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Transformation on the Road to Damascus in Acts 9
September 3, 2025 · 14 min
Explore Ananias' obedience and its role in Saul's transformation from persecutor to apostle.
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The Transformation of Saul: A Journey of Faith and Obedience 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning as we read Acts chapter 9. And in acts chapter 9, we're gonna read about 1 of the most pivotal events in the entire0:22 New Testament. Verse 11. So the lord said to him, arise and go to the street called straight and inquire at the house of Judas for 1 called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. Now you recall back0:33 in Matthew, Jesus gave his sermon on the mount. And in that sermon, he laid out principles for kingdom living, and 1 was that we're to love our enemies. In fact, let me0:45 read it. Verse 44 of Matthew 5. But I say to you, love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute0:57 you. Now here in this chapter, chapter acts, chapter 9 of of acts, we see that this is not just nice sounding platitudes, but it is both practical1:09 and powerful in advancing the disciples of the lord, went to the high priest. Now he's like a fire breathing1:21 dragon. Saul was consumed with hatred for the followers of the way. Look at verse 2 and asked letters from him to1:33 the synagogues of Damascus so that if he found any who were of the way now Jesus described himself in John 14 as the way or the path to the father, that no 1 comes to the father except by him.1:45 Whether it be men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. So they had scattered from Jerusalem because of the persecution there. And so Saul is hot on the trail. He wants to follow them into Damascus, Judea and1:57 Samaria and beyond to try to arrest them and bring them back. Then he so as he journeyed verse 3. As he journeyed, journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly, a2:09 light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Now let me stop there for just a moment. What did Jesus just say? Why2:21 are you persecuting me? That's what Jesus said. Now Jesus is in heaven. Who was Saul persecuting? He was persecuting followers of Jesus. Here's what2:33 we can deduct from this is that Jesus takes the persecution of his people personally. To target god's people with hostility and hatred is to target2:45 god. A hatred for his people is a hatred of God himself. Verse 5, and he said, who are you, lord? Then the lord said, I am Jesus,2:57 whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. So he trembled and astounded. He said, Lord, what do you want me to do? Then the Lord said to him, arise, go into the3:09 city, and you will be told what you must do. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no 1. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw3:21 no 1. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. So he had gained spiritual insight, but he had lost his physical sight in this encounter.3:35 Verse 9. And he was there 3 days without sight, neither ate nor drink. But now there verse 10. Now there was a certain disciple at3:47 Damascus named Ananias. And to him, the lord said in a vision, Ananias and he said to him, here I am, lord. Now this is always the3:59 proper response when the lord calls. So the lord said to him, arise and go to the street called Straight and inquire at the house of Judas for 1 called Saul of Tarsus, for behold he is prey. And in a vision, he4:11 has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this4:22 man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And here, he has authority from the chief priest to bind all who call on your name. Now notice that Ananias4:35 is a bit hesitant, and he questions these instructions. I mean, could this be a trap? Could the heart of a man like Saul who is who was there holding the garments when they stoned Stephen,4:46 could his heart really be changed? So the lord appeared to Saul, and he was converted. But the road to Damascus was just the beginning of his path to discipleship. Ananias4:58 was called upon to carry out what Jesus commissioned his followers to do in Matthew chapter 28. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit.5:10 See, Jesus saves. The holy spirit sanctifies, but he calls upon us, other believers, to disciple and baptize those whose eyes are opened to the truth. I mean, think about this for a moment.5:22 Without Ananias' faith and obedience to the instructions of the lord, would there have been the transformation of a Saul to a Paul? You know, throughout the bible, we5:34 see how god uses different individuals for different task. You know, while some are called to more prominent and celebrated task, all all members of the5:46 body are vital for the functioning and the success of the body of Christ so that the head, Jesus Christ, is glorified. So it didn't matter what you're called to do. I mean, just think we we actually do5:58 not read about Ananias again except when Paul recounts this encounter in Acts, we don't know anything else about him, but we know that he was6:10 pivotal in the process of discipling Paul. Now we don't know how far that goes. Could could could have gone farther, but what we read, he was at a key point in his obedience6:22 to god. He stepped forward. Verse 15, but the lord said to him, go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.6:34 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my namesake, and suffer he did. But he wrote to the Corinthians that, quote, this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an even for an6:46 eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Now Paul, I mean, he you read, and we're gonna read all the things he encountered. He said, you know what? This is a light momentary affliction6:58 in comparison to what we have awaiting for us in glory. Verse 17, and Ananias went in his way and entered the house and laying his hands on him, said, brother Saul, brother Saul,7:09 the lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately, there fell from his eyes7:21 something like scales, and he received his sight at once, and he arose and was baptized, making disciples, baptizing him. Paul then begins to preach the gospel. And, of course, there7:33 were more than a few skeptics. There were also opponents. As the lord told Ananias, Paul would suffer many things for Jesus, and, in fact, he did. Immediately, he becomes a target,7:45 but his new family of believers, they protect him and they provide for him. Now Luke does not record this here in Acts, but Paul makes reference to this in Galatians. After7:57 his conversion, really fitting in between verses 22 and 26 in this chapter, he departs for Arabia for about 3 years. Now during this time, he's being prepared for what is ahead,8:09 receiving revelation and instruction. Now there's a very important fact in the ministry of Paul. Paul was a well educated man. He was a Roman citizen from an influential family.8:20 Tarsus was the really the the third when you looked at the areas of influence and education. At that time, it was surpassed only by Athens and8:32 Alexandria. But he did not launch even though he was a learned, educated man, he did not launch out in his newfound faith immediately. This is important for the church today because many,8:44 many times, celebrities in entertainment or sports or some other field, they come to Christ, and the church immediately thrust them into the limelight. And and I8:56 I I I in part, I think this is out of a desire for affirmation on behalf of the church because many in the church in this age where the church is mocked and marginalized, people wanna see that, yeah, there are9:08 prominent people coming to the faith, and that's good. But when they're thrust into a position of kind of cultural leadership, things happen. I mean, they're and they're not prepared. They're sometimes asked9:19 questions that they've not thought through or sought answers to. And remembering the kingdom of god is counterintuitive to the way of the world. And and so they they may make statements that are9:32 in contradiction to the Bible. And what happens is that they sometimes lead people astray or they are humiliated. They lose their zeal or they walk away from orthodox Christianity.9:45 The Bible doesn't record this, but but it's 1 of these things that's on my list of questions to ask when I get to heaven. Did Ananias, in his discipleship of Paul, lead him to9:57 go away for this time of instruction and revelation from the lord? Did the lord lead Ananias to to instruct Paul to go away for this period of time? Alright. Let's go back. Verse10:08 26, he goes to Jerusalem. We know from elsewhere, this is about 2 week period he's there. And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were afraid. They were all afraid of him and did not10:20 believe that he was a disciple. So still, there are skeptics, and and and you can't blame them. I mean, people losing their lives. Verse 27. But Barnabas took10:32 him and brought him to the apostles, and he declared to him, Barnabas, the son of encouragement. He, he was an encouragement encourager, and and and he was vouching10:44 for Paul. And that that's important. Even today for us as people who are radically transformed to disciple, come alongside them, and vouch for the authenticity of their10:55 face faith as we know them. And he declared to them how he had seen the lord on the road and that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with him at Jerusalem11:07 coming in and going out, and he spoke boldly in the name of the lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenist, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him11:18 out to Tarsus. Now I want you to see what happens when believers persevere in the face of opposition and walk in the way of Jesus, impacting the11:30 lives of those around them as they pray for their enemies. And I believe Ananias is an example of that. Verse 31. Then the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and were11:42 edified. And walking in the fear of the lord and in the comfort of the holy spirit, they were multiplied. And don't miss this. They had peace. They had overcome. Now there's gonna be trouble11:54 ahead, but with the conversion of Paul, they had peace. They overcame the opposition. They were edified, meaning they grew and they were built up in the faith. They walked in the12:06 fear of the lord. They didn't fear man, rather they reverenced god. Fourth, they were encouraged, and they were refreshed by the holy spirit. At 5, they grew a number. They multiplied.12:18 See, that's you look at those 5 things, that's the outcome of our mission, which is the great commission. Father, we thank you for your word this morning, and what12:30 an encouraging passage to see a man who was breathing hatred toward your followers and that, lord, he has brought to his knees. He has12:41 converted, and he becomes 1 of the most important voices in the Christian church. His writings, lord, shaping the doctrine of the church that you inspired him. The Holy Spirit inspired him to12:53 write his life an example of perseverance and of commitment. Father, I pray that, like, we we wanna thank you for Ananias for being faithful and obedient to you13:05 to go and and disciple and to come alongside Paul or Saul who became Paul as a result of that discipleship. And so,13:17 father, I pray that even today, we would look for those opportunities. But, lord, we would be listening, and when you call, we would obey. Thank you for your word. Thank you for the Holy Spirit. For we pray this in13:27 Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until next time. Keep standing on the word.13:37 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you13:49 can read through the entire bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at f r c dot o r g slash bible.In this video 0:00 The Transformation of Saul: A Journey of Faith and Obedience
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