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Acts 9:1–2. Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest and asked him for letters to Damascus to the synagogues, so that whoever he found following this teaching, both men and women, would be tied up and brought to Jerusalem. Explaining the fury of Paul - Saul, in the future the great Apostle Paul - against the faithful and against the Church, Luke shows that he was carried away by unclean jealousy, because what Christ said was fulfilled on him: “Whoever kills you will think that he is serving God” (John 16:2). Because he did it differently from other Jews. It won't happen! That he did this out of jealousy is obvious from the fact that he went to the outer cities, and the Jews did not pay attention to those in Jerusalem. They cared about only one thing, that is, to enjoy honors. Saul goes to Damascus because it was a great and reigning city and he was afraid that this city would be carried away by Christian preaching. He does not go to the praetor with a request, but goes to the high priest, because he had the intention of doing everything legally. “So that whomever he finds following this teaching, both men and women, he will bind and bring to Jerusalem.” What is “those who follow this teaching?” Perhaps this is what the believers called themselves, since their faith alone was the kind by which we ascend to heaven. Or Paul called them followers of this teaching - the path, perhaps out of a feeling of contempt and mockery of them, because they usually called a dishonest person “one who has gone astray.” He sought the power not to immediately punish the Christians, but to lead them to Jerusalem, because he wanted to act with greater authority. Acts 9:3–9. As he walked and approached Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting Me? He said: Who are you, Lord? The Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It's hard for you to go against the grain. He said in awe and horror: Lord! what do you want me to do? And the Lord said to him: get up and go into the city; and it will be told to you what you need to do. The people walking with him stood in a daze, hearing the voice but not seeing anyone. Saul got up from the ground, and with his eyes open he saw no one. And they led him by the hands and brought him to Damascus. And for three days he did not see, and did not eat, and did not drink. The vision did not take place in the city, but on the way and in silence, because the crowd would not have believed, but would have only laughed, since even in the time of Jesus Christ those who heard a voice from heaven “said that it was thunder” (John 12:29). And Saul deserved to be believed because he told what happened to him. So, not in Jerusalem and not in Damascus, but on the way “a light suddenly shone upon him,” so that what happened to him would not be explained differently by others, but so that he himself would explain it, since he deserved faith, since he saw a vision and suffered an illness. This is what Paul says when defending himself before Agrippa (see Acts 26:12–18). “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting Me? Christ does not say to him: “Believe!”, but reproaches him, saying: “Why are you persecuting Me?” Almost says: “What little or great have you suffered from Me, that you do this to Me?” "I am Jesus, whom you persecute." This is said instead of “do not think that you are at enmity against people, but against Me, your Lord.” Why was this appearance and admonition to Saul not done at the beginning? To show that Christ is truly risen. Because how would the persecutor of Him and the unbeliever of His resurrection, furiously persecuting the believers, believe if the power of His resurrection were not great? Why not immediately after the resurrection? To make the hostility against the doctrine of the resurrection more obvious and more divine, a change appeared in Paul's way of thinking. “The people walking with him stood in a daze, hearing a voice, but not seeing anyone.” The light shines on all those who were with him so that they testify to this phenomenon, but it does not blind everyone, but only Paul, so that they would not think that this was a general and, as it were, accidental misfortune, but so that it would be revealed that this was completely the action of Divine Providence. Why didn’t those who were with him believe? So that they could be reliable witnesses to what happened to Paul. Because if they believed, it would seem that they were testifying out of partiality. And whose voice did those with Paul hear? The voice of Paul himself when he answered, and he alone heard the heavenly voice. That is why it is said here: “The people... who walked with him stood in a daze, hearing the voice”, that is, the voice of Paul, “but not seeing anyone” to whom he answered. Later, in Jerusalem, Paul said: Those who were... “saw the light with me, and were afraid; but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me” (Acts 22:9). “Saul rose from the ground, and with his eyes open he saw no one.” Paul's eyes suffered because excess light usually has a painful effect, since the eyes also have a measure. It is also said that excessive sound makes people deaf and insensitive. “And for three days he did not see, and did not eat, and did not drink.” Why did he do this? Because he greatly repented of persecuting the Church, and was sad, and prayed, and asked God to forgive him for this. Acts 9:10–16. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias! He said: I, Lord. The Lord said to him: get up and go to the street, the so-called Straight, and ask in the house of Judas a Tarsian named Saul; he is now praying, and in a vision he saw a man named Ananias come to him and lay his hand on him so that he could receive his sight. Ananias answered: Lord! I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to Thy saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the high priests to bind all who call on Your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is My chosen vessel, to proclaim My name before the nations and kings and the children of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for My name. Why does Ananias, not being one of the most memorable and famous disciples of the Savior, receive the power to announce and heal Paul, who was about to become such a great preacher of the Gospel? Because Paul had to be instructed in the truths of faith not by a man, but by Christ himself. That’s why Ananias baptized him and healed him, but didn’t teach him anything. And that he was not one of the very famous is obvious from his fear and fear, which is revealed from his words. He was so afraid of persecution from Paul that he was amazed and horrified when he first heard his name from the Lord. He did not even pay attention to what was said next: that Saul was “praying,” that he had seen a vision, that he was blind, and that Ananias was being sent to him in order to do him a favor and save him. “I saw in a vision a man named Ananias,” because he could not see in reality, since he was blind. “Here he has the authority from the high priests to bind everyone.” How did they know this? It was natural for those in fear to inquire and find out what was being plotted against them. Look at the fear he has, because he did not allow the name “Paul” to reach his ears, and is already saying: “I am afraid that somehow he will not take me to Jerusalem.” “Go, for he is My chosen vessel.” Not only, he says, will he become a believer, but also a teacher, and will have great boldness, “before nations and kings” and appear before the Jews. With this the Lord encourages Ananias, and at the same time shames him, as if saying: “If he was so furious because of Me and killed, and yet will endure everything, then don’t you even want to baptize him? Therefore I command you to go to him, because “he is My chosen vessel” and that he will carry My name.” Ananias, hearing that Paul was blind, rejoiced, and the meaning of his words was as follows: “That’s good, leave him blind, why do you command me to open his eyes? So that he starts knitting again? Or will he start punishing us again? To this the Lord says: “Not only will He not do anything terrible, but He will also endure much for My sake.” Acts 9:17–19. Ananias went and entered the house and, laying his hands on him, said: Brother Saul! The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the path you walked, sent me so that you could receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately, as if scales fell from his eyes, and suddenly he received his sight; and, getting up, was baptized, and, having taken food, was strengthened. And Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for several days. Look at the obedience after the greatest fear. So, these words of Ananias were spoken by him not out of unbelief, but out of fear and trembling. “Brother Saul! The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way you walked, has sent me.” Immediately introduces him to the name of the Lord. And moreover, Christ did not say to Ananias: “I appeared to Saul,” but said: “he was taught by the Spirit”; and indeed, Jesus Christ did not appear to him personally, but, of course, appeared by deeds and actions. He says “he who appeared to you”; did not say: “who blinded you and rejected reproach.” He says: “he sent me.” It’s not my business, he says. I am a servant of grace. Thus, they could not invent anything from themselves. “And immediately it was as if scales fell from his eyes.” The scales fall away and show that the inflammation is severe and that healing is certain. “Rising up, he was baptized, and having taken food, he became strong,” because his strength weakened partly from travel, partly from fear, partly from hunger, and partly from cowardice. Notice that he did not decide to eat until he received great gifts. Acts 9:20–22. And immediately he began to preach in the synagogues about Jesus, that He is the Son of God. And all who heard marveled and said, “Is this not the same one who persecuted in Jerusalem those who call on this name?” and this is why he came here, to bind them and lead them to the high priests. And Saul grew stronger and stronger and confused the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this is Christ. Paul does not say that Jesus has risen, that He is alive, but what? He immediately carefully proves that “He is the Son of God.” He immediately became a teacher, because he was not ashamed that a change had occurred in him in relation to what had become clear to him. “Saul grew stronger and stronger and confused the Jews.” The Jews were confused, because what he had learned from the Law of Moses, he also asked them about it. They thought that by getting rid of Stefan, they also got rid of these considerations, but meanwhile they found another co-questioner, stronger than Stefan. He, proving this, taught and explained from those scriptures that were known to them. Acts 9:23–26. When enough time had passed, the Jews agreed to kill him. But Saul learned about their plan. And they watched at the gate day and night to kill him. At night the disciples took him and lowered him down the wall in a basket. Saul arrived in Jerusalem and tried to pester the disciples; but everyone was afraid of him, not believing that he was a student. The Jews again come to their strongest thoughts, but now they are no longer looking for slanderers and false witnesses, but they themselves are striving to commit murder. Since they saw that this case has gained force, they no longer bring it to court. “The disciples took him at night and lowered him down the wall in a basket.” Notice that Paul is saved not by grace, but by human wisdom, so that you may learn that the virtue of a man shines even without miracles. “Saul arrived in Jerusalem and tried to pester the disciples.” Having got rid of danger, he not only does not hide, but, on the contrary, goes to where they were most pursued. And notice that he is even looking for the Savior’s disciples, so he was all inflamed and filled with zeal for preaching, and the fact that he came to Christ later than others made him even more zealous. It may rightly be bewildering, as the Apostle Paul says in his epistle: “He did not go to Jerusalem... but went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then, three years later, he went... to Jerusalem to see Peter... But he saw no other of the apostles except James, the brother of the Lord" (Gal. 1:17-19) - and here it says that he came to Jerusalem and Barnabas brought him to the apostles. So, either in the Epistle to the Galatians the Apostle Paul said: “he did not go” in the sense that he did not go to present his teaching for the approval of the apostles, or, if this is not so, we must assume that the malicious intent against him in Damascus was not made immediately after his conversion to the Christian faith, but upon his return from Arabia three years after his conversion. And thus his journey to Jerusalem was completed. So, he did not go to the apostles, but “tried to pester the disciples.” He did this while being both teacher and student. Or Paul in the Epistle to the Galatians does not talk about this journey to Jerusalem, because his historiographer 21 shortens a lot and brings together events that happened at different times. “I tried,” says