Theological Commentary: Click Here
Acts 9 is a
really neat chapter. Normally, I get to
Acts 9 and talk all about the conversation of Saul. Don’t get me wrong. Paul is an incredibly important person when
we talk about the development of early Christianity. It’s okay to focus on Paul at this point in
the story. Today, though, I am led to a
different topic.
What I
really like about Acts 9 today is the plethora of witnesses in the chapter. Let’s
return to the conversion of Paul. Paul
hears a voice and experiences the presence of God. Who is it that comes to his aid? There is a disciple called Ananias that comes
to his aid. What is the witness of
Ananias? Obedience. Notice that Ananias doesn’t particularly want
this assignment. He doesn’t want to go
to Paul. He’s afraid of what Paul will
do to him because of what Paul has done to all of the other Christians with
whom he’s come into contact. Yet, Ananias
still goes. He still obeys. In spite of his own better judgment, he’s
pretty clear on what God wants him to do.
He does it.
Saul gets to
Damascus. While there, his life is in
danger. The Jews in Damascus want to do away with him. We aren’t told why, but it probably has
something to do with the fat that they now saw him as a traitor and a betrayer
of God. Who comes to his aid? We have an unknown group of disciples who
risk their lives to get Paul out of Damascus.
Next, we
hear about Saul in Jerusalem. At first,
the disciples want nothing to do with him because they fear him. Who comes to his rescue? Barnabas.
Barnabas comes, listens, mentors, and vouches for Paul. We know that Barnabas will continue to mentor
Paul, too. Because Barnabas is willing
to be obedient, the church has peace and can grow.
Then we get
to Peter. Peter finds a man paralyzed
for 8 years and heals him. He finds a dead
woman and tells her to get up and be healed.
In both cases, Peter is the hand of God.
God’s will is done. God gets the
glory.
What can we
get from this chapter? God’s Spirit is
spread among a great variety of people.
Many people are involved in accomplishing what God is doing in their
lives. Many people are given gifts and
asked to employ them so that God’s will is done. We can’t be in isolation. Nobody can be the
be-all-and-end-all of God’s work. We
have a part to play; it is God’s story being told and God’s will being done.
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