ACC ~ Acts 9 v10 - 19

OVERVIEW:

In this section Luke shows how Paul is baptized and thus becomes a member of the church, is healed of his blindness (the theme of baptism as “enlightenment” continues), takes food and is strengthened, and becomes a part of a group of believers. Consistent with the incarnation, Saul had to be taught by a lowly man, Ananias (CASSIAN, CHRYSOSTOM), who is portrayed as the sheep that subdues the wolf, Saul (ARATOR). While being taught by a man, he was at the same time being taught by Christ. The Fathers are sensitive to Luke’s accent on the Lord’s direct guidance of this sequence of events as well as to the relative obscurity of the person sent to minister to Paul, a fact that accents the directness of the Lord’s enlightenment. They also remark on Ananias’s reluctance to go to Paul (CHRYSOSTOM) as well as on the suffering that the Lord predicts for his chosen instrument (BEDE, OROSIUS). The Holy Spirit fashioned Paul into a vessel of election (CYRIL OF JERUSALEM, JEROME).

9:10 | A Disciple Named Ananias

PAUL CONVERTED ONLY BY CHRIST. CHRYSOSTOM: Why was it that he did not draw upon one of the trustworthy and great, or cause one to be forthcoming for the purpose of instructing Paul? Because Paul was not to be brought in by a man but by Christ himself, as in fact this man taught him nothing but only baptized him. For once baptized, he was to draw upon himself the grace of the Spirit by his zeal and great eagerness. That Ananias was not among the very distinguished is clear. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.

9:13 | I Have Heard About Saul

OBEDIENCE GREATER THAN FEAR. CHRYSOSTOM: Let no one imagine that Ananias speaks in disbelief of what was said or because he imagines that Christ was deceived. Far from it! Rather, afraid and trembling, he did not even pay attention to what was said, once he heard the name Paul. Moreover, the Lord did not say that he has blinded him. Fear had already taken hold of Ananias’s soul at the mention of Paul’s name. “Look,” he says, “to whom you are betraying me. ‘Indeed he came here for this very purpose,’ to arrest all who invoke your name. I fear he shall take me to Jerusalem. Why do you cast me into the mouth of the lion?” He is terrified even as he speaks these words, so that we may learn from all sides the excellence of the man. For it is not surprising that these things were said by Jews, but that these men should be so terrified shows very great proof of the power of God. Both the fear is shown and the obedience that is greater after the fear. For there was indeed need of strength. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.

9:15 | A Chosen Instrument

A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT. JEROME: Why is the apostle Paul called a chosen vessel? Assuredly because he is a repertory of the law and of the holy Scriptures. LETTER 53.3.

9:16 | He Must Suffer for the Sake of My Name

ONE OF THE SAINTS. BEDE: [The Lord] said that he was not to be feared as a persecutor but rather embraced as a brother, for he was soon to suffer along with the saints the troubles that he had earlier inflicted on them. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9.16.

AN ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE. OROSIUS: When Paul was saved there where he had bound Christ by persecuting him, he would be afflicted with suffering for Christ, right up to his own death, but [he would] be glorified in the resurrection. So it is, because “mercy and truth go always before the face of God;” so that if a voluntary sacrifice of an afflicted spirit and a contrite heart is offered in time by the lamenting person, truth arises in mercy, and in the end mercy is exalted over judgment. DEFENSE AGAINST THE PELAGIANS 14.

9:17 | Filled with the Holy Spirit

THE ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM: The Holy Spirit worked immediately and not only changed Paul’s blindness to sight but also imparted the seal to his soul, making him a vessel of election to carry the name of the Lord who had appeared to him before kings and the children of Israel; and he fashioned his former persecutor into a herald and a good servant who “from Jerusalem round about as far as Illyricum completed the gospel of Christ.” CATECHETICAL LECTURE 17.26.

SAUL TAUGHT TO THINK MODESTLY OF HIMSELF. CHRYSOSTOM: It seems to me that both Paul and Cornelius, as soon as the words were spoken, received the Spirit. And yet he who gave it was not great. Thus there was nothing of man [humankind] in what was done, nor was anything done by man, but God was present, the worker of these things. At the same time [the Lord] both teaches him to think modestly of himself, in that he does not bring him to the apostles who were so admired, and shows that there is nothing of man here. He was not filled, however, with the Spirit that works signs, so that in this way as well his faith might be shown. For he worked no wonders. “And immediately,” it says, “in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’” Not that he is risen or that he lives, but immediately and precisely, he expounded the doctrine that he is the Son of God. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.

THE SHEEP SUBDUES THE WOLF. ARATOR: How much [this] darkness earns! After the loss of his eyesight he sees greater things; fostering faith gives a marvelous example to the ages. Ananias casts out his fury—O strange victory! He whom the Hebrew called Sheep [Ananias] subdues a rapacious wolf. God will be proclaimed to the world by this herald, and pulled from the shadows of the law, under which he was blind, he will bring light into all lands singing about the everlasting Sun. Do not cease, O Saul, to make this day known, in order that the night which is given to you may be filled with the light of many, and you carry your darkness here [in your body] in order that you may be able to purge [the darkness] of the world. ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1.

THE RIGHT ORDER OF TEACHING. JOHN CASSIAN: He sent him then to an old man and determined that he must be instructed by his teaching rather than by his own. Otherwise what might have been rightly done with regard to Paul would have given a bad example of presumption to those who came after him, since each individual would conclude that he too should be trained in similar fashion under the guidance and by the teaching of God alone rather than by the instruction of his elders. CONFERENCE 2.15.1.

9:18 | Sight Restored, Paul Is Baptized

EYES OPEN AND STILL UNSEEING. CHRYSOSTOM: “And there something like scales fell from his eyes.” Saying these words [Ananias] laid hands on him. Some say this was a sign of his blindness. Why did he not blind his eyes [entirely]? It was more paradoxical that “when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing.” This he suffered in respect to the law, until the name of Jesus was laid on him. “And immediately,” it says, “he was baptized and took food and was strengthened.” He was weakened then both from his journey and from his fear, both from hunger and from dejection. Wishing therefore to deepen his dejection, he made the man blind until the coming of Ananias; and to prevent him from thinking the blindness imaginary, the scales. Paul needed no other teaching; his experience was his instruction. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20.

THE SCALES OF A DRAGON. BEDE: Every dragon’s body is said to be covered with scales. Therefore, because the Jews were called “serpents and a brood of vipers,” this man, who had been an eager follower of their lack of faith, covered over the eyes of his heart, so to speak, with a serpent’s skin. With the falling of the scales from his eyes under the hands of Ananias, however, his face showed that he had received the true light in his mind. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9.18.

PAUL’S CONVERSION WAS NOT COERCED. CHRYSOSTOM: If anyone should call this the effect of compulsion, [let him note that] the same thing happened to Elymas. How was it then that he was not changed? What could be more compelling than the earthquake at the resurrection, the report of the soldiers, the other miracles and the sight of him risen? These things, however, do not compel belief but are apt to teach it. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19.