Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 9:8
And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought [him] into Damascus.
8. and [but] when his eyes were opened, he saw no man [nothing] The vision had struck him blind. He opened his eyes, but their power had been taken away. Thus his physical condition becomes a fit representation of the mental blindness which he afterwards (Act 26:9) deplores: “I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
but [and] they led him by the hand ] His companions saw all things as before, and were able to guide him who had started forth as the leader in their mission of persecution.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
When his eyes were opened – He naturally closed them at the appearance of the light, and in his fright kept them closed for some time.
He saw no man – This darkness continued three days, Act 9:9. There is no reason to suppose that there was a miracle in this blindness, for in Act 22:11, it is expressly said to have been caused by the intense light. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, etc. The intense, sudden light had so affected the optