Acts (8)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24.27

Be sure to view the video introducing our study of Acts 9 (Lesson 8) by clicking here.

Read and meditate on Acts 9.15-19.
Do you see the old woman? Now do you see the young woman? You are no doubt familiar with that little optical illusion. This is what Jesus is saying to Ananias. You see the old Saul. I’m going to show you – and him – the new.

For reflection
1.  Jesus had chosen Saul to “bear” His Name “before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” He has big plans for Saul, and Ananias has been appointed to break the bottle of champagne over the bow of the good ship Saul. What a privilege! Might God use us in some similar way?

2.  Ananias goes right to his task. Finding Saul, he greets him with an amazing statement of grace: “Brother Saul…” What must Saul have thought upon hearing this? “Do I know you? How is it we are brothers?” He would learn soon enough. What does this greeting suggest about Ananias’ heart and his witness?

3.  Ananias did not explain everything the Lord had said to him. Jesus had said He would take care of that. Ananias only led Saul to his next step, which is what good leaders do. Talk about the “next step” principle as it applies to your daily walk with and work for the Lord.

4.  The falling away of (something like) scales from Saul’s eyes is meant both realistically and symbolically. His eyes had been seared by the blinding light of Christ, but now, his confusion was being dispelled, and he was beginning to “see” clearly. Conversion to Christ is both sudden and complete, and gradual and growing. Explain.

5.  The name of “Gentiles” must have raised a few questions in Ananias’ mind. “What do the Gentiles have to do with this?” That scorned name, mentioned in the same sentence with the “children of Israel”, could have only one meaning: Jesus was aiming His grace toward the Gentiles, and the meaning and mention of that name would be forever changed. Meditate on Ephesians 2.10-18. Is this what God was foreshadowing here? Explain.

Summary
God can use faithful and obedient witnesses to raise up other faithful and obedient witnesses in an ongoing “chain reaction” of witnesses who bring the ongoing work of Christ to ever fuller and more fruitful realization. Where are you in that “chain reaction” at this time?

Closing Prayer
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children;
That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments…

Psalm 78.2-7

T. M. Moore

Each week’s studies in Acts are bound together into a free PDF that you can download for personal or group use (click here). Each week also features a video related to the studies of the week, which you may find helpful as you work through our studies in Acts.

Acts is the record of Christ’s ongoing work as King and Lord. This is the work of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven. Read more about the implications of this work in our new book, The Kingdom Turn (click here).

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