Call to Commitment

  

Acts 9, part 2

 

19. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 

20. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 

21. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" 

22. But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 

23. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 

24. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 

25. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. 

 The great beginning of the Christian life, for this new believer, Saul, was to spend the first three days sightless, in fasting and prayer. In a very real, spiritual sense, Saul was blinded from his former life as a Pharisee, from his former way of interpreting the Old Testament Scriptures and now, his eyes were miraculously opened to a new way of seeing things. The glowing reality of the glory of Christ takes away his natural hunger for food and separates him from all else to the gospel of God (Ro. 1:1).  

He initiated the new life by receiving Jesus as Lord, being baptized in water and baptized in the Holy Spirit. His religion was transformed into supernatural, resurrected life in Christ. He experienced a powerful entrance into the Kingdom of God. Even the natural food, of which he now partook, energized him to immediate action in promoting His purposes. He began a new fellowship with the people that he came to Damascus to persecute (v. 19). The communion with them, he surely discovered, was rich and alive, and from that atmosphere, he went directly to serve Christ in the Jewish synagogues.

 Three sightless days were enough to give him basic understanding of the person and work of the Son of God, so that he could present him to his Jewish fellows (v. 20). There is no way to explain and describe what has happened to this man and the only reaction to his transformation, from a Pharisee to becoming a Christian, is amazement. It is hard to believe that this could be the same person, who persecuted believers in Jerusalem and came to Damascus with the same purpose (v. 21).

In his early walk with the Lord, Saul went to the desert of Arabia to the school of the Holy Spirit, to learn the secrets hidden since the beginning of time: “The fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God” (Eph. 3:9). He told the Galatians, “I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus (Gal. 1:16-17).

 With every hour, in which a new birth brought him into a new creation, his spirit and soul developed power and light, and under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, he was more than a match for the seasoned Jews in Damascus (v. 22). Under the same old spirit that Saul had known so well, they arrived at the same conclusion, to which he came as a Pharisee. They knew no other than to destroy, in the same way in which he came to Damascus to destroy Christianity. It is the way of fallen man and of the entire kingdom of darkness to steal, kill and destroy (v. 23).

 However, as Paul would discover, as he walked in the purpose for which God called him, he was indestructible, even immortal. God would give him the ears of the prophet Elisha, as one of the servants of the king of Syria said, "Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." Saul had the eyes of the prophet also, as Elisha could see the invisible armies of angels, protecting his people, and said to his servant, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them… Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (see 2 Kings 6:8-17). The God of Israel of the Old Testament was now the God of Christianity.

 The plot of the Jews “became known to Saul” (v. 24). In our study, we will learn of another later plot against Paul in Jerusalem. It was discovered by Paul’s nephew and he came into the Roman barracks, where Paul was held, to tell him and then relayed it to the commander: "The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him.” (Ac.23:20).

 I have often wondered how hungry those men became before they broke their oath. They certainly did not fulfill it! The Christians in Damascus helped Saul escape by night, lowering him in a bucket from a window in the city wall: “In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands”  (2 Co. 11:32, 33).

 

Saul in and out of Jerusalem

26. And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 

27. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. 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. 

28. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 

29. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 

30. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. 

31. Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. 

Paul gave his testimony and the early story of his walk in Christ in his letter to the Galatians. I mentioned in the last section that he shared that God revealed His Son in Him. Once again, we are seeing the fulfillment of Christ's desire, expressed to the Father: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me” (Jn. 17:23). Christ was revealed in him, so that he could “preach Him to the Gentiles” (Gal. 1:16); the Gentile world would see Jesus in and through Paul.

Arabian Desert in Syria

 In Galatians 1:16 through 18, he testified that he did not “immediately confer with flesh and blood,” meaning that he did not go to Jerusalem to receive teaching from the original apostles. Instead, he went to Arabia to be taught by the Holy Spirit and then returned to Damascus. It was three years after his conversion, when the governor tried to arrest him, that the believers helped him escape from Damascus and he went to Jerusalem for the first time since his conversion.

