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Acts 9

43 verses

TL;DR

Saul’s dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, his subsequent persecution of Christians, and his escape and integration into the early church, followed by Peter's miraculous healings in Lydda and Joppa.

Summary

On the road to Damascus Saul, a fervent persecutor of Christians, encounters a divine light and hears Jesus call him. He is blinded for three days until Ananias, guided by a vision, heals him, and Saul is baptized. After preaching boldly in Damascus, he is threatened by Jews, escapes to Jerusalem, and is accepted into the church by Barnabas. The chapter then records Peter’s healing of the paralyzed Aeneas in Lydda and the resurrection of Tabitha (Dorcas) in Joppa, events that spread faith among the locals. These miracles reinforce the growing strength of the early church across Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.

Outline
  1. Saul’s conversion and Ananias’ healing
  2. Saul’s preaching, persecution, escape and acceptance into the church
  3. Peter’s miracles in Lydda and Joppa and their impact on the early church
Themes
Grace and transformationPersecution and faithMiraculous signs and church growth
Keywords
SaulPaulAnaniasAnaniasDamascusJerusalemTarsusCaesareaLyddaJoppaconversionpersecutionlightvisionHoly Spiritmiracleresurrectionapostlesdisciples
People
Saul/PaulAnaniasJudas (house)BarnabasPeterAeneasTabitha (Dorcas)Simon the tanner
Places
DamascusJerusalemTarsusCaesareaLyddaSaronJoppa
Things
light from heavenblindnesssightHoly Ghostvisionapostlesmiracleresurrectiondisciples
Key Verses
  • Acts 9:3: The divine light that initiates Saul’s conversion.
  • Acts 9:18: Ananias heals Saul, marking the moment of restoration.
  • Acts 9:22: Saul’s bold preaching demonstrates his transformation.
  • Acts 9:30: Saul’s escape shows divine protection amid persecution.
  • Acts 9:32-35: Peter heals Aeneas, illustrating early miracles.
  • Acts 9:40-41: Peter resurrects Tabitha, a powerful sign of Christ’s authority.
Questions
  • What does Saul’s encounter with Jesus reveal about divine grace?
  • How does Ananias’ obedience demonstrate the early church’s obedience to God’s will?
  • In what ways do Peter’s miracles strengthen the faith of the surrounding communities?
  • How did Saul’s persecution influence the perception of Christians among the Jews in Damascus?
  • What role does the Holy Ghost play in the transformation of Saul?
  • How do the miracles of Aeneas and Tabitha affect the spread of Christianity in Galilee?
  • What can modern believers learn from Saul’s dramatic change of heart and life?
  • How does the narrative portray the tension between divine authority and human persecution?
Sentiment

mixed
Divine intervention is portrayed positively, while persecution is highlighted negatively.