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Acts 9:1-18 “God the Hunter”

Chapter 8 verse 3 says, As for Saul, he made havock of the church, the root word describes the results of wounding a wild boar. When a boar is wounded, he goes on a rampage

and loses all sense of sanity—which is exactly what happened to Paul. And now we see Saul as relentless,

traveling throughout Judea, Samaria, and northern Israel—even across the border into Damascus, one 140

miles from Jerusalem—to hunt believers down and bring them back bound.

And yet as he was standing there cheering on the death of Stephen… God’s word was preached. Stephen gave both barrels, reloaded and shot more.

And the Word of God does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Scripture is like a time bomb. As

Jon Courson says, “Share the Word. Even though the person you’re talking to might look at you as if you’re crazy,

you’re planting little time bombs in his inner man. Share the Word with your kids, your co-workers, your friends—

and wait for the “bombs” to go off, just as they did in the heart of Saul.”

Richard Connell, in his famous story The Most Dangerous Game, tells about the adventure of his

hero, Sanger Rainsford, one of the world’s most celebrated big-game hunters. Rainsford accidentally falls from

his speeding yacht at night while in route to a hunting expedition along the coast of South America. He is a

strong swimmer and manages to beach himself on a foreboding island. Rainsford knows the island is inhabited

because he has heard shots during the night. To his complete amazement he finds a palatial chateau inhabited by

a Russian nobleman, General Zaroff, and his servant. The general recognizes his visitor’s name and welcomes

him warmly because he too is a big-game hunter. Rainsford is pleased with his good fortune – until the formal

dinner that evening when during the conversation the general announces that he is hunting a “new animal”

on the island.

When Rainsford inquires as to the identity of this “new animal,” the general answers, “ It supplies me with the most exciting hunting in the world. No other hunting compares with it for an instant. Every day I hunt, and I never grow bored now, for I have a quarry with which I can match my wits.”

When Rainsford’s face shows great bewilderment, the general explains, “I wanted the ideal animal to hunt. So I

said: ‘What are the attributes of an ideal quarry?’ And the answer was, of course, ‘It must have courage,

cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason.’”

“But no animal can reason,” Rainsford protests. “My dear fellow,” the general responds, “there is one

that can.”

“But you cannot mean –“ Rainsford exclaims. “And why not?”

“I cannot believe you are serious, General Zaroff. This is a grisly joke.”

“Why should I not be serious? I am speaking of hunting.”

To his growing horror, Sanger Rainsford, the great hunter, learns that he is Zaroff’s intended game. The

hunter has become the hunted.

As R Kent Hughes explains, “On an infinitely higher level, that is what Acts 9 is all about. There too the

pursuer became the prey. Saul, a fierce of the church of Christ, discovered first to his horror

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and then to his eternal delight that he, the hunter, was also the hunted. For all of us who are Christ’s, the

story in Acts 9 is a picture of how we came to be his. As we study Saul’s experience, we will learn how

the divine hunt is conducted. We will see the interior workings of God’s providence and will be filled

with hope and joy.”

Chapter 9 verse 1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,

Paul later described his behavior to Agrippa by saying:

Acts 26:9-11… “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of

Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received

authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And

I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly

enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus,

As stated by one… “Soon Jerusalem could not hold him. He sought and received extradition papers from the Sanhedrin so he could to Damascus and ravage the growing Christian community there as well. It was 150 miles to Damascus (about a week’s travel), but he would have traveled for a month for the privilege.”

so that if he found any who were of ,

… that’s what the first Christians were called… This was beautifully fitting because Christ had said, “I am the way and the truth and the life: ( John 1 4 : 6 ) . used 5 times in Acts.

Following Jesus is a way of living as well as believing.

What did Saul look like? A very old apocryphal book, dating to the end of the first century, describes Paul like this: "A man of moderate stature, with crisp hair, crooked legs, blue eyes, large knit brows, and long nose, at times looking like a man, at times like an angel." (Cited in Gaebelein)

The Hound of Heaven was tracking him down just as surely as Saul the hunter was hunting down God’s saints.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Saul trying to extinguish the “LIGHT OF

THE WORLD” as the “light of the world” shines on Saul and will

overcome his darkness.

In response to this light, Saul undoubtedly shut his eyes as tight as he could;

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yet, Jesus still appeared before him.

4 Then he fell to the ground, The original stop, drop and roll! and heard a voice saying to him,

The rabbis of Saul's day believed that God no longer spoke to man directly, as He did in the days of the prophets. However, they believed that one could hear the "echo" of God's voice, what they called "the daughter of the voice of God." This was no echo… or daughter… this was God! Jesus the Messiah!

“Saul, Saul, When God repeats a name twice, it is to display deep emotion, but not necessarily anger (as in the Martha, Martha of Luke 10:41 and the Jerusalem, Jerusalem of Matthew 23:37).

why are you persecuting Me?” As the heavenly light overwhelms him, Saul is confronted by the true nature of his crime: He is persecuting God, not man. All that Saul had done had been in the name of

God – but on the road to Damascus he meets God – and discovers that he and God are on opposite teams. A blinding light opens Saul’s eyes. He gets knocked off his high horse – in more ways than one.

Verse 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Lord was a term of respect – Who are you sir?

