Chapter 9

You have to wonder about a man like Saul of Tarsus. What drove him so hard to persecute the church. The truth is that Saul knew a great deal about Jesus, about his works, his teachings, and about his alleged resurrection. If this had been nothing but another sect of Judaism, another wild and easily disproved idea, Paul would have laughed the Christians out of Jerusalem. After all, the Pharisees weren’t killing the Sadducees.

Saul was a Pharisee, an intense pharisee, a defender of the faith. The disciples of Jesus posed the greatest threat to his faith he had ever seen. He studied this new sect. He went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried, he interviewed the soldiers, he cross examined people who had seen Jesus alive after his resurrection. Paul was like a man high up in a tree while someone was taking an axe to the trunk of tree. He was frightened by the disciples of Jesus.

Paul’s religion was Judaism, and many Christians make a serious mistake in looking at the controversy between Christians and Jews in the first century. They presume that Judaism and the religion of the Old Testament are one and the same. They are not.

To get the question in focus, I have to cite a modern writer on the Talmud. Adin Steinsaltz, in his book "The Essential Talmud," had this to say: "If the Bible is the cornerstone of Judaism, then the Talmud is the central pillar, soaring up from the foundations and supporting the entire spiritual and intellectual edifice. In many ways the Talmud is the most important book in Jewish culture."

The Talmud is said to have grown out of the oral law, what Jesus referred to as "the tradition of the fathers." The reason so many people are confused about Paul is that they confuse the law of Moses with Judaism. The law of Moses is the cornerstone of Judaism, but the oral law–which grew into the Talmud-- is the central pillar. For Jesus and Paul, Christianity and Judaism share the same "cornerstone," but the rest of the foundation and the central pillar are entirely different.

Paul was frightened by Christianity for several reasons. He had not been able to falsify the faith intellectually. And he had been unable to explain the phenomena: the healings, the miracles, the resurrection. He wanted to find the body of Jesus and put it back in the tomb, but he failed. Then he decided to fill the tombs with the bodies of Jesus’ disciples. In a sense, Saul was challenging God. If I can destroy this new religion, then it cannot be of God. And so he went to work with a vengeance.

(Acts 9 KJV) "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, {2} And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. {3} And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: {4} And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? {5} And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

It is this statement that leads me to believe that Saul was driven, either by his own conscience or by God. He was kicking against the prodding of the truth.  The response of Saul that follows bears the same testimony. He knew.  He had known for a long time, and now he could say no more.

{6} And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. {7} And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. {8} And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. {9} And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

It is hard to imagine what those three days were like for Saul. He ate nothing. He simply lay in the dark and faced the fact that his entire life up to this point was in a shambles. And he realized he had killed honest, truthful, nice people in the name of his religion. He could probably see the faces of men and women he had haled into prison and committed to death. His conscience must have been tearing him apart.

It is interesting that God left him like this for three days and three nights.

{10} And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. {11} And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, {12} And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. {13} Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: {14} And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

It is interesting how often men of God in the Bible, instead of merely following orders, ask questions and raise objections. It is an insight into the nature of God that He expects and even encourages this kind of interaction.

{15} But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: {16} For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

The theme of going to the Gentiles is a recurrent theme in the book of Acts. Once again it testifies that Acts is the story of the breakout of the Gospel from being merely a Jewish message to the Jewish people. Now it was to go to everyone. God was not content to be the God of the Jews. He was the God of all men.

And it is worth noting that Paul was not going to get off scot-free for all the suffering he had caused. He was going to suffer all the pains he had inflicted on others for the Gospel's sake--even unto death.

{17} And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. {18} And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. {19} And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. {20} And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. {21} But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? {22} But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Again and again, those who tried to resist the truth of the Gospel by argumentation were defeated. And again and again they resort to violence where argument has failed.

{23} And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: {24} But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. {25} Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. {26}

Paul's return to Jerusalem must have been quite an emotional experience. He had left there with a band of soldiers and a commission in hand. He was returning alone and completely without authority. No one wanted to talk to Paul.

 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. {27} But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. {28} And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. {29} And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. {30} Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. {31} Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

This is mute evidence of what a firebrand Saul had been. He had been the chief instigator of persecution against the church. Now that he was converted, he was still the chief stirrer of the pot. Only when they sent him away did the church get any peace.

{32} And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. {33} And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. {34} And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. {35} And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. {36} Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. {37} And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. {38} And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. {39} Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. {40} But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. {41} And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. {42} And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. {43} And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner."

 

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