4/3/10 Acts 9
Persecution to Peace
At the beginning of Acts 8 Luke tells us there was a great persecution that broke out against the church. The church is all those who have believed and placed their faith in Jesus Christ. The church in Jerusalem was scattered and what appears to be a terrible set of events is actually used to carry the good news of Jesus to regions beyond Judea. One individual that is at the center of this hostility toward the church is a man named Saul.
Acts 9 begins by describing the tenacious activity of Saul against the disciples. He was committed to eliminating or imprisoning anyone he found belonging to “the Way.” Saul’s leadership style took him to extremes to carry out intimidating measures against the disciples of the Lord. In Acts 9 he had secured approval to go to Damascus, far to the north, in search of any disciples of the Lord. But on his way he met the one whom he was actually persecuting, Jesus.
On a road near Damascus Saul was confronted with a light from heaven and the voice of Jesus. Saul’s immediate response was humility and obedience. Jesus speaks in a vision to Ananias, a disciple who lived in Damascus, who may have become the target of Saul’s persecution. Ananias is instructed by the Jesus to go and meet Saul and lay his hands on him that Saul will regain his sight. Ananias is a bit suspect because he has heard of a man from Tarsus named Saul and the harm he has inflicted upon those called by Jesus name. Jesus confirms to Ananias that Saul is now on his team and that his assignment is to take the name of Jesus to the Gentiles.
In one moment the Lord has turned the heart of one of the most vicious persecutors of the church to become a supporter of the church and eventually one of the champions for the church and the name of Jesus Christ. Whatever level of persecution that is in your life, just know that it only takes a person one divine encounter for his or her whole life to be turned to Jesus and His work.
The climax of this narrative described by Luke is found in verse 31. “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.”
With Saul no longer persecuting the church it appears there was no one within Judaism who was as zealous and tenacious to take on the church as Saul had been, so the church enjoyed peace in Judea, Galilee and Samaria.
Prayer: Father I praise you for the relative peace that the church in America enjoys at the moment. Father I am fully aware that we could easily be met with severe persecution in the near future. Lord, may my eyes always be fixed on you and your dealing with your church. I lift up my brothers and sisters at this very moment in various countries that are celebrating their Easter services in places where it is illegal to do so. Lord intervene and protect those who have suffered great persecution so their Easter worship service today will be one they recognize your presence and power in their midst. Turn the hearts of present persecutors to your will and ways. Reveal yourself and draw them to yourself and bring them into the kingdom of God and give them a zeal for the gospel rather than an appetite for their own glory, in Jesus name. Amen.