 Saul tried to mingle with the believers there, but they were afraid of him, fully aware of his reputation. Barnabas played the part in Jerusalem that Ananias played in Damascus, presenting Saul to the apostles. He related to them his amazing testimony and his faithful and bold preaching in Damascus (v. 27). Only then was he able to circulate freely in Jerusalem (v. 28).

 He went to his old people, the Jewish Hellenists who, I remind you, originated in foreign countries, as Saul did, and spoke Greek. As he gave bold testimony among the Jews in Damascus, now he spoke boldly to the Hellenists in Jerusalem. Knowing their doctrines very well, he disputed with them, presenting Jesus as Lord. They had not changed their attitude, as it was, when Saul walked with them and was like them. They began to make plans to kill him (v. 29).

 Once again, God exposed their plan and the believers escorted him totally out of Israel to Caesarea and from there, provided a way for him to go back to his native city, Tarsus (v. 30). As we have learned from Luke’s writings, the gospel had now spread from Jerusalem to all of Judea and Samaria. Here, he adds, that there were now churches also in Galilee. They were enjoying a time of peace, the persecution having ceased since Saul’s conversion, although he himself is now the target. Luke’s report is that the churches were receiving spiritual edification and the godly ingredient of the fear of the Lord rested upon them. As Jesus had promised, the Comforter was doing His vital work also, something that is always needed, while believers live and walk in a hostile environment and the devil is always at work to trouble them. The numerical growth continued throughout the land (v. 31).

     

Peter preaches Christ in Lydda and Joppa

32.  Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.  

33. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 

34.  And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed." Then he arose immediately. 

35.  So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 

36.  At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 

37.  But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 

38.  And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 

39.  Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 

40.  But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 

41.  Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 

42.  And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. 

43.  So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. 

 About Acts 8:26, I commented that Philip learned a principle that God established, beginning with Abraham; that of going out, “not knowing where he was going.” I also mentioned that Peter experienced the same principle, speaking of this passage, which is now before us. He left Jerusalem, not realizing that the main purpose of this trip was to reach Caesaria and see a major breakthrough in reaching out with the gospel to the Gentile world. We will not discuss that situation until the next chapter.

 Just previous to verse 32, Luke tells of the success of the gospel and the forming of churches throughout Israel. Now we learn that there were believers in Lydda and Peter ministered to them (v. 32). This town was situated 25 miles from Jerusalem on the road to Caesarea Philippi. In Old Testament times, it belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. After Philip witnessed to the Ethiopian, he was found in Azotus (Ashdod), and from there preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea. He must have preached in Lydda, which was among those cities.

 The Lord began to move in Lydda, when Peter met a man named Aeneas. We do not know if he was a believer, or not, whether or not he was a Jew, or anything else about him. Luke tells us nothing. except that he was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years (v. 33). As the lame man, who begged at the temple gate, there was no hope or cure for this man. Consistent with the preaching of the gospel in the book of Acts, another supernatural sign took place. Ah, the joy and power that accompanies the gospel! Aeneas immediately was healed and for the first time in eight years, he made his own bed (v. 34)

 Jesus, the Messiah, worked through Peter again, that the world might believe. What He began to do throughout the Gospels, He continued to do through His people in the book of Acts. To Him alone belongs all the glory and praise for His matchless love for the sick and sinful!  The news filled Lydda and overflowed into Sharon, between Lydda and Joppa. Sinners in both places observed Christ, living in a Galilean fisherman, and turned from their wasted lives to the Lord (v. 35).

Modern Jaffa (Joppa) south of Tel Aviv

Ten miles from Lydda, Joppa lies on a huge promontory, lifting it to 150 feet over the Mediterranean Sea. It is a port city and was part of the territory of the tribe of Dan in the Old Testament. This was the place, to which the prophet, Jonah, fled to find a ship to Tarshish, escaping from the Lord´s presence. It exists today as Jaffa, attached to the south end of the modern city of Tel Aviv. Yes, my friend, we are talking about legitimate geography with a legitimate history. The Holy Spirit testifies in the book of Acts of a powerful demonstration from the hand of God in that city.

