Acts 9.1 Startling assertion

To the apostles, and we're treading on very familiar ground because here is recorded the fantastic conversion of one of the great persecutors of the early Christian church. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest 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. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.

And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the bricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, arise and go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. And to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias.

And he said, behold, I am here, Lord. The Lord said unto him, arise and go into the street which is called straight and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he prayeth.

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said unto him, go thy way for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way and entered into the house.

And putting his hands on him said, brother Saul, the Lord even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales. And he received sight forthwith and arose and was baptized.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues that he is the Son of God.

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? But Saul increased them more in strength and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him. But their laying await was known of Saul.

And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket. Amen.

Well by the way that you sang that hymn I'm sure you'd have warmed Wesley's heart. Let's turn to the ninth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. And in a moment or so I want to fix your attention to a phrase, a sentence in the 11th verse.

I've made reference before and I'm sure that many of you would attest to the experience of reading the word of God, going through a familiar passage, one that you have read on scores and scores of occasions previously and suddenly as you go through it once again something lights up as though you'd suddenly been introduced to a text or a statement the real significance of which had hitherto escaped you. And that was my experience this past week when preparing for yet another study in the Acts of the Apostles. I don't know how many times I've read this ninth chapter but as I went particularly into the 11th verse and concentrated upon it, that last statement hit me with a forcefulness which please God I shall be able to impress upon you this morning.

The statement right at the end, for behold he prayeth, for behold he prayeth. You know that the preceding verses refer to the fantastic conversion experience of Saul, the great persecutor of the Christian church. And there's a man by the name of Ananias in Damascus who is informed by God as to what has happened on the Damascus road.

Something of the experience of Saul is related to him. And in the vision that comes to this Hebrew Christian Ananias, the Lord goes on to intimate this. Behold he prayeth.

One of the things that scripture cannot convey because obviously it's in written form is intonation, accent, inflection. And yet I dare to suggest that the man who's reading the Bible not casually but has prayed to the Holy Spirit to illuminate his understanding can capture something of the original intonation which God meant when this word was set down in written form. And if I'm right, and if I'm not being presumptuous this morning, then I suggest that within this statement there is a sense of incredulity, of incredibility.

For behold he prayeth. That man on his knees praying in a way that he's never prayed before. Something that's staggering.

Something that's astonishing. Ananias, he's praying. There was a man called Saul centuries ago who astonished some of his contemporaries.

He was a king. The second, the first king of Israel. And on one occasion Saul was in the company of some men who were filled with the spirit and he started to prophesy.

And it became a proverb in the land. Is Saul also amongst the prophets? Is Saul one of the prophets? Again, that note of incredulity that Saul should be so moved upon by the spirit of God. Now it's a different Saul, but exactly that same note of astonishment I say is to be found within this statement.

Behold, he prayeth. Let me look into this very pregnant statement and let's examine what we can deduce from it, what we can learn from it. For here is an announcement.

Announcement which contains a great deal of meaning and challenge. What can we say first of all about this particular statement in the form of an announcement? Well, it is announcing the termination of a crisis in the experience of this man who came from Tarsus. The termination of a crisis.

He's praying. And because I say the Lord comments upon his attitude of intercession, this can be deduced. He has gone through a crisis and he's now at the end of it.

What is the crisis? Well, think through the occasions when we have heard about Saul and there are only one or two previous to this statement in the ninth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. First of all, we found Saul looking after the clothes of those who in such a callous and barbaric fashion stoned Stephen to death. And then we read in the eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, the first verse that Saul consented unto the death of Stephen.

Campbell Morgan deduces from this that Saul must have been a member of the Sanhedrin and he cast in his vote for the execution of Stephen, the first martyr. And we go on to read in the third verse of this eighth chapter concerning Saul that he became the head of the persecuting party in Jerusalem the ones who wanted to rid the holy city of Christians. Saul assumed the leadership and we gather that he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and hailing men and women and committing them to prison.

And then when you come into the ninth chapter in the first verse, you read this of Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, he went unto the high priest. And why did he go to the high priest? Well, so that he could have permission to carry out the work of persecution at Damascus as he had continued it at Jerusalem. But the important point which is often missed in reading the Bible in this particular statement is that little word yet in the first verse of the ninth chapter, and Saul yet breathing out, or if you want another translation from the Greek, and Saul still breathing out threatenings and slaughter.

