Transformation of an Enemy
Transformation of an Enemy
Acts 9:1-31
Do you have an enemy? I believe it is easy to understand the concept of having enemies intellectually, but most of us have never really experienced having a true human enemy. I have had people dislike me and others who have been opposed to my ministry, but I would be hard pressed to say I have had a true enemy. It seems harsh to classify someone as an enemy. An enemy is a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against or engages in antagonistic activities against another. We are seeing more and more enemies of the church arise in the West. We are seeing more people with a hatred for the church, fostering harmful designs against the church and engaging in antagonistic activities against the church. And even as we see those enemies becoming more vocal on the national level against the church and sound doctrine, it does not always impact our day to day life. This was not the case for the early church. It was not merely conceptual, but tangible, real, in your face, hatred against the church.
Saul of Tarsus was the number one human enemy to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saul was trained under the renowned Pharisee Gamaliel. Gamaliel had pleaded patience to Saul and the rest of the Sanhedrin. He warned Saul to leave the Christians alone for he was confident in God’s sovereignty in saying, “if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing!” Saul would have been aware of his mentor’s counsel, but Saul believed he was wrong. Saul was a zealot for the law and demanded strict observance to God’s Word and to the teaching of the Pharisees. He was a strong, young leader who didn’t believe his elders were taking the teaching of Jesus Christ and the resurrection from the dead as a serious threat. In his zeal, he challenged the Jews to take a hard stand against everyone who followed the way. He viewed them as a threat to Yahweh and the Holy Scriptures.
As Stephen was being stoned, Saul looked on with approval as the crowd laid down garments at his feet. Saul was the righteous warrior standing against this new teaching and ready to defend Yahweh from heresy. And after Stephen’s death, Saul went after the rest of the church. Acts 8:3, “Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” Saul was the number one human enemy of the church. Saul was not the real enemy but was an instrument of evil manipulated and used by the father of lies, the great adversary of the church, the accuser of the brethren, Satan. Saul looked righteous, but inside he was full of hatred and pride. He was self-righteous and despised the grace of God.
The church will always have enemies. Some will be religious leaders, some government leaders, some will be friends or family members, but all of them are not the real enemies. The real enemy is not flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Saul was the greatest human threat to the church, but Saul was not the greatest enemy. We must remember to pray for our enemies, asking for God to be merciful to rescue them since they have been captured by the evil one to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26). Saul’s conversion is one of the greatest rescues in the history of the church. And his rescue began when Stephen was being stoned and called out to God, “Lord do not hold this sin against them.” God was gracious to answer that prayer to rescue an enemy.
The Enemy’s Threats (Acts 9:1-2)
Luke takes a break from Saul and the persecution in Jerusalem and shares how the gospel went forward in Samaria through Philip and how an Ethiopian Eunuch believed in Jesus Christ, was baptized, and went home rejoicing in his salvation. And after the excursion of joy in chapter 8, Luke, the master writer, returns to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1–2,
[1] But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest [2] and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (ESV)
Saul was panting and snorting like a wild beast, like a wolf salivating at destroying the sheep. As he approved of Stephen’s execution, he now continues his threats against the church. He was not satisfied with ravaging the church in Jerusalem, but now is going on the offensive all the way to Damascus. He asked for special permission from the high priest to capture any one belonging to the Way (the Way of the Lord or the Way of God). It is important to know that Saul was widely known throughout Jerusalem and Judea for his hatred and persecution of the church. Saul was not the only enemy, but was the face of the opposition.
Saul was blind with rage against the church. Remember what Gamaliel said, “If this is of man, it will fail, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.” Saul believes there are disciples in Damascus. Damascus is about 135 miles from Jerusalem and would have been a week’s journey by foot. Saul was blinded by his hatred and was willing to travel long distances to end the teaching of Jesus. He would tell King Agrippa, in Acts 26:9–11,
[9] “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. [10] And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. [11] And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Saul was zealous in his persecution of the church.
If you are a non-Christian, I would love for you to consider what happened to Saul. He was known throughout the whole region as someone who hated the church and wanted to lock them in prison and to even see them killed. In his own words, he pursued them “in raging fury.” We will see Saul turn from a persecutor of Jesus’ followers to one who would gladly be persecuted as a Jesus follower. Logically, it does not make sense, unless what we are about to read is true. I want you to consider what made Saul change from an enemy of the faith to a promoter of it.