Luke focused on a disciple in Joppa, a woman who had found her place in Christian service. Her name was in Aramaic, Tabitha, meaning Gazelle and translated, Dorcas, with the same meaning in Greek… a beautiful name, I think, for a lady. Her service was described as full of good works and charitable deeds, certainly from a dedicated, compassionate character. I am going to surmise that, she was full of good works, because she was full of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Christ, her work and her character were anointed, bringing out an unusual quality, in her person, as in her art. It must have been something like an inspired artist might exhibit on canvas or a gifted musician might perform on an instrument (v. 36).

 Death of such a caring, useful person brought great sadness and it happened to Tabitha that she was smitten with illness and died. However, Paul, the apostle, in Philippians 1:20 exposed his one aim, not only regarding his life, but also in death: “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death”.  It was going to become true in this saint, whose life had magnified Christ, that He would also, dramatically, be magnified through her death. The Christians laid her in an upper chamber (v. 37).

 The disciples heard that Peter was in the proximity, in nearby Lydda, so two men were sent to bring him quickly to Joppa (v. 38). A servant of Christ is known, because he brings life, where death reigns. Peter went back with them and they led him into the upper room. We see now that those that Tabitha served were widows, evidently poor women, whose husbands, of course, had died and they were now in need of the things that she made for them. These widows wept in sorrow, so grateful for the tunics and other garments that caring Tabitha made for them. Through their tears they showed them to Peter, when he arrived (v. 39).

 I wonder if some of them became Christians, because they saw the love of Christ in Tabitha. Every time a widow put on a garment made by her, they could not help but think of the loving care demonstrated by that piece of cloth given to them. Her love could be as effective as the sermons of the pastor in Joppa in bringing people to Christ, and shows me how a woman’s ministry can be as effective as any man’s. I do not think that I am exaggerating her ministry, because I remember doing visitation with a pastor in Slovakia. In two or three houses, I was impressed because more than one mentioned a certain Gypsy lady, member of the church, who was instrumental in bringing about salvation in the ones that we visited. Her influence was felt, even though the bulk of her time was dedicated to her house and family.  

 Peter must have been moved, as he saw the loss felt because of the death of the Lord’s true hand maiden. He wanted to be alone, without distractions, in that upper chamber with the Life giver and to petition Him, as to what He would do in this situation. He must work, because He told Peter and all the disciples, “Without Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). 

But Jesus Christ can do all things,

It is He that strengthens me;

Yes, Jesus Christ can do all things,

As He lives His life in me.

Peter knelt in submission and reverence before Him, and gave Tabitha’s inert body to Him, as one evening, years before, he placed fish and bread into Jesus’ hands. He watched Him bless them, then return them to the hands of the disciples to feed thousands, who were hungry. Through the voice of Peter, Jesus speaks to His daughter, “Tabitha, arise.” She heard the voice of her Lord, opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat on the bed (v. 40). My dad knew that Jesus could speak through him and wrote that truth in a little poem:

 For tis no more I that speak,

But the Savior kind and meek,

Through the Holy Ghost and fire.

 Peter extended his hand to help her to her feet and then opened the door of the chamber to the believing saints and widows of Joppa. Can you imagine the joy and praise that arose from the upper chamber that day? (v. 41). But the story does not end there, for the testimony of the power of the gospel filled Joppa and many believed on the Lord. He became their hope of eternal life, because they saw that He could raise the dead (v. 42). Powerful testimony is needed in our day to show that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (He. 13:8). Peter had been alone with Him in the upper chamber and Moses was alone with him in the tent outside the camp: “Let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (He. 13:13).

 I would have liked to experience the fellowship enjoyed those many days in the house of Simon the tanner. This was one of the “times of refreshing” that Peter had spoken about in Solomon’s Porch in Jerusalem (Ac.3:19). Visitors must have streamed in and out of the house, and yes, Tabitha, must have been there frequently. There surely were wonderful meetings with teaching from Peter for the saints and instruction for the new believers in Joppa.