Reading for May 18th

Read Acts 9.10-31. In verse 31: "Here I am Lord" is the response of a faithful Israelite to such a vision (1 Sam 3.4, 6; Acts 22.12). In verse 11: The heavenly directions get right down to the street, house, and man by name (see also 10.32). In verse 15: Asa chosen instrument or vessel (2 Cor 4.7), Saul is the bearer of Jesus' mission. The gentiles, kings, and the people of Israel will be the audience of Saul/Paul's mission, largely in that order (13.46-47; 26.2-23; 28.23-28). God's mission is never done with Israel (Lk 2.25, 29-32, 34). In verse 16: He must suffer because this is the way of Jesus' mission, necessitated by God's plan in the scriptures (Lk 9.22; 17.25; 22.37; 24.7, 26, 44; Acts 4.27-28). In verses 17-18: Restoration of sight was a sign of the fulfillment of prophetic promises (Lk 7.22; Isa 29.18; 35.5-6). Saul's baptism is closely linked with being filled with the Holy Spirit (see 2.38). In verses 20-22: Proclaiming Jesus to be the Son of God meant to prove him to be the Messiah, probably through scriptural argument (v. 22; Lk 1.32, 35; 3.2; 24.3, 9, 42; 22. 67-70; Acts 10.38, 17.2-3). In verse 25: 2 Cor 11.33 also refers to this escape from Damascus in a basket. In verses 26-28: The large group of disciples feared Saul until he was accepted by the twelve apostles (6.1-2; 15, 4, 6, 22; on Barnabas, the "son of consolation," see 4.36). Speaking boldly is a sign of inspired witness (2.29; 4.13, 29, 31; 13.46; 14.3; 18.26; 19.8; 26.26). In verses 29-30: The Hellenists who where attempting to kill Saul may belong to the same synagogues as the Hellenists who were believers (see 6.1-6, 9) who again steal Saul away for his own safety (9.24-25; 23.23-24). In verse 31: This Lukan summary again marks the progress of the mission promised in 1.8 (see 8.1). Comments or Questions..