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Although many with the name Jesus lived in that day… Saul knew exactly which one was speaking. Jesus who was God! “I am Jesus”: “At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow...”

“I am Jesus” Understand Jesus takes persecution personally. Whenever the church is mistreated, it’s as if you’ve mistreated Jesus. We are His body on earth. He now

understood the spiritual unity between the Savior and the saints. When we are persecuted, it’s really Jesus who

is being persecuted! Christ and His people are one. He felt every throb of Stephen’s pain.

and if Christ were alive…

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you Guzik says, “this shows the great love of Jesus. He is the one

being persecuted, yet his concern is for the effect it is having on Saul. What a tender heart Jesus has!

Continuing verse 5… It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

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A goad was a sharp stick You would jab the hind legs of the ox with the goad until

the ox cooperated. Sometimes an ox would kick up its heels at the

stick – a futile endeavor.

Adams… “Saul’s rage was evidently a reaction to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. He had seen the peace and joy in Stephen’s face. He was haunted by Stephen. He’d wake up at night in a cold sweat. The Holy Spirit wouldn’t let him forget Stephen’s testimony. All Saul could do was fight harder.”

Saul what’s it gonna be… stubborn ox? or are you going to submit? “Resistance is futile”

That fateful day on the Damascus Road it was midday, the time for the traditional Middle-Eastern

siesta. But Saul was so bent on destruction that he had no time for a nap.

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Though he was blind, he had seen Christ, and as he saw Christ he also saw himself for the first

time. His life was utterly wrong. He was a criminal before God. As he wrote later, “Nothing good

lives in me” (Romans 7:18). As Christ’s enemy, he had drawn blood, and now darkness was

everywhere, especially within his own soul. The hunter had been hunted down. There was no

escape.

God always makes the first move. We search for him only in

response to his prior advance.

Saul responds with two of the most important questions anyone can (and must) ask. The first question is "Who are You, Lord?" The second question is "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.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. “Spend a few days as

blind physically as you have been blind spiritually!" But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Thorn in the Flesh: mentioned (2 Cor. 12 ); a hint that it is an eye problem (Gal 4:13-15 . Also in Gal 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:2). Perhaps, he never fully recovered from this Damascus road blinding.

“Three Days” 1) Abraham (Isaac dead to him for)

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2) Joseph (dreams in prison) 3) Rahab’s spies (from chebel to tikvah) 4) Esther (fasted 3 days) 5) Jonah (3 days in the fish) 6) Christ (3 days in the tomb) Flash light in dark bathroom… close eyes image is imprinted… flash of light for Paul… blind into darkness so the image of Jesus could be forever imprinted in his mind.

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, Straight

Street is still in Damascus. It’s the main road that runs east to west through the downtown section of this, the

oldest city in the world.

and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, “one more time! The guy who is hell bent on killing every last one of us…” I guess I’m going home tonight!

for behold, he is praying. Paul had never really prayed before; he merely repeated

formal prayers. Before, his prayers were not spiritual, he had never prayed with Jesus as mediator, he had never prayed in Jesus' name, and his own heart was proud and far from God. He had said

many prayers, but had never prayed. Praying… ABCDE of following Jesus!

12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Gentiles first… he went to Jews first… frustrated. Minister where you are called. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” This is almost chilling. Saul was going to leave a life of privilege to embrace a higher call, but a call with much suffering.

Verse 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul,

( I know parties are thrown in heaven when one sinner repents but I think another one happened when Ananias called Saul Brother…

!) Do you think maybe Saul had murdered any of Ananias’ friends or family? Ananias lived

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up to the very meaning of his name, “God is gracious” He was with Ananias and now Ananias was with Saul…

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Saul was emptied of himself… best place to start… now he was to be filled with the fullness of Christ. It seems that this is when Saul was actually born again. Here is where he receives the Holy Spirit and is healed from his blindness, which was spiritual blindness as much as physical blindness.

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. Saul means “destroyer,” Paul means “builder.”

God loved Saul enough to do everything short of violating his will to save him from Hell. Maybe your

Damascus road experience was not as dramatic but God loves you enough to knock you off your high horse.

The man hunter was by the lover of his soul. The Hound of Heaven sniffed

him out.

Remember the “Most Dangerous Game”. Hughes continues in his account of this famous story, “When we read

about Sanger Rainsford’s discovery that he, the celebrated hunter, was not the hunted, our skin crawls at the

horror of such a discovery. Not so with the divine Hunter, for his is a joyous, life-giving hunt. On our own we

would never have found peace or purpose. But praise God, he brought others along to minister his grace to us.

And now he gives us the privilege of participating in the Great Hunt to reach others.

All around us miracles are waiting to happen. We must never write anyone off. We must be like Ananias,

willing to be the life-giving ambassadors of God. We must be like Saul-become-Paul, pursuing the world for the

Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer… Sweet lover of our souls… wonderful Jesus our Savior and King. Thank you for hunting us down and

bringing us into your Kingdom. Thank you that now we can hunt others, showing them their desperate need

because of their sin, and telling them the good news of forgiveness and salvation and life through Jesus Christ.

Thank you for the miracle that has happened in our lives and for the miracles that are about to happen all around

us. You are the Rock and you ROCK Jesus!