As though Saul was striving against something, as though there were certain pressures being placed upon Saul for him to quit his nefarious activity of so persecuting and tormenting the early followers of the Lord Jesus. Saul still breathing out despite all that's happened, despite his experience of listening to Stephen give forth his defense and expound the gospel of the Lord Jesus prior to his death. Despite all the ministrations of God upon the heart of Saul up to this moment, he is still breathing out threatenings and slaughter.

As though the man's got some convictions forming in his own heart as to what Stephen has said, and yet he's trying, if he can, to neutralize these convictions by engaging in ceaseless activity and doing to death or putting in prison the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I say this thought of Saul going through a crisis is sustained in the interview that he has with the Savior on the Damascus Road. The Lord Jesus says in the fourth verse, the words are recorded, why persecutest thou me? All this activity is not really directed against a group of men at Jerusalem.

It wasn't just directed against Stephen, it was directed against me. Saul, you're fighting against me. It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And Saul, as you will remember from your knowledge of his conversion, responds, Lord, what would you have me to do? And Jesus tells him to go into the city of Damascus, and there it will be told him what he must do. But you see the point. Saul has been going through a crisis experience in his life.

He was still breathing out threatenings and slaughters against the disciples as he sets out towards Damascus. But when he arrives at Damascus, after he's been unhorsed, after he enters the city in a blind fashion, he gets down on his knees and he prays. Behold, Ananias, he prayeth.

The termination of a crisis. Saul, who has fought against God. Saul, who has wrestled against his own convictions is now praying.

And he's showing that the victory, that God was fighting for his life, that the battle that God was fighting for his life has been won. But something else I'd like to put before you from this statement, behold, he prayeth, is this. That it reveals the comprehension of God.

It reveals the comprehension of God. There are those who feel that they can live fast and loose as far as God is concerned in the 20th century. But this statement, and indeed the whole of this incident surely condemns the conclusion that you have made.

Here is God speaking to Ananias concerning Saul. And it's amazing how much God knows about Saul. He tells Ananias that Saul has gone to stay in the street called Straight at Damascus.

He tells Ananias the very name of the man who owns the house, a man called Judas. He tells Ananias of the posture that Saul is in. He's praying.

So much information that God gives to Ananias concerning Saul. What does it all mean? It means this, my friend. That the eyes of God do indeed run to and fro around this world.

He is aware of what is going on. Not only is he informed concerning the heart and the attitude and the whereabouts of Saul, he's informed and concerned and knows about your situation in your life today. The Bible tells us of the Lord that he knows my frame.

And what is more, he knows whereabouts I am. And this thought is often underlined in scripture. Jesus knew of the people with whom he was to engage in conversation before he ever met them physically.

He knew of the disciple, the potential disciple, Nathaniel. You recall the story in the Gospels. He knew of Zacchaeus.

Here's Zacchaeus up his tree, waiting for the Lord Jesus to come down by the central road of Jericho. And Jesus is aware that Zacchaeus is there. He's informed, you see.

God is always informed concerning the situation of the sons of Adam. And the principle I'm trying to establish, and it's clearly defined in scripture, is this, that God knows about your situation today. I don't know what your attitude is to Jesus Christ, but God knows.

I perhaps don't know where you live or your circumstances, but God knows. Amazing the amount of information he was able to convey to Ananias concerning Saul, indicative that God knows everything, that he is omniscient. So here I say, this statement, behold, he prayeth, not only marks the termination of a crisis experience for Saul, it also indicates the comprehension of God.

He's aware of this man from Tarsus and his circumstances and his attitude. But surely this statement, behold, he prays, also indicates something else, something glorious, that there's jubilation in heaven, that the Lord Jesus Christ is filled with joy. Do you know this? It causes happiness to come into the hearts of Jesus Christ when a man responds to the gospel.

Was it not the Savior who told the story of the good shepherd, the shepherd who had lost one of his sheep? And he went out and he found the sheep. And when the sheep was brought back into the fold, the good shepherd rejoiced. And does not Jesus Christ rejoice when men and women assent to his gospel and seek out his salvation? And was he not pleased? And did he not join with the whole of the angelic host as they peered over the balustrades of heaven and watch Saul blindly enter into Damascus, go down the cobbled flagstones of the street called Strait and enter into the house of some Hebrew there and fall on his knees? Behold, he prayeth and the very bells of heaven rang out as Saul is completely changed by a dynamic act of God the Holy Spirit in his experience.

So I say this is a very pregnant announcement. Behold, he prayeth. But I develop it further.

