Acts 9 — Transformation and Calling
Saul’s Zeal and Misguided Mission
Acts 9 begins with Saul of Tarsus, a devout Greek-speaking Jew, determined to silence anyone who followed Jesus. He truly believed he was defending God’s truth. With official letters from the high priest, Saul set out for Damascus, ready to arrest Christians who belonged to “the Way.”
The term “the Way” was how early Christians described their faith. It represented the path of salvation through Jesus and the way of life in relationship with God. It was not just belief, but a lifestyle patterned after Christ Himself.
The Damascus Encounter
As Saul journeyed toward Damascus, a light from heaven flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say,
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4)
In that instant, Saul realized he had not been fighting a movement, but the Messiah Himself. Jesus’ words revealed His unity with His followers. To harm them was to harm Him.
The brightness of that divine encounter blinded Saul. His companions stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. The same voice that struck fear also extended mercy. Saul, trembling and blind, was led by hand into Damascus, where he spent three days without sight, food, or water.
Ananias: Obedience in Fear
In Damascus, a disciple named Ananias heard from the Lord,
“Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and look for Saul of Tarsus.” (Acts 9:11)
Ananias hesitated, for Saul’s reputation was known far and wide. Yet God’s instructions were clear. He went, laid his hands on Saul, and said,
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. He regained his sight, was baptized, and strengthened. The persecutor was now a preacher. The very one who dragged believers from their homes would soon risk everything to proclaim Christ in those same homes.
From Blindness to Boldness
Saul began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues of Damascus, declaring,
“He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20)
The same fire that once fueled persecution was now burning for purpose. Many were astonished at the change, and others plotted to kill him. Yet even in the face of danger, Saul pressed forward, already walking in his divine assignment.
The Church, which had been scattered by persecution, now entered a season of peace.
“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” (v.31)
Peace did not mean the absence of trials. It meant that the presence of the Holy Spirit outweighed
Peter’s Ministry in Lydda and Joppa
As Saul’s ministry was taking root, Peter was still moving through the regions where believers gathered. At Lydda, he met a man named Aeneas, paralyzed for eight years. Peter said to him,
“Jesus Christ heals you. Rise and make your bed.” (v.34)
Instantly, Aeneas rose, and the miracle led many in the region of Sharon to turn to the Lord. God’s power continued to affirm the message of salvation.
From Lydda, Peter was called urgently to Joppa, a coastal city known for trade and cultural diversity. Something tragic had happened there.
Dorcas Restored to Life
“Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.” (v.36)
Dorcas was known for her kindness and her skill. She sewed garments for widows and the poor, using her gifts to serve God’s people. Her name meant “gazelle,” symbolic of grace and beauty, which reflected her spirit.
But tragedy struck. Dorcas became sick and died. The community was devastated. The widows who loved her washed her body and laid her in an upper room. Hearing that Peter was nearby in Lydda, they sent for him urgently.
When Peter arrived, he was taken to the room where Dorcas lay. The widows wept and showed him the garments she had made. It was not just fabric they displayed, but evidence of a life poured out for others.
Then Peter did something deeply familiar.
“He put them all outside 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.” (v.40)
This mirrors what Jesus did when He raised Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5:37–41.
Jesus had sent everyone out of the room except Peter, James, and John. He removed the noise of doubt and despair so faith could fill the space. Peter, having witnessed that moment years earlier, now followed the same pattern. He cleared the room, knelt, and prayed. Then, just as his Master once spoke to the dead, Peter spoke life into Dorcas.
When Dorcas opened her eyes, Peter helped her to her feet and presented her alive to the believers. Word spread throughout Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.
Joppa, known today as Jaffa, was an important port city along the Mediterranean coast, just south of modern-day Tel Aviv. It was a hub for travelers and traders from across regions, making it a strategic place for the gospel to spread beyond Jewish borders.
Peter’s act in Joppa prepared the way for what would happen next in Acts 10 — the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles. His stay at the house of Simon the tanner (v.43), a man involved in working with animal hides, signaled a growing shift away from Jewish ritual restrictions toward a new covenant of grace for all people.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for calling the unworthy and transforming the unlikely.
Teach me to walk humbly like Ananias, to serve faithfully like Dorcas, and to obey courageously like Peter.
When I face death in my dreams or faith, speak life again through Your Spirit.
Let my hands and heart be instruments of compassion that point others to You.
In Your name I pray, Amen