Read Acts Chapter 9
1. Who is Saul?
2. What was Saul doing according to Acts 9:1? Why?
3. What does Saul ask of the High Priest in Acts 9:1-3? Why?
Going deeper: Where was Damascus located in the first century? Why would Saul have wanted to go there in search of followers of the Way?
4. What happens as Saul approached Damascus according to Acts 9:3-4? What does the voice ask him?
5. How does Saul respond according to Acts 9:5? Who is the voice?
6. Several things are happening in this scene with Saul which are markers or indicators of Divine appearance. See if you can identify them.
See Ezekiel 1:28 and Daniel 10:9
See Genesis 22:11, 46:2; Exodus 3:4; and 1 Samuel 3:10
See Genesis 12:1, 22:2
7. What does Yeshua tell Saul to do in Acts 9:6-7?
8. What is Saul’s response in Acts 9:8?
9. What was Saul’s physical condition according to Acts 9:8-9?
10. Who was Ananias (Chananyah) according to Acts 9:10? How does the Lord speak to him?
11. Ananias answers the Lord with the phrase “Here I am, Lord,” which echos back to the Hebrew “Hineni.” This has been the response of devout Jews for centuries before Ananias which of course, as a student of Torah, he would have known. Review the following verses and note who else is part of this group.
Genesis 22:1
Exodus 3:4
1 Samuel 3:4-10
Isaiah 6:8
Prayer project. Meditate on these men of faith. Meditate on this Hebrew word “Hineni” (translated “Here I am”) Consider your own life and your response to God. Do you (have you) answered this way? How does your heart react when it hears this? Does it bring fear? What will God ask of me? Will it be too hard? Too scary? Or does your heart embrace the opportunity to serve God with willingness? Consider as you meditate the real reaction of your heart. Ask God to show you what He has for you in this.
12. What is he told to do according to Acts 9:11-12?
13. What is Ananais’ response in Acts 9:13-14?
14. How does the Lord respond in Acts 9:15-16?
Going deeper: “Bat Kol” (voice from heaven) is a familiar phenomenon in scripture and the writing of the sages. See Genesis 1:3, 21:17; Numbers 7:89; Daniel 4:28; Matthew 3:17 and 17:5.
15. What does Ananias do according to Acts 9:17?
16. What happens in Acts 9:18-19?
17. Who was Saul with according to Acts 9:19?
18. What did Saul immediately begin doing in Acts 9:20?
Prayer project: Consider Saul’s conversion. He’s riding along the dusty road headed to Damascus, as he approaches, his life is permanently interrupted. Recall how the details, the light from heaven, flashing around him, his fall to the ground from atop the horse (ouch), the voice calling him by name, asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He must have been confused, disoriented, embarrassed, maybe even terrified to have a voice from heaven make such an accusation. What does his experience tell us about God? About human programs worked in the flesh for God? What do we learn from the change in Saul’s life? What was the change? What remained the same? How was he different just within this chapter? How does conversion impact a believer? How did your conversion impact you as a person? Ask God to remind you of the changes He has brought about. What message of instruction, comfort, exhortation or something else does God have for you in this reading of Saul’s conversion?
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