Here is an unanswerable argument, an unanswerable argument. You see, there are many who are going to react against this news. Saul was almost like a small Hitler towards the Christian church in its early days.

I don't think the illustration there is extreme. You read about his murderous intentions in the first verse of this ninth chapter. And in the third verse, is it? Yes, of the eighth chapter, we read of Saul making havoc of the church.

And that's a very powerful Greek expression. It means he was behaving like a wild animal who has lost his senses and is causing the greatest amount of damage that he possibly can. Now, for this man, this tyrant, this archenemy of the Christian community of Jerusalem and Damascus, for him to be changed, for him to be converted, my, that's going to take a lot of believing.

But here is an unanswerable argument to any doubting Thomases that the early Christians might have had in their community. Behold, he prayeth. Ananias argues with the Lord, don't you know about Saul? Of course you do not, Lord.

I'm not being disrespectful. But have you forgotten, have you overlooked certain things? This man, Saul, he's done so much evil to your saints at Jerusalem. And he's come here to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Lord, have you forgotten this? Ananias, he prayeth an unanswerable argument. When a man falls down on his knees and intercedes, and his words are hooked up to his emotions, to his heart, as well as to his head, he exposes himself. And when a man is exposed in prayer before God, you've no need to be afraid of that man.

No need to be afraid of Saul anymore, says God to Ananias. He prayeth. God didn't say he preaches.

Anyone can preach. And the sentiments that flow out from a man's lips may not be a reflection of what he feels within his heart. But when a man is down on his knees praying for three days before God, you've no need to be afraid of that man.

You can trust him. Behold, Ananias, he prayeth. The words were a veritable guarantee of Ananias' safety.

But here is an unanswerable argument too for Paul's sincerity. For Paul's sincerity. Do you know some of the most cherished experiences that I've had here in this tabernacle have been in my vestry when people perhaps on a Sunday evening or during one of the days of the week came into my office and they wanted to talk to me about salvation.

And it wasn't what they had to say. It wasn't their eloquence or lack of eloquence in telling me about their conviction of the truths of Christianity that impressed me and laid an indelible impression upon my mind. It's when we got down to pray.

And when a man prays or a woman prays for the first time and the words are faltering as they flow from the lips, there is, I say, an assurance, a witness given within the heart of one who is alongside them that what has happened is a genuine work of grace in their hearts. Paul prays. And here is an unanswerable argument for Paul's sincerity.

Paul is like the publican in the story that the Lord Jesus Christ related. The man you remember who went into the temple but stood at the back because he didn't feel he had any right to be in God's holy place. And he beats his fists upon his breast as though he despises the sin that is in there.

And he says, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Not an eloquent prayer, but there was tremendous theological grasp and discernment within it. God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

You can trust a man who says that. You can trust a man who says that when his emotions are linked up with his words. He's sincere.

And this is what Ananias is to know concerning Saul from Tarsus. An unanswerable argument for his sincerity is found in the fact Ananias, he prays. And what is more, here is an unanswerable argument for Paul's election.

Some people get a little bit concerned as to whether they really are Christians. Oh yes, they've read certain things concerning the gospel in the New Testament. And they have information concerning the work and the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But the devil sidles alongside them at times and makes them question their own experience. And maybe Saul or Paul had this thing to go through, this tempting to go through. How does he know he's a Christian? How does he know? As God says to Ananias in the 15th verse here, that he is a chosen vessel unto me.

How do you know that you're a chosen vessel unto the Lord? You can know by praying. When a man prays in the spirit, even though he may not be eloquent in the words that he uses, when a man prays with the whole of his personality behind him, he has that inner assurance, that inner witness that he's chosen of God, an heir of Jesus Christ. So I say here is an unanswerable argument for the conversion experience and its genuineness of Saul from Tarsus.

But here I want to develop my text just one stage further and do it briefly. Here I say is an unavoidable challenge, an unavoidable challenge. See this man who's engaging in prayer, Saul.

And God marks out this particular experience as being unique to him at that time. But why? Why is it unique? After all, he comes from the religious grouping called the Pharisees. And the Pharisees prayed, they prayed on many occasions.

In fact, some of them made an outward show of their prayers and conducted themselves in an attitude of prayer by the marketplace so that all passing by would say, what a religious person, what a dedicated person that they were. But here is Saul praying in a different way from what he has ever prayed before. And therefore, this experience challenges us in as much as we must distinguish between prayer and prayer.

There is just the mouthing of empty sentiments that may pass for prayer in the experience of some, but not in the analysis of God. There is something unusual, I say, about the way that Saul is praying on this occasion. So unusual that God marks it out as being unique.

