The Pilgrim Path---Acts 9: 19b – 22

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 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?” But Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

THE MAN WHO MADE HAVOC…

Havoc means “destruction, confusion, disorder.” This is what Saul of Tarsus had brought upon the Church of Jesus Christ. As a Pharisee of the Pharisees---he wanted to stamp out these Disciples of the Way. He thought they should not even exist. The Living Christ had a greater purpose for Saul and His Kingdom. The man who was a menace---would end up becoming a missionary, theologian, church planter, and evangelist. Who would have believed such a transformation could occur? Look and learn! Paul would shake hell and cause the devil some considerable havoc for the rest of the time he inhabited the world. I have always been humbled and fascinated by Paul’s testimony in Philippians 1: 20, 21,

…as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that will full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

From all indications, the LORD Jesus was ready for the world to “see” the greatest opponent of Christianity---turned into its greatest advocate---by the glorious power of the Gospel. Nothing like seeing: “Jesus Saves.” Nothing like beholding “Law works” cast down and the wisdom of man pulverized---all in one fell swoop in the conversion of one of the most arrogant men of the Age! And what a preacher he was: “proving Jesus was the Christ---confounding his opponents in the synagogues!” My—my—the Love of Christ making a spiritually dead man alive. Nothing like it on earth. Making havoc of the devil’s domain!

From Simon Kistemaker: After his stay in the wilderness, which may have been anywhere in the Nabatean kingdom that extended from Damascus to the borders of Egypt, Paul returned to Damascus. From his own testimony (Gal. 1: 16 – 24) and from Luke’s account in Acts, one can posit the following sequence of events in Paul’s life:

1. Conversion on the way to Damascus (9: 1—19a)
2. Brief stay in Damascus (9: 19b-22)
3. Seclusion in Arabia (Gal. 1:17)
4. Return to Damascus for a time (9: 23)
5. Escape to Jerusalem (9:23-25; II Cor. 11: 32-33)
6. Meeting with the apostles (9:26-28; Gal. 1:18-19)
7. Departure for Syria and Cilicia (9:30; Gal. 1: 21)

The information supplied by Luke and Paul is insufficient to formulate an accurate chronology of this particular phase in Paul’s life. Therefore, we are compelled to resort to the use of hypotheses. One of these is that in respect to the expressions “several days” (v. 19b) and “many days” (v. 23) Luke telescopes events that include Paul’s seclusion in the Arabian desert.

From Octavius Winslow: Saul preached Christ as the Son of God, and we cannot properly preach Christ without in the very foreground placing this grand article of our creed---that Christ is essentially Divine. The whole fabric of Christianity rests upon this. Cut this from under us, and on what do we stand---in what is the sacrifice for sinners? In what our hope for eternity? But if my Savior is God, then my hope is resting on Deity, and I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I commit unto Him until that day. We must preach the sacrifice, the atonement of Christ, without qualification or reserve. This is a day of much reserve in the statement of those great cardinals of our faith. But the work of Christ is what it ever has been. No change in modern modes of thought or of opinion has altered the essential doctrines of Christianity. We are not to adapt our preaching to the education or politics of the times. We are to preach the same glorious gospel which Paul preached when he uplifted the Cross of Christ as the only hope of a lost and ruined world. What a grand feature was that in his ministry---Christ the Savior of sinners!

From Samuel Rutherford: Ye will not get leave to steal quietly to heaven, in Christ’s company, without a conflict and a cross.

From Saint John Chrysostom: There’s nothing colder than a Christian who doesn’t work for the salvation of others. You can’t use poverty as an excuse; the widow who threw her two small coins will accuse you (Luke 21: 2—4). Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none” (Acts 3: 6). Paul was so poor, he often went hungry and lacked necessary food (Philip. 4: 12). And being lower-class by birth is no excuse either. The apostles were obscure men from obscure families. Or are you uneducated? That’s no excuse. The apostles had no official education (Acts 4: 13)…Are you weak in body? That’s no excuse. Timothy was a person who suffered from frequent illness (I Tim. 5: 23). Everyone can serve his neighbor if only he is willing to play his part…

HYMN

The work which his goodness began, the arm of his strength will complete;

His promise is yea and amen, and never was forfeited yet.

Things future, nor things that are now, nor all things below or above,

Can make him his purpose forgo or sever my soul from his love.

My name from the palms of his hands eternity will not erase;

Impressed on his heart it remains, in marks of indelible grace.

Yes, I to the end shall endure, as sure as the earnest is given;

More happy, but not more secure, the glorified spirits in heaven.

Augustus M. Toplady, 1740—1778

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason