The Great U-Turn

Chapter 9

This chapter records one of the greatest u-turns in all of history. Just check out verse 1 to get an idea of what Saul/Paul was like pre-conversion. The greatest church planter in history was possibly the greatest threat to the early church before this episode.

v.2 - this movement of following Jesus is refered to as "the Way" in this verse. That word ("way") can be translated as a road to be traveled or a manner of thinking/feeling/deciding. Love it. What if we explained Christianity more as a road to be traveled or manner of thinking/feeling/deciding and less of a one-time decision? This doesn't mean there's not a firm decision a person makes to walk that journey, but just that it's more than a one-time event.

v.5 - notice that Jesus tells Paul that he (Paul) is persecuting Him (Jesus) - not persecuting the church. To Christ, persecuting the church (His Bride) is the same as persecuting Him. There is no distinction. It is incompatible for someone to say they are a follower of Christ, but not be on board with His Bride (the Church). I think we've all heard people that say they are on board with Jesus, but they're "out" on church...not possible.

vv.10-16 - boy, do I identify with Ananias. God tells him to go talk to Saul and he proceeds to inform God just who Saul is (as if God doesn't know this already) and all the reasons this is not a good idea. God says "Go!" and something to the effect of "I've got big plans for this guy" - in other words, I'll worry about changing Saul...you worry about being obedient. God's job is to change people, not mine. My job is to be obedient.

v.17 - Ananias greets Saul (this guy who murdered Christians) with "brother." Wow! Think about this for a second. Saul is the arch enemy of the Church; certainly not a "brother" in the Lord. Imagine how this greeting was received by Paul. He probably thought most people in the Church wanted to kill him. However, he gets "graced" (unmerited favor) by Ananias. Later on (v.27), Barnabas will stand up for him and get him "in" with the church in Jerusalem. These acts of grace must have had an effect on him - most of his friends (Pharisees) would not have responded with grace. This also makes me think of Judges 6:12 when an angel from God calls Gideon a "mighty warrior," even though he hadn't done jack squat to deserve that name yet. It's good to know God sees us for what we can become, not for who we are right now (or who we've been).

vv.40-41 - Read this passage and then go read Mark 5:40-42. This is classic discipleship - Jesus brings Peter (and James/John) with him in the room as he raises this girl from the dead with the phrase talitha koum. Peter, not long after, performs the same miracle in a room with the phrase tabitha koum. I wonder where Peter learned to do that?