Behold, he prayed. The words that he said were wedded to his emotions. They were wedded to his beliefs.

He engaged in prayer and God recognized the genuineness of that prayer. You know, there's a hymn that says something about so many times we pray, so many times we open our mouths, but do we really pray? There is prayer and prayer. There are the empty platitudes.

There are the words that tumble out of one's mouth that perhaps you may put before the Lord in a morning or at night, but it's all so hurried. It's all done so thoughtlessly, so heedlessly, and that is not necessarily accepted by God as prayer. Oh, that we might be given a ministry that Paul started to exercise at the time of his conversion.

Behold, he prayeth. I say here is an unavoidable challenge for you and me to examine our own prayer lives. But again, there is the challenge here of prolonged prayer.

Do you notice how long he was engaged in prayer? Three days he was in Damascus without his sight. Three days without drink. Three days without eating.

And during those hours, he engaged in prayer. Have you ever prayed for a prolonged period? Not easy to do that, is it? But I wonder if Paul was here starting to build something that he would extend in his years to come, a prayer ministry for Jesus Christ. And is not this the reason behind the success that this illustrious missionary-to-be had in the Roman Empire? A man who learned early on in his conversion days of the value that there is in prolonged prayer.

No one ever achieved anything for God in Old Testament times, New Testament times, or down the centuries to this present moment without interceding in prayer. Revivals and reformers are born in prayer. George Whitefield was a man who prayed.

A man who prayed sometimes for days on end, sometimes for weeks on end. And no wonder 20,000 people came to hear him from London when London was only 700,000 strong in its population. 20,000 came to hear Whitefield at Kennington and Moorfields Common.

No wonder the miners listened to him at Bristol. No wonder the Indians listened to him in America. This was a man whose very being was saturated in prayer and impregnated by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And when a man prays like that, of course he is useful in the service of God. Of course he wins many for the kingdom of the Lord. Behold Ananias Paul prayeth.

And if God had told Ananias more as to what Paul was going to do in his ministry, he would surely have emphasized the fact that this would not be a rare occasion. He will continue in prayer, interceding on behalf of men and women who too need their eyes to be opened as his eyes have been opened spiritually and soon will be physically. So I say here is the challenge, not only for us to distinguish between prayer and prayer, but here is the challenge for us to exercise prolonged prayer in the service of Jesus Christ.

And here surely is underlined the fact that God answers prayer. Paul was engaged in intercession in the house of his friend on the street called Straight and God was responding to what Saul was saying. God moves Ananias to go towards Saul and to minister unto him.

And here I see the tremendous fact, God is moved by our praying. I can never really understand the mystery and the miracle of prayer. I can't understand how it is that a sovereign God can be impressed and influenced by my intercessions.

But the Bible tells me that it is true and though my logic can't comprehend it, I believe it with my heart. And I ask you, do you believe this? Do you believe in the power of prayer? Do you believe that prayer changes things? Do you believe that God responds to prayer? He certainly did in the case of Saul by sending Ananias to minister to him. Behold Ananias, he prays and God is going to move upon the life of Saul.

Do you know, I say this in concluding, it's incredible that Saul prayed. But do you know something that's even more incredible? Do you know that Christian people can be prayerless? I'm astonished that Saul prayed considering his background and yet I'm grateful to God that he did respond to the Gospel. But something that astonishes me even more is that Christian people can commit day by day and week by week the sin of prayerlessness.

Oh yes, we doff our cap to the truth that I've been presenting from the Word of God. I wouldn't think this morning that there's anyone here who objects, who's a Christian person, who objects or denies anything that I've said. Yes, you're dead right, we believe it.

This is straight biblical teaching. All right, then having believed it, my dear friends, why don't we live by it? Behold, he prayeth and God responded to the prayer of Saul. And God is still the same.

Contacted by, can be contacted by us through prayer and prayer itself can bring many into the kingdom and continue to revolutionize our experience. Well, may the challenge of this passage of scripture live on in your hearts and affect your spiritual walk with God for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Father, from the sin of prayerlessness, deliver us and help us to have such a great understanding of the price paid for our salvation that like the Apostle Paul, we shall count it the greatest privilege on earth to be in constant fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing full well that he is never more than a prayer away. Through prayer, may we grow strong in the Savior. Through prayer, may we win others for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Through prayer, may we bring honor and glory to the name of our great God and Savior. Amen.