The Enemy’s Target (Acts 9:3-7)
Saul was nearing Damascus with this entourage when suddenly his life was drastically changed. Acts 9:3–7 says,
[3] Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. [4] And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” [5] And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [6] But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” [7] The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
In a moment, a light from heaven shone around him. It was so bright, he was startled and fell to the ground. It was around noon when the sun would have been its brightest, and he said it was brighter than the sun. He heard a voice from heaven saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” God is so kind. Saul was full of raging fury against the church breathing murderous threats and God came to rescue and commission him. The key for us that this was a rescue and not a judgment is the double calling of his name, “Saul, Saul.” A double use of the name is a sign of intense emotion and relationship. There a key points throughout the Scripture when the Lord used the double name to rescue and commission his people,
Genesis 22:11 - But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 46:2 - And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.”
Exodus 3:4 - “When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
1 Samuel 3:10 - And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
In love, Jesus comes to an arrogant enemy of the church with tender words, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Paul responded with a question, “Who are you, Lord?” The word used there should not be seen as an act of submission and faith, but of respect. Jesus makes himself known, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
This is one of the greatest conversions in the history of the church. This divine revelation was not in private but publicly on the road to Damascus surrounded by the men who were traveling with Saul who saw the light and heard the voice, but saw no one. Saul knew it was divine and these men knew it was divine. Again, as we see the change in Saul throughout the rest of this chapter and book, divine revelation makes the most logical sense. Why would Saul change so rapidly unless God had revealed himself to him?
Let me make two applications. First, Saul’s conversion is extraordinary. A divine vision from heaven when God audibly speaks is not normally the way God offers salvation. Saul’s conversion was miraculous. And yet, our conversion is no less miraculous. God has given us divine revelation in the word of God. He has revealed himself to us through the Holy Spirit. And our lives should be transformed in a dramatic way. We were dead in our trespasses and sin. We, like Saul, were running towards God but away from him. He had to call us out of the grave. He had to rescue us. And I am so glad that Jesus said to me, “Dave, Dave, follow me.” It was not an audible voice, but an intimate, personal invitation. He did not come to me in judgment but in love. Saul’s conversion is extraordinary and ordinary. We may not have had a “Damascus road” experience, but all Christians have experienced the call to follow Jesus. Every single person has to make the decision to bow their knee and bow their hearts to Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We all have to respond to his invitation, “Come and follow me.”
Second, notice how closely Jesus identifies with his people. Saul was not persecuting Jesus directly. Saul was going after the people who follow Jesus. And yet, Jesus said, “Why are you persecuting me?” When we give our lives to Jesus Christ, we are united with him. The New Testament is full of hundreds of references to our union with Christ. John 17:22–23; 26,
[22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me…[26] I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Jesus is in us. We are united with him. This is why Jesus can say to Saul, “Why are you persecuting me?” Jesus has always intimately connected himself to the church. This is also where we begin to see the earliest developments of the church being called the body of Christ. We are part of his body. It is no surprise to me that Saul would be the one who taught this doctrine for it was at the very outset of his conversion he learned of the union of the believers with Christ.
Beloved, Jesus identifies himself with the church. How beautiful is the Lord’s love for his people? It should be profoundly encouraging that Jesus Christ, the Creator of the World, the Divine Son of God, the Savior of the World, identifies himself with us. We belong to him. He belongs to us. When the world persecutes us, it persecutes Christ. He is always with us. Jesus stands with us. One of the greatest encouragements of my life is that Jesus is the head of the church and we are his body. He is the one leading us. He is the one holding us together. We are united with him.
If Jesus is so willing to identify himself with the church, we should as well. If you are not part of a church, I would ask you to give a biblical defense on your decision. Or if Jesus was sitting at your table for lunch this afternoon, what would be the reasons you tell him for your desire not to join the church or not to be involved intimately with her ministry? If you are watching online, what would you tell the Lord Jesus about your decision not to gather with the church? I don’t want to sound too harsh but I don't believe Jesus would be pleased with many of our answers.
