After lighting a spiritual fire in Samaria, Deacon Philip has been miraculously transported to Azotus from where he leaves on a preaching trip which ends in the city of Caesarea. But trouble is looming back in Jerusalem where the Lord has instructed the apostles to stay until they receive further orders.

Chapter nine

Verses one through nine: Saul of Tarsus, the probable instigater of the Stephen murder, is wreaking havoc in Jewish capital. Having caused a mass exodus of Christ’s disciples from the city, he has obtained written permission from the high priest to hunt for them in Damascus. His written authorization will give him power to capture them wherever he finds them, bind them and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial. Question: Where does Saul expect to find Christ’s disciples? Of particular interest is the fact that his written authorization gives him authority to enter the SYNAGOGUES of Damascus in search of CHRISTIANS. Question: If Christianity has nothing to do with “all that Jewish stuff,” as we have all been told, why would the fleeing Christians, who have supposedly been told to reject everything “Jewish,” go directly to the Jewish Synagogues wherever they settled? Why did they deliberately seek out Jewish places of worship where they would hear the JEWISH OLD TESTAMENT read by JEWISH PRIESTS? Could it be that church people have been deceived over the past 1700 years (Rev. 12:9)? Yes indeed– greatly decieved. The purpose of this ministry is to bring those deceptions to light, thereby giving those of the Institutional Church the opportunity to seek eternal life the Lord’s way–the only way that salvation and rebirth are possible.

As Saul is on his way to Damascus he has an encounter with the Lord. The conversation between Jesus and His most powerful human enemy is interesting. Let us listen in on it. Jesus: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?” Notice that He did not mention Saul’s persecution of His disciples. Instead He referred to it as persecution of Himself, which He always does. This Truth was brought out many years earlier when the Israelites, having grown tired of being led by the incorruptible Samuel, wanted to be ruled by a king like the people around them. This severely hurt Samuel. But the Lord told him that the people were not rejecting him (Samuel). Rather they were rejecting God Himself. Nothing had changed many years later as Jesus’ Words to Saul bring out. Nor is His attitude any different today. It is normal to persecute the messenger when the Author of the message cannot be reached. For this reason God warns His messengers to expect a negative reaction from religious people when they are told His Truth.

Saul responded to the Lord’s question with a question: “Who are you, Lord?” The all-powerful, all knowing Saul of Tarsus did not know to Whom he was speaking. The false god from Nazareth was dead. So who was this? Jesus answered: “I am Jesus Whom you persecute.” Note again that the Lord spiritually absorbs the negative treatment experienced by His true saints. At this point Saul spoke the words that should guide every true God-seeker: “What do you want me to do, Lord?” Notice the simplicity of Paul’s response–no arguments, no reasonings, no excuses for past actions, no required assurances–just humble obedience which he exhibited by following the Lord’s commands immediately and perfectly. His instructions were to go into Damascus to a specific location and wait for further orders. Now blind, Saul instructs those with him to take him to the specified location where he will spend the next three days fasting, praying and wondering while staring into nothingness. The Lord has mighty Saul’s attention. L.J.