears in this story. Three is a number that tells us something is about to happen. Its repetition adds to the suspense.
• 10.22: The centurion has a sterling reputation, but certainly not every Jew knew of him. Such a phrase reminds us that we need to be careful in interpreting which Jews are being spoken of in all of the New Testament.
• 10.34: Peter sees the fullness of God’s mission. The promise to go far beyond the Jews and into the whole world. It is a breathtaking moment that changes everything.
• 10.38: The description of Jesus ministry is interesting: he does good and heals those who are oppressed by the devil.
• 10.42: More on the work of Christ: he judges and brings forgiveness.