Post by clarkthompson on Jan 27, 2017 12:27:03 GMT
Acts 9:1-4 King James Version (KJV)
9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:1-4 Expanded Bible (EXB)
Saul Is Converted
9 •In Jerusalem [L But; Meanwhile] Saul was still •threatening [L breathing threats against] the •followers [disciples] of the Lord by saying he would kill them. So he went to the high priest [C probably Caiaphas; 4:6]2 and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus [C in Syria, 135 miles north of Jerusalem]. Then if Saul found any •followers of Christ’s Way [or who belonged to the Way; C a name for the Christian movement], men or women, he would •arrest [take them prisoner; L bind] them and bring them back to Jerusalem.
3 So Saul headed toward Damascus. As he came near the city, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him [C in the OT lightning sometimes signaled the appearance of God; Ex. 19:16]. 4 Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
Expanded Bible (EXB) The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
These are my thoughts, please share yours.
1 Saul at this time still viewed the high priest as the man who directly went to God, this hadn’t been true since Christ ministry started and the priest had no purpose for good at this point. Saul takes it on himself to end the church.
2 At this point the church was mainly Jewish people so they were going to the synagogues sharing the gospel and for worship of the Lord. So Saul is having the high priest set a trap for the converts that the disciples won because they hadn’t yet started their own worship services so rather then go to some pagan worship they continued worshiping God in a house that was build to worship God.
3 Light often symbolizes or shows God’s presence. This light could not be looked at, scripture says that seeing this light would burn us up so God shows mercy to Saul by letting him continue to live.
4 God talked to Saul, God often can speak to people out loud or to us thru others or thru what happens but when He speaks we need to listen and we need to learn when it is Him speaking.
9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:1-4 Expanded Bible (EXB)
Saul Is Converted
9 •In Jerusalem [L But; Meanwhile] Saul was still •threatening [L breathing threats against] the •followers [disciples] of the Lord by saying he would kill them. So he went to the high priest [C probably Caiaphas; 4:6]2 and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus [C in Syria, 135 miles north of Jerusalem]. Then if Saul found any •followers of Christ’s Way [or who belonged to the Way; C a name for the Christian movement], men or women, he would •arrest [take them prisoner; L bind] them and bring them back to Jerusalem.
3 So Saul headed toward Damascus. As he came near the city, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him [C in the OT lightning sometimes signaled the appearance of God; Ex. 19:16]. 4 Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
Expanded Bible (EXB) The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
These are my thoughts, please share yours.
1 Saul at this time still viewed the high priest as the man who directly went to God, this hadn’t been true since Christ ministry started and the priest had no purpose for good at this point. Saul takes it on himself to end the church.
2 At this point the church was mainly Jewish people so they were going to the synagogues sharing the gospel and for worship of the Lord. So Saul is having the high priest set a trap for the converts that the disciples won because they hadn’t yet started their own worship services so rather then go to some pagan worship they continued worshiping God in a house that was build to worship God.
3 Light often symbolizes or shows God’s presence. This light could not be looked at, scripture says that seeing this light would burn us up so God shows mercy to Saul by letting him continue to live.
4 God talked to Saul, God often can speak to people out loud or to us thru others or thru what happens but when He speaks we need to listen and we need to learn when it is Him speaking.