Acts Chapter 9 Verses 20-22

Acts 9:20 “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 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? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.” 

“And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”  While Saul had spent days with the disciples at Damascus, when he preached in the synagogues, he was not preaching in the church, but to the Jews who heretofore, had not heard the gospel of Jesus Christ or else had not believed the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Saul was very familiar with the Old Testament scriptures and no doubt quickly picked up on the prophesies of Jesus in the Old Testament.  Through his knowledge of the Old Testament and the prophecies, he was able to prove that Christ 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?”  Saul’s reputation was well known among the Jews and the Jewish leaders persecution of the disciples was also well known.  Those who heard Saul were amazed.  The greatest persecutor of the disciples was now proving by the scriptures that Christ was the Son of God.  No doubt they wondered why Saul who had been held in such high regard among the Jewish leaders would now join the disciples of Jesus Christ who were been persecuted to the death. 

“But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”  From the very beginning Saul was going to be a prominent witness to the Jews that Jesus is the very Christ.  His background and conversion itself was a mighty testimony to the work of the Lord and the sovereignty of the Lord.  His knowledge of the scriptures also provided him with the background he would need to preach and teach the word of God. 

Verses 23-28

Acts 9:23 “And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.” 

“And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.”  The hatred of Christ and his disciples was greatly manifest in the events set forth here.  The Jews could not surprise Saul as he knew their intent.  He had previously been where the Jews were here.  Damascus was a walled city.  Normal ingress and egress to the city was through the gates of the city.  Saul was trapped inside Damascus.  No doubt the Jews thought they would just wait and capture and kill Saul when he tried to exit the city. 

“Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.”  This took place by night when the watchmen would not be able to observe the wall.  Thus Saul had his escape from the intent of the Jews at Damascus. 

 “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.”  It is easy to see why the disciples were afraid of Saul as they were well aware of his reputation.  In their minds they probably thought that he was pretending to be a disciple that he might gain access to the disciples and persecute them to the death.  At this point they knew nothing about what had happened to Saul on the road to Damascus and of his preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ at Damascus. 

“But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”  Barnabas was a disciple who was held in very high regard by the apostles and disciples of Jerusalem.  With his testimony concerning Saul and how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus, then the apostles and disciples accepted Saul. 

“And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.” 

Verses 29-31

Acts 9:29 “And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” 

“And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.”  In this we see a pattern developing that in most places where Saul would preach there would follow a persecution against him.  Saul was well aware of persecution and now the great persecutor became the persecuted.  Yet, Saul was not afraid to lose his life as he had been guilty of taking the lives of many of the disciples before. 

“Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.”  In Tarsus Saul would spend a considerable time in meditation, prayer, and receiving revelation of God’s word that he would preach to the disciples and churches. 

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”  Now that the worst persecutor of the church at that time was now a disciple, for a period of time, the churches had rest from persecution.  They grew in knowledge and were edified and comforted by the Holy Ghost and this led to them being multiplied. 

Verses 32-35

Acts 9:32 “And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.” 

“And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.”  Our attention is drawn back to Peter and the work of the Lord through the ministry of Peter.  It would appear that Peter was making his rounds throughout all of Judah, ministering the word of God to the disciple.  Finally, he came down to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

“And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.”  Even today, palsy is a devastating disease to anyone who has it.  It basically renders the person mostly without strength for everyday functions.  As disciples of Christ we should be compassionate towards those who have such a devastating disease.  Aeneas had been in this condition for 8 years and was bedridden. 

“And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed.”  As an apostle Peter had been given the gift of physical healing and we see Peter exercising this gift as he spoke to Aeneas.  Obviously Aeneas as a palsied individual could not arise and make his bed without a miracle of healing being performed on him.  A miracle was performed on him as the scripture said: “And he arose immediately.”  This power and its manifestation is not in the individual who exercises the gift, but the power is of God and God manifested this power through Peter and applied it to Aeneas.  Truly this was a mighty demonstration of both the power of God and of the compassion of God. 

“And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.”  The manifestation of the power of God in raising up Aeneas no doubt would have signaled to the people that Peter was sent of God and that they needed to take heed to the message he was preaching and turn to the Lord. 

Verses 36-43

Acts 9:36 “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. 43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.”

“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.”  There are so many scriptures that describe how this woman was fulfilling what a disciple should be.  I have listed just a few of those scriptures below:

1.  John 15:8 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

2.  James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

3.  John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

4.  Eph. 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

5.  Mat. 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

 6.  Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

 7. Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

Dorcas was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did and we read of some of the details later in this passage.

“And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.  And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.”  That a person would become sick and die is certainly not unusual nor unexpected because that is what usually happens to people.  However, the fact that the disciples sent for Peter to come without delay suggest that they believed in the great power of God and that a miracle was possible. 

“Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”  What a very strong testimony to the compassion of Dorcas and to her love and discipleship and willingness to help the needy.  There was also a great mourning for her by the widows who had been the beneficiaries of her love and compassion.  They loved her deeply. 

“But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.”  There had been two miracles of raising the dead in the Old Testament by the prophets Elijah and Elisha.  Now we see the first miracle of raising the dead by the apostles in the New Testament.  We will see one later being administered by Paul. 

“And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.”  In this there could be no doubt by the saints and widows who had seen her dead before and were mourning her passing that a great miracle of raising the dead by the power of God had taken place. 

“And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.”  For the spirit born children of God in Joppa, this was great evidence that the Lord was the power behind this great miracle of raising the dead back to life and that the message of the apostle was to be believed. 

“And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.”  Peter’s tarrying in Joppa sets the stage for the gospel going to the Gentiles which will be addressed in Chapter 10.