Acts 9 - 10

Saul's Conversion - Peter's New Understanding

In today's reading, two of the most influential people in the early church have their thinking and lives totally changed.

Saul (later named Paul) was a zealous Jewish scholar who consented to Stephen's murder at the hands of the religious leaders and cruelly and unmercifully persecuted the believers. For some reason (and it can only be the election and grace of Almighty God), the Lord picked Paul as his "chosen instrument" (9:15) and on his road to Damascus, Saul was blinded by a mighty light.  The light was only seen by Saul (9:7) and a voice was heard from God asking Saul "Why are you persecuting me?" (9:4).  Needless to say, this got Saul's attention and he asked who was speaking. "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting." was the reply.

This reply is interesting.  As far as the scriptures tell, Saul never saw or interacted with Jesus when Jesus was on Earth.  There is no record of Saul persecuting Jesus in the flesh.  However, since the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to and received by the disciples and other believers subsequent to that day, Jesus is now identified with His church.  He is so closely identified with the Spirit filled believer that persecution of the believer is tantamount to persecuting Jesus Himself.

As we find out in the remainder of chapter 9, Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit, is baptized, and immediately begins ministering "boldly in the name of Jesus." (9:28), preaching the "Jesus is indeed the Son of God!" (9:20). So powerful and convincing is his preaching that the Jewish religious leaders plot to murder him (9:23 and 9:29). The Apostles and disciples in Jerusalem are skeptical about Saul until Barnabas (and Saul's own preaching and life) convinces them otherwise (9:27).

I chapter 10, the Bible tells about how the Lord changes Peter's understanding concerning Gentiles and the Holy Spirit. The parallels between Saul's misguided adherence to the Law and persecution of the believers and Peter's lingering attachment to the Law and his non-recognition of Gentile believers are made plain by the juxtaposition of these two chapters.  Even though Peter is a Christian and filled with the Holy Spirit, he still is holding on to the old beliefs about the law.  In his trance (10:10-16) he refuses to eat ritually unclean food even when the Lord tells him it is pure.  After being told by the Lord to go to a Gentile's home, Cornelius, when he arrives he reminds Cornelius that "It is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you." (10:28).

After hearing Cornelius' encounter with an angel and what he was told, Peter begins to minister to them. This brings the presence of the Lord and the Holy Spirit fills all of those in Cornelius' house.  Again, the Jewish believers are amazed that Gentiles are receiving the Holy Spirit.  They then baptized all of them in Jesus Name (see Acts 2:38) (note, they were not baptized in the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

The influence of the Law and the Jewish belief system still had a major influence on the early Jewish believers. In Chapter 11, verse 2, Peter is criticize for entering the house of a Gentile. This criticism is not from the Temple leaders but from fellow believers.  So not only did Saul need converting, but the minds of the believers needed converting too.