We do not want to be critical of the church. I have given my life to the church and to help encourage and strengthen biblically faithful churches. My heart grieves when I see what many churches practice and teach, but I am not against them. I am for them. I struggle with how to live with deep biblical convictions for the church and be charitable to those who may disagree. I am trying to balance them both because Jesus loves his church. He wants his church to reflect his glory to the world and he wants his church to love one another. But I believe to dismiss church as secondary or unimportant is dangerous and deserve a strong rebuke.
The Enemy’s Repentance (Acts 9:8-9)
The Lord Jesus confronted Saul on the road to Damascus. He was confronted with the truth and had a choice to make. Acts 9:8–9,
[8] Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. [9] And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Saul was blinded, but in his blindness, he finally was given sight. For three days, Saul neither ate nor drank. He was processing everything that had just happened. He was processing how much damage he did to the church. He was reflecting on the Scriptures. He was thinking about the saints he had hurt. He was probably remembering the final moments of Stephen’s life. Those three days of darkness without food or drink, Saul was repenting before the Lord and preparing to give his life in service to Jesus Christ.
Friends, it is not merely being confronted with the truth that saves us, but it is our response to it. You must repent of your sins and trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as your only hope for salvation. If you haven’t yet repented of your sins, please do so today. If you are a follower of Christ and are living in some particular secret sin, repent today. God is ready and willing to forgive even the most vilest offenders. Paul is an example for us of God’s incredible patience towards sinners. He delights to save sinners. Friend, turn to Christ in repentance.
The Enemy’s Welcome (Acts 9:10-19)
The gospel of grace had already come to Damascus. The Lord used the persecution of Stephen to bring the gospel all the way to Damascus and the Lord appeared to one disciple to help minister to a known enemy of the faith. Acts 9:10–16,
[10] Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” [11] And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, [12] and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” [13] But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. [14] And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” [15] But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. [16] For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
The Lord gives specific instructions to Ananias on where to go to meet Saul. The Lord also reveals that Saul is praying. (Another reason we know he has been repenting before the Lord). Of course, it is never wise to question the God of the universe, but it is understandable Ananias has concerns. He has heard of the letters given by the high priest to bind the followers of the way. He has heard of the evil that Saul has done for the saints. Ananias is not blind to what God is asking him to do. He is being asked to go to a terrorist and welcome him into the family.
And that is exactly what Ananias did. Acts 9:17–19a,
[17] So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” [18] And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; [19] and taking food, he was strengthened.
God is so kind. Ananias enters the home and sees this persecutor of the church, the one who delighted in the death of the saints, and laying his hands on him, says, “Brother Saul.” How precious did those words fall on Saul’s ears, “Brother Saul.” You are no longer an enemy, but a child of God and brother. Saul regained his sight and was baptized as a brother. All throughout Acts, this is the proper public confession. In baptism, one is buried with Christ and raised to the newness of life. In baptism, one is publicly declaring that Jesus died for their sin and was raised for their justification. It is very difficult to read through Acts and think baptism is not a big deal.
The Enemy’s New Message (Acts 9:19-22)
It did not take Saul long to begin to share what he had come to believe. One of the signs of true conversion is we are willing to confess and share what we believe. Acts 9:19–22,
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. [20] And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” [21] And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” [22] But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Immediately he proclaimed that Jesus is the Son of God. The Old Testament uses the terminology ‘son of God’ in several ways. “Son of God” in the OT refers to Israel as a people (Exod. 4:22), the king of Israel (2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 89:26–27), and to the king of the future (Ps. 2:7).” The New Testament we hear the Father say, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him. For sonship in the New Testament is connected to obedience. R.C. Sproul writes,
In the New Testament, the idea of sonship is inseparably related to obedience. This truth lay the root of the controversies Jesus had with the Pharisees over their relationship with Abraham. The Pharisees said, “Abraham is our father’ and Jesus said, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this…before Abraham was, I AM…You are of your father the devil’ (John 8:39-40, 58, 44).There is quite a contrast between being called ‘children of Abraham’ and ‘children of Satan’ Why did Jesus say that his opponents were children of the Devil? He answers that question for us: ‘You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. The same idea is used to describe sonship with respect to Jesus. Jesus is uniquely the Son of God in the sense that He, of all people in history, was completely and absolutely obedient to the Father. In His humanity, He was the Son of God. in His humanity, because of His sinlessness and perfect obedience, He warranted the title ‘Son of God.’
