Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:1-4)God arranges for Saul to meet with a man by the name of Ananias (obviously not the same Ananias who was killed for lying to God in chapter 5 but it's interesting to me that it's the same name) who is understandably nervous about it. God speaks to Ananias to encourage him to follow through...but what He says to Ananias tells us something of what God has in mind for Saul...
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:15-16)It's fascinating to me that, of all people, God chooses Saul to be His "chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles". This man is a leading Jew of the time! What does he have in common with Gentiles?? Nothing! Not one thing! Sometimes I wonder about what God thinks of all our strategizing and planning...because He seems to specialize in doing things that make no sense to us. In fact, that may be one of the reasons He works that way. It proves that the work is God's and we don't deserve any credit for it.
Another thing that comes through loud and clear in these chapters is the fact that making the decision to be a Christ-follower was a serious decision to make. It could be very costly. Maybe even fatal. Notice the following...
After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him... (Acts 9:23)
He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. (Acts 9:29)
It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (Acts 12:1-3)
There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. (Acts 14:5)
Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. (Acts 14:19-20)This was serious business. Somehow it has become less serious today. It's just one of many possible lifestyle choices for modern Americans. We forget that in the days of the first Christians it could be a decision that would cost you your life. We have a hard time comprehending that this is still true in many parts of the world today. If you don't believe it just go here and read some stories of Christ-followers around the world who are persecuted for their faith.
One more thing that I notice that is beginning to happen in these chapters. The gospel is breaking through many of the barriers that mankind has built between themselves and other "different" people. It took persecution for this to happen. Why is it so hard for us to learn that God cares about ALL people...and so should we?
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:19-21)
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