Acts 9 - 4.21.25

Scripture

Acts‬ ‭9:17-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?””

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Observation

Saul was someone who used to persecute and kill Christians. He did this because he thought he was honoring God. Jews, especially religious Jewish leaders, believed that Jesus wasn’t God, so Christians were “blaspheming” God by preaching in Jesus’ name. They had to pay the consequences for their behavior. Saul was a key person in the stoning of Stephen, a Christian who was described as full of the Holy Spirit in Acts 7.

On the road to Damascus, Saul had an encounter with Jesus and Jesus spoke directly to Saul asking him why he was persecuting Him. The Lord made Saul blind for a few days and his life forever changed after that.

God spoke to Ananias in a dream to locate Saul and lay hands on him. The first work of the Spirit in this chapter was the fact that Ananias was able to obey God’s commands despite Saul’s former reputation of persecuting and killing Christians. The second work of the Spirit was the change in Saul’s life after Ananias laid hands on him so that he could see and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Saul, who began as one of the chief religious Jewish leaders who persecuted believers, would soon be known as Paul, one of the greatest leaders in the Christian faith recorded in the Bible! That’s a true testament to the work of the Holy Spirit. Saul’s conversion turned his life completely around!

Application

Be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

The work of the Holy Spirit changes us and He continues to do impossible things!

What would happen if we were one of those vessels that the Holy Spirit could freely work through? What would happen if we were obedient to His leading?

In this chapter alone, there is evidence of so much of the Holy Spirit’s work. I already mentioned 2 in the observation section. The Holy Spirit also changed the hearts of the believers towards Saul. The disciples weren’t fully convinced of Saul’s conversion, but the Holy Spirit worked through Barnabas and he convinced the apostles not to be afraid of Saul because he was a changed man. The Holy Spirit continued to do things in Scripture that was impossible in a human’s own strength. He continues to do things today that are impossible in our own strength!

As verse 31 said, “....They stopped living in the fear of man and started living in the fear of the Lord.” As a result, the church increased in numbers again!

Don’t underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. There’s no stopping Him when He’s at work.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your Word and the reminders of the power of the Holy Spirit to change hearts and lives towards Your desires. May I always be humble and obedient to wherever He leads me and never underestimate His power. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi