Acts 9 starts the beginning of a great man Saul, who wrote much of the new testament. As you probably already know Saul was persecuting the saints of Jesus Christ and on his way to Damascus in verse 3 a light shone around him from heaven.
Acts 9:4 Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
:5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
:6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The first thing that Saul knew when he saw the light from heaven and fell to the ground that he was speaking to God. I don't doubt that he believed in many gods being taught and growing up under a Roman culture but when he heard God's voice he said Who are You Lord? And God told him Jesus whom you persecute. Other times in the Bible God told those who he was calling "I am God the only God." but in this case He said I am Jesus.
In verse 6 Saul asks what do you want me to do and God responded "go into the city and you will be told what you MUST do." Now after this encounter Saul was completely blinded and had to be lead by hand to Damascus. I believe this is how we all are when were called or receive a word from God. We have no idea of where to begin or even how to make our prophecy come to pass, this is when we need to allow those around us who also witnessed our word to lead us. God knew it was important for Saul's entourage to hear the word as well so they wouldn't persuade him to turn back or trick him into going somewhere else. But they had the fear of God instilled in their hearts and they probably said among themselves I don't know whats going on but we better do as God has told Saul or we may be next.
Acts 9:11 So the Lord said to him "being Ananias a disciple at Damascus." "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of judas for one called Saul of of Tarsus, for behold he is praying."
After receiving a word from God we need to follow Saul's example and be in prayer and seeking God's guidance. Saul sought and fasted for three days without food or drink as well as without his sight. Although Saul was without his physical sight he was also without spiritual sight and knew not the next steps God had for him so he sought the Lord and God called Ananias and also gave Saul a vision
Acts 9:12 "And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."
God then called Ananias to go to Saul..
:16 "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."
And when Ananias arrived to laid hands on Saul
:18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Directly after this encounter Saul began preaching Jesus Christ in the synagogues that He was the Son of God.
As Saul was persecuting the church, God called him and Saul heard Jesus' voice and obeyed; but he wasn't told what to do next. For three days Saul fasted and prayed being blind both physically and spiritually until he received a vision of God's disciple laying hands on him to receive his sight after receiving his sight he was baptized and began fulfilling the call of God in his life. Saul didn't know everything he had to do to begin the work of God, but God spoke to him a little at a time and Saul even had to seek God for guidance. These small steps help Saul's faith begin to grow and little by little he became a great servant of God and wrote much of the New testament but he had to be lead by those around him who heard the word of God, he had to seek God for guidance and received a vision, his sight had to be imparted to him from Ananias a disciple of God and lastly he began preaching Jesus.
This process happened very quickly for Saul but each step was important and had to be taken one at a time. Imagine what Saul would have been if he had said "OK I received my word I'm going to begin preaching in the synagogues." before Ananias had imparted to him his sight?
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