“YOU ARE UNDER ARREST”
Acts 9:1-19
Introduction
The apostle Paul refers to his first encounter with Jesus in terms that are similar to an arrest, or as being apprehended by Jesus. For example, in Philippians 3:12, Paul writes, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” By the way, this word “apprehended” appears only in the KJV; although it literally means to seize or take hold. In other words, Paul says, “I press on to take/lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus took/laid hold of me.”
On careful examination, one can see the irony of Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was going there to apprehend Christians, take/lay hold of them and dragging them off to jail. However, Jesus got a hold of Paul’s life and never let go. Let me remind all of us that Jesus wants to get a hold of our lives as well, and that is what I would like to talk about today. God wants to put a stop to our old way of living so that we might experience His restoration and know His love.
Read: Acts 9:1-19
Saul’s Conversion
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest
2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,
whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.
14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to
the people of Israel.
16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared
to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
I. Busted
Read: Acts 9:3
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
Ah-oh, Saul is busted for heading down the wrong road. He had been fighting against God’s will. His teacher, Gamaliel, had warned, in Acts 5:38-39, to “…leave these men alone…if this is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
It appears that Saul did not listen very well. On his way to Damascus, he found that he had indeed been fighting against the Lord. Saul thought he was doing something great for God, but Jesus gave him a reality check. Not only had he NOT been helping the God of Israel, but also he had been persecuting the Messiah, Jesus.
It is interesting how Jesus phrases His words. He asked Saul, “Why are you persecuting Me?” This may sound strange, unless we look back to what Jesus said inMatthew 25:40, “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.” It appears clear that Jesus linked the treatment of even the lowest of His brothers with the personal treatment of Him.
Do we remember when the Lord busted us? He does it in different ways for different people.
Some of us were overcome by the guilt of our sinful lifestyle. We called on the Lord, asked His forgiveness and turned from our former ways (i.e., repentance).
Some of us had to fall in to the pits of despair before we saw the light and call on the name of the Lord. I have observed that rarely do people call on God, when things are going well. Most people need to arrive at that place where they have to look up to see bottom.
How are things working out for you?
All I know is that God only accepts those with a humble heart. If it takes several hard knocks in life to produce humility, then let the hard knocks begin. Saul saw the light and was busted for fighting against Jesus and resisting His grace.
II. ARRAIGNED
Read: Acts 9:5
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
An arraignment generally takes place in a courtroom before a judge. The charges are presented to the judge and the defendant is given an opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty.
If we read carefully, in light of this analogy, Jesus’ statement in Matthew 25:40, then it is reasonable to assume that Saul would have been charged with murder and Divine assault. Saul may never have actually killed anyone; however, we do know that he was standing by approving or consenting to Stephen’s death (cf. Acts 7:57-58). Since he was most likely included in the Sanhedrin, he would have voted, “yes or no,” to sentence any Christians to death or prison.
In Paul’s testimony before Agrippa (Acts 26:9-10), he said, “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.”
When Jesus indicted Saul on multiple counts of Divine assault (i.e., persecuting Jesus by persecuting Christians), Saul begins to realize how far he missed God. Saul understood that he indeed was guilty of the death of Jesus and that he had cast his votes against many believers who were consequently put to death.
III. TRIED
There really is no separate trial in Saul’s case, because the court of heaven had already found him guilty on all counts. In our legal system, we have what is called due process to avoid hasty and unjust punishment. However, since the court of heaven has all the details recorded, a just verdict is quickly reached.
The Bible tells us that we “all have sinned and have fallen short” (cf. Romans 3:23) of the standard that would enable us to have relationship with God. If sinful people stood in the presence of a holy God, His glory would consume us.
Just as Saul was found guilty of the Lord’s death, there is a sense in which we all share in that guilt. It is our sin that put Him on that old, rugged, Roman cross. I proclaim to you this morning, He would have gone to the cross, even if only one needed His forgiveness. However, we all have sinned and we all need forgiveness. We may never have killed anyone nor done anything that seems terribly wrong. Nevertheless, we are guilty. It is only when we turn to the Lord and away from our sin that our guilt is taken away. Until we call on the Lord, we are in the same place Saul was in: “Guilty of the death of Jesus.”
IV. SENTENCED
Read: Acts 9:6, 16
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Saul was busted, arraigned, convicted and now faces sentencing. I wonder what he was thinking. According to our text, Jesus does not speak any comforting words to Saul. Saul knows the law very well and He knows that he is worthy of death. Therefore, when Jesus tells Saul to get up and go into Damascus to receive further instructions, I wonder if Saul thinks he is going to face some serious consequences or maybe even death.
In one sense, Saul does receive the death sentence. Jesus wants to give Him life, but it will require Saul to die to self and to sin. Several years later, in 1 Corinthians 15:31, Paul writes, “I die daily.” In addition, in Colossians 3:3-6, Paul writes, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.”
In order for Saul to receive the life of Christ, he is sentenced to death on a daily basis…and so are we. If we do not crucify the flesh daily, then Christ’s life will not have its full effect in us. Do we remember what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:5? He wrote, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature.” Why death, because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (cf. Romans 6:7).
Saul was not only sentenced to death, he was also sentenced to life in Christ’s service. This is not actually punishment, nor does Christian service provide for our forgiveness or salvation. Here is how Paul speaks of the ministry God has called him to: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service” (1 Timothy 1:12). Paul sees himself as a bond-servant of Jesus (Titus 1:1). We too are servants of Jesus: “But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life” (Romans 6:22). Again, this is not a punishment, but a privilege and responsibility given to us by the Lord. We were not created to serve ourselves. It is God’s kingdom and we serve Him out of love and gratitude for all He has done for us. Finally, let us look at how Paul was forgiven and restored.
V. RESTORED
Read: Acts 9:17-19
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who
appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
As Saul spent these 3 days praying and repenting, he had time to think about how far he had missed God. He probably felt guilty and ashamed of the way he had fought so hard against God. He may have thought, “How will these followers of Jesus ever forgive me or accept me?”
The Lord used Ananias to minister the Lord’s grace and healing to Saul. When Ananias came to see him, he said, “Brother Saul….” Now using the word “brother” with someone’s name may just sound religious to us today; however, in those days, it was an affectionate term used to describe someone who you were close to and had much in common. What Saul heard was, “I love you and accept you as someone who is valuable to the Lord. I am glad you are part of the family.” After Ananias accepted Saul and touched him, Saul’s sight was restored as something like scales fell from his eyes.
Not only was Saul’s physical sight restored that day, but also his relationship with God. He probably had started out with a sincere desire to please God; however, at some point his zeal for God and the Jewish religious system crossed over into hatred of Jesus and all His followers. After he encountered Jesus, God did something wonderful in his life. He gave him a new heart that was humble and broken. The Lord breathed life into the soul of a man who had become hard and distant from God.
Conclusion
As we close, let me say again that God wants to put a stop to our old way of living so that we might experience His restoration and know His love. We see this in Paul’s life, as he was busted, arraigned, convicted, sentenced and finally restored. Most of us will never be blinded by a light from heaven and/or have a face-to-face encounter with Jesus like Paul did. However, if He has not already done so, Jesus wants to arrest you by His love. He wants to get a hold of your life and make something wonderful out of it.
I want to speak to anyone here who has not asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins and become the leader of their life. Do not wait until the bottom falls out. Do not wait until you are overloaded with burdens. You have been chosen for a better life. It does not promise to be an easy life, but it is what you were specifically designed for. We all were created to have a close relationship with God our Father, through Jesus His Son. If you will simply confess your sins to the Lord and let Him be the leader of your life, He will restore you and give you the life you have always wanted. If you are ready to do that, I invite you to come and talk with me in just a few moments.
Thanks to Don Brockus for this sermon