Luke, “to pester the disciples.” He did not approach them boldly, but with timidity. “Everyone was afraid of him, not believing that he was a student.” Of course, the disciples were afraid, and the apostles did not believe his conversion, because for human understanding it is truly incredible that such an ardent persecutor would turn into a preacher. Acts 9:27–31. Barnabas, taking it, came to the Apostles and told them how on the way he saw the Lord, and what the Lord said to him, and how he boldly preached in Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he remained with them, going in and out, in Jerusalem, and preached boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He also spoke and competed with the Hellenists; and they tried to kill him. The brethren, having learned about this, sent him to Caesarea and escorted him to Tarsus. The churches throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria were at peace, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord; and, with the consolation of the Holy Spirit, they multiplied. That Barnabas is a meek and condescending man is evident both from this and from what he did after that. Perhaps he knew Paul before, being his friend. To which apostles did he lead Paul? Perhaps to Peter and James, about whom Paul himself in the Epistle to the Galatians says that he knew them. Pay attention to Paul: he does not go to the apostles as if he were a man who thinks modestly about himself, but goes to his disciples as if he were only a disciple. And Barnabas takes him to the apostles and tells about what kind of boldness Paul had. “He also spoke and competed with the Hellenists,” or with those Jews who spoke Greek. Because the other Jews, inveterate, could not even look at him or, rather, even decided to kill him. “The brothers, having learned about this, sent him to Caesarea.” Frightened by what happened to Stephen, they sent him to Caesarea, and then also to Tarsus, so that he could teach there and be safe, as in his own fatherland, because the Jews did not rage against others as they did against him. For they already knew the other apostles and the rage directed against them had already weakened with time; They also knew how they often found protection for themselves and how respected they were among the people. “The churches throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria were at peace.” Luke wants to say that Peter came from there. So, lest you think that he did this out of fear, he first said that these churches had peace, because when there was the height of hostility in Jerusalem, the apostles stayed there, and when there was peace there, they went to preach in other places. Acts 9:32–35. It happened that Peter, going around everyone, came to the saints living in Lydda. There he found one man named Aeneas, who had been lying in bed in relaxation for eight years. Peter said to him: Aeneas! Jesus Christ heals you; get out of your bed. And he immediately stood up. And everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Why did Peter not expect to discover this man's faith and ask if he wanted to be healed? This miracle was performed, of course, especially for the edification of many. Because Luke says: “And all who dwelt in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.” On the other hand, miracles here have not yet demonstrated their power. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to demand faith in them here. That is why the apostles did not ask the lame man. Just as Christ, laying the foundation for miracles, did not require faith, so they do not require it. And in Jerusalem, faith in them, of course, spread earlier: so many desired, “so that even the shadow of Peter passing by,” says Luke, “would overshadow one of them” (Acts 5:15). That is why many miracles were created there, but here only the beginning was made for them. Acts 9:36–43. In Joppa there was one disciple named Tabitha, which means “chamois”; she was full of good deeds and did a lot of alms. It happened in those days that she fell ill and died. They washed her and laid her in the upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two people to him to ask him not to delay in coming to them. Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they brought him into the upper room, and all the widows appeared before him with tears, showing the shirts and dresses that Serna had made while living with them. Peter sent everyone out and, kneeling down, prayed, and turning to the body, said: Tabitha! stand up. And she opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, sat down. He gave her his hand, raised her, and, calling the saints and widows, placed her alive before them. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed for quite a few days in Joppa with a certain Simon the tanner. Luke calls the student's name "Tabitha, which means 'chamois,'" showing that she lived up to her name: she was as vigilant and cheerful as a chamois. Because often many names are given according to Divine economy. “It happened in those days that she fell ill and died. They washed her and laid her in the upper room." That is, they did everything that should have been done to the deceased. The disciples who were in Joppa sent to Peter “to ask that he would not delay in coming to them.” Notice the simplicity of others and the absence of any arrogance in Peter. They don’t go themselves, but ask through two people for healing, and he comes. Why didn't they call him before she died? They considered it unworthy to bother the disciples with this and distract them and impose difficulties on them in the work of preaching. That's why Luke says it was close. “The widows appeared before him with tears, showing the shirts and dresses that Serna made while living with them.” The expression “living with them” shows her great humility, because she was with them and lived with them and treated everyone as one of them, and not as we do now. “Peter sent everyone out and knelt down and prayed.” Why does he drive everyone out? In order not to be touched by tears and not to lose peace of mind. “Kneeling down,” he prays fervently. Then he supports the revived one; then little by little life and its strength return. “Having called the saints and widows, he set her before them alive,” for some as a consolation, and for others as protection. Notice the absence of any arrogance in Peter. Having performed such a great miracle, he seeks refuge not with her or with any other famous person, but with the tanner Simon; he is not ashamed of insignificant people and does not give great people a reason to be proud. Evangelist Luke. – Note. ed. You might be interested in: