The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-10-25

to bear. "The way of tvansgressors is hard. "
Saul had resisted the authority Of Jesus, the
testimony of his martyr Stephen, the divine
attestation when he saw his face as an angel,
and probably the convictions Of his own con-
science. True Paul says he acted "ignO,
rantly in uubelef," Il Tim. i: 13;) and
thought that he sought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. "
Yet there may have been under all his over
towering fanatical zeal, some secret conVio
tons of conscience which he was resisting
This appearance of the risen Saviour to Saul
is referred to 10 | Cor. tx: 1.
| V. 6. "Trembling and astonished," is the
effect we might expect from such a reVela
ton. The despised Jesus of Nazareth has
asserted his divine power in way that Sau
can no longer resist. And overcome, he
asks, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
The inquiry is similar to that of the aWak
ened at Pentecost, "Men and brethren, what
II
shall we do?" and to that of the jailor,
"What must DO to be saved? 2 1t is how,
ever generally understood to be, not so much
the inquiry fan awakened soul, seeking the
way of life, as the language of submission
on the part of one now ready for duty. de
was directed to the city for instruction.
V. 7. "The men which journeyed witt
him" were probably those semitic aid him II
his work of arresting and imprisoning. The
Roman authorities either connived at this
lawless oppression on the part Of the Sanhe
drim, or went farther and aided them in ii
by sending their own officers, to execute the
purposes of these prosecutors. These atten'
dants heard the voice, but not the words
spoken, xxi: 81 1t is implied that Sau
both heard and saw the person who spoke.
VS.. Saul by the supernatural light was
50 blinded that when his eyes were opened
be was not able to see, but had TO be led al
a blind man into the city. This presented
striking contrast to the style in which it was
his purpose to enter Damascus.
V. 8. His blindness continued for three
days, and until miraculously relieved. The
effect of the occurrence upon his mind was
! such as to affect his bodily condition, and ht
wholly abstained from food and drink during
this period. The time was probably like
that in which our Lord was under the power
Of death, not three whole days, but ont
whole day and parts of two others. Sau
had been directed to 90 into the city, witt
the promise that he should be told what tt
do; but his faith was tried by being required
to wait three days, not only in physical dark
ness, but with no light shed upon the way Of
life aud the path of suty.
The Lord appears to Ananias, vs.. 1O-16.
V. 10. Paul, in his account of his CONVEX
sion describes Ananias xxi: ~ as "a de-
vout man according to the law, having gooC
report of all the Jews which dwelt there.
We know nothing of him but that which il
here recorded. God chose an obscure in
strument, so far as appears, to introduce the
great Apostle Of the Geniiles to the light Of
the gospel and the communion of the church
"The Lord, who appeared to him in vision,
means, as before, the Lord Jesus Christ.
V. II. There still exists in this old city q
long straight street, running from east to
west, called "straight." "The house Of
Judas" however, still pointed out to the
credulous is not on this street "Behold he
prayeth, indicates what Saul was then do
ing. He may have spent the three days Of
fasting in prayer, but this is not here assert
ed. This fact vas mentioned to Ananias, as
the reason of his being sent to him. The
meaning was either that his praying indica-
ted that be. Rss now disciple, or that Ana
MAS was to go as the Lords messenger to
bear the answer to his prayer. Both these
ideas may have been conveyed, as both were
true.
V. II. The Lord had prepared Saul by q
vision for the reception of Ananias, whom he
was also by vision preparing to go. So it
was afterwards with Peter and Cornelius.
1 V. Is The "many," through whom An
anias had heard of Sauls prosecutions at Je-
rusalem, were probably refugees from that
persecution now in Damascus. "Saints,
is here first used to describe disciples. The
word conveys both the idea of holiness and
of conservation. Perhaps the order of thought
in it is this believers are set apart, or con-
seCrated to God, and hence their true char.
acteristic, whether attended to or not, is holt
ness. This conduct of Saul's is mentioned
by Ananias as the reason of his unwillingness
to execute the order given. This reluctance,
ike similar conduct on the part of Moses,
and Jeremiah and other prophets, was nat
ural, but like theirs was also inexcusable.
V. IA. Saul had authority even in this
distant city, to impriaon disciples. How then,
Ananias reasoned, was he to be sent as the
messenger of Jesus to meet him? Christians
ere designated as those "that call on thy
name" To call upon the name of God in
the Scriptures means to worship. So when
Christians call upon the name of Christ, they
show Him divine honor. The term employ,
ed here to designate disciples shows that
they habitually wo,shipped their Lord.
V. Is. Notwithstanding what Saul bad
been, Jesus now assures Ananias that he is
his 6 chosen uesser 10 hear his name hafnre