Jesus was the perfect Son of God shown in his perfect obedience to the Father. Of course, Jesus is shown to be the Son of God more than his mere obedience to the Father for Romans writes that Jesus was declared to be the Son of God through his resurrection from the dead.
Saul’s new message hinged on Jesus being the Son of God. And as we see in Romans, his aim was, “to bring about the obedience of faith,” of all who belong to Jesus Christ. If you belong to Jesus Christ you must obey him for he is the Son of God by example and by declaration. Saul’s new message was Jesus is the Son of God and therefore you must repent and obey him. And Saul confounded the Jews proving that Jesus was the Christ. He was proving that Jesus was the Christ from the Scriptures. It is as if he was blind for three days meditating on the Old Testament and light bulbs were going off everywhere showing that Jesus was the Messiah.
The Enemy’s New Welcome (Acts 9:23-25)
Saul changed his tune. He was now preaching Jesus Christ as the Son of God and calling all to full obedience to Him. Which changed how he was received among the Jews he once called friends, Acts 9:23–25,
[23] When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, [24] but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, [25] but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
Saul, who once was a Jew plotting to kill Christians, was now a Christian, who was being plotted against to be killed.
Three quick observations, the first, Saul was transformed. I have already mentioned it explicitly, but do not miss it. What else can explain this sudden change in Saul’s life? What could explain him being a persecutor to one who was gladly willing to be persecuted? The only answer that makes sense is he met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. Consider Saul’s experience as evidence for the gospel of Christ. Secondly, Saul was transformed by Jesus Christ as an example that anyone can be transformed. Beloved, we all probably know someone who we think is too far gone to be saved. But hear me, God can do whatever he sees fit. He is mighty to save. There is no one who can stand against the power of almighty God. God answered the prayer of Stephen to save his persecutor, God may answer your prayer to save those in your life who are far from God. Keep praying.
Thirdly, there are really only two sides. You are either for God or against him. And when you decide to follow Jesus, the world will hate you like it hated Jesus. As soon as you start swimming against the currents of the world, you will be hated. Our culture is moving farther and farther against the Bible. So now, even affirming gender as given by God and should not be changed is attacked as mean-spirited and unkind. To affirm a biblical view of marriage and sexuality will get you canceled by our culture. Beloved, nothing is new under the sun. We all have choices to make. We can choose this world and stand against God and stand with the father of lies or we choose Christ and stand with God. Saul chose God and was hated for it. Do not be surprised what will happen to you if you make the same choice.
The Enemy’s New Family (Acts 9:26-31)
Eventually Saul made his way to Jerusalem to join the apostles. And even the apostles struggled to believe his new found faith until someone spoke up on his behalf, Acts 9:26–30,
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. [27] But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. [28] So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. [29] And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. [30] And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
The disciples had good reason to doubt the conversion of Saul. They were afraid of him and what he might do to them. They may have doubted God’s power to save. But Barnabas came and put his arm around Saul and said, “You may not trust him, but I trust him. You may not know him, but I know him.” I love this story. Sometimes we need a faithful friend to stand up for us to bring us into the group.
One of the joys I hear often of our church family is of how welcoming our community is to new people. I pray we will never be a church of cliques. I pray we will always welcome one another and help others be welcomed. I would encourage you to be a Barnabas. Help new folks be welcomed into the family. Verse 28 says Saul “went in and out among them” code for he was one of them. He was welcomed into the family. I pray we will always have the same spirit among us.
Luke ends this section of Judea and Samaria with a summary statement reminding us of the promise of Jesus in Acts 1:8. Acts 9:31,
[31] So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Beloved, if we have peace with one another, if we walk in the fear of the Lord and if we enjoy the comfort of the Holy Spirit, we will multiply. Our aim is not multiplication but to walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. If we do that, and the Lord sees we have been faithful with little, he will bless us with much.