Acts 9:1–22
AND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 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.
His very breath was threatening; all Judea was not a large enough hunting ground for him. What a rebel he was! What a saint he became! How mighty is divine grace!
3, 4 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 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. (What surprise filled the soul of Saul when he perceived that the Nazarene whom he had hated was really divine. Little had he dreamed of persecuting the Son of God, he thought he was crushing out a troublesome imposture. O Lord, open the eyes of any other sincere bigot who may be persecuting thy cause without knowing it to be thine!)
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.
He rises a changed man, he has seen the Lord and is conquered; he has become the willing servant of Jesus whom he persecuted. His hectoring has ended, his submission is complete.
7–9 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 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. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. (And no wonder. The light had blinded him, and the revelation from heaven so possessed him that he forgot everything else.)
10–12 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. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 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, 14 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
Do we wonder that the good man doubted? Should not we be slow to believe if we were told that the Pope of Rome had given up his superstition, and was humbly seeking a Saviour? Yet the case would not be more wonderful.
15, 16 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: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. (Paul was not merely to be a saint, but an eminent one. Great sinners usually love much when they are forgiven.)
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.
He did not neglect baptism, as some do. What the Lord ordains we must not despise.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20–22 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 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? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. (Thus electing love chose a persecutor; almighty grace made him a penitent; the Holy Spirit made him a believer, and by divine authority he became a minister and an apostle. Grace works miracles.)
Lo Satan trembles and gives place
Before the Spirit’s might!
The power of efficacious grace
Puts all his hosts to flight.
His kingdom falls, his spells and charms
By Jesus are o’erthrown,
The Spirit wields victorious arms,
And holds the field alone.
Ah, Grace! into unlikeliest hearts
It is thy boast to come;
The glory of thy light to find
In darkest spots a home.
Thy choice, O God of goodness! then
We lovingly adore;
Oh, give us grace to keep thy grace,
And grace to long for more!
They who feed thy sick and faint
For thyself a banquet find;
They who clothe the naked saint
Round thy loins the raiment bind.
Thou wilt deeds of love repay;
Grace shall gen’rous hearts reward
Here on earth, and in the day
When they meet their reigning Lord.
O Spirit of the Lord, prepare
All the round earth her God to meet;
Breathe thou abroad like morning air,
Till hearts of stone begin to beat.
Baptize the nations far and nigh;
The triumphs of the cross record:
The name of Jesus glorify,
Till every kindred call him Lord.
Come, guilty souls, and flee away
Like doves to Jesu’s wounds;
This is the welcome gospel-day,
Wherein free grace abounds.
God loved the church, and gave his Son
To drink the cup of wrath:
And Jesus says he’ll cast out none
That come to him by faith.
Fly abroad, thou mighty Gospel,
Win and conquer, never cease;
May thy lasting, wide dominion
Multiply, and still increase.
Sway thy sceptre,
Saviour, all the world around;
When he first the work begun,
Small and feeble was his day:
Now the word doth swiftly run,
Now it wins its widening way:
More and more it spreads and grows,
Ever mighty to prevail;
Sin’s strongholds it now o’erthrows,
Shakes the trembling gates of hell.
From Greenland’s icy mountains,
From India’s coral strand,
Where Afric’s sunny fountains
Roll down their golden sand;
From many an ancient river,
From many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver
Their land from error’s chain.
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
One God, whom we adore,
Be glory as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.1
1 Spurgeon, C. H. (1964). The Interpreter: Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible (pp. 644–645). Baker Book House.
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