Devotion for Tuesday, 28 June 2011 Anno Domini Acts 9:20-31

Devotion for Tuesday, 28 June 2011 Anno Domini Acts 9:20-31

“20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” (Acts 9:20-31)

The judgmental and condemnatory mindset is a characteristic perhaps of the Middle East culture. There is little difference in the low regard for life and justice between the Pharisaical sense of dealing with those who disagree and that of the radical moslems. If someone disagrees with your religious view, or represents a threat to your power base, simply kill them in the most grotesque manner possible. If the message unsettles them then, by all means, kill the messenger! The man who began as Saul the persecutor is fast becoming Paul the evangelist. His courage is great, as it must necessarily be, to confront the wicked men of his day in preaching.
“And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” What could be the role of a Christian minister if not to preach Christ, and this is what Saul does! “But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?” Men most often judge based on past evidence (and rightly so in most cases), but God, who knows what direction the life of a man will take in the next day, month, or year, judges based upon what He knows of the heart and how it can be amended. Thankfully, God never looks upon us as to who we presently are, but as who we will become in Christ Jesus! This man Saul is a known enemy of the church. It is quite normal that those aware of his past might be somewhat suspicious of him; however, the power and authority of God’s Calling will overcome all doubts.
“But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.” The more the challenge, the greater the strength in overcoming same. The worldly professors are always confounded at the power of God’s Word. This is why there is so great an effort to remove every vestige of God’s Word and Name from our schools, courts, legislatures and public forums of every variety. The Jewish leaders were so certain that they had rid themselves of Christ at Calvary, but now He is growing in general acclaim and become a real threat to their pseudo-religion of filthy rags and meager works.
“And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him.” My! What a novel approach for these brigands. You would think that another solution might at least apply on some rare occasion but, no, always kill the prophets! The Gospel of Christ has become a hydra-headed monster to these men. Once they have severed one head, seven more replace it. The Christian faith is watered by the blood of her saints.
“But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.” I checked the calendar just now and discovered there is no entry for the Devil’s Holiday. He never takes vacation or relaxes his assault on the Church. He will expend long hours in wait, but most often during the hours of darkness for, as Christ said when they came for Him in the Garden, “When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” (Luke 22:53) and the night when the devil entered into the heart of Judas after taking the sop and he went out into the eternal darkness: “He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.” (John 13:30) Evil lurks in darkness but flees the light of day!
“Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.” Darkness may be the hour of evil, but it can also provide cover for the sake of the righteous at the very hour of the greatest advantage for evil works. The hands of the disciples work together to save one who, just days earlier, was a mortal enemy. Now, by the marvelous grace of God, Saul has become one of the strongest proponents of Christ.
“And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.” An understandable doubt on the part of those in Jerusalem who had suffered most at the hands of the former Saul. Little do they know the born anew Saul! Past reputations are difficult to overcome, but throughout the remainder of Saul’s life, he left no doubt of the power and veracity of his calling in God.
“But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” The confirming acknowledgment of the Church must also be achieved if a man is called of God. This was done apostolically at Jerusalem through the witness and testimony of Barnabas to the other apostles.
“And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.” In Saul’s daily public walk with the apostles, we see his lack of fear and presence of strong courage. He was not afraid to be seen in dangerous company for the Jews hated the ministers of Christ.
“And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.” Now we can see evidence of strong doctrine in Saul’s preaching for now he has enemies even in the assembly who wish to kill him. Perhaps these are the same Grecians who disputed in Acts 6: 1 regarding their widows not being served. Perhaps they had a habit of contention.
“Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.” There is purpose of God in all things. He had a mission for Saul elsewhere. His role on this trip to Jerusalem was finished.
“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” These churches had witnessed great wonders and, perhaps the greatest of all, the conversion of a deadly enemy to that of a brother and valiant man of God. These, too, are the regions wherein Christ walked and taught. The message of the Apostles was confirmed in the certain knowledge of the people in comparison to the actual ministry of Christ for they had witnessed it firsthand. Have you, my friend? It lies before you in the Holy Bible!