Acts 9:19-43
Q.1. What change was there in Saul after he met Christ? Where did he share the Gospel? How did he escape his assassins? – (Acts 9:19-25 c.f. 2 Cor.11:32-33)
Saul had a dramatic conversion. He had obviously been mulling over the substance of the Gospel that Stephen and his other captives had tried to share. Now converted, he was a man on a mission. He headed straight to the synagogues, intending to open their eyes to the truth about Jesus – He is the Son of God … and … proving that this Jesus is the Christ (Acts 9:20 & 22). However, there were Jews out there as vehemently opposed to the Gospel as he had been – 32 In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands (2 Cor.11:32-33 c.f. Acts 9:23-25). This was a humiliating experience for the proud Pharisee. It was also a prelude to what was to come.
Q.2. Why were the Jerusalem believers cautious about Saul? How were their fears calmed? Why was he sent to Tarsus? How did Saul’s conversion impact the church? – (Acts 9:26-31)
After the persecution scattered believers beyond Jerusalem, there was a heightened awareness of the threats against Christians by Saul (c.f. Acts 8:1-4). It took a highly respected man to turn the tide of opinion – But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus (Acts 9:27). With Saul soundly converted, his arguments were unstoppable. His opponents – were attempting to put him to death (Acts 9:29). However, the leaders helped him to escape, firstly to Caesarea, and then to his hometown of Tarsus (Acts 9:30 c.f. Acts 9:11; 11:25). Saul had been confrontational. This had stirred up more opposition. However, after this great man left, it was recorded – So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase (Acts 9:31). God has uniquely gifted every individual, and blesses His work, regardless of the personalities involved (Acts 8:26, 40).
Q.3. How was Peter used to extend the church? What kind of a woman was Tabitha? What impact had she made? How was Peter used to comfort the saints at Joppa? – (Acts 9:32-43 c.f. Acts 5:12-16; Heb.2:3-4)
God enabled Peter to perform extra-ordinary miracles, in order to confirm his message – 3 … After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will (Heb.2:3-4 c.f. Acts 9:32-35, 40-42). Many people in Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were impacted by the Gospel, and turned to the Lord (Acts 9:35, 42). Tabitha (Greek: Dorcas) was a great contributor to the church in Joppa – … this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died (Acts 9:36-37). They called for Peter – … all the widows stood beside him, weeping, and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them (Acts 9:39). God, through Peter, then raised this dead lady to life, and gave her back to the church (Acts 9:37 c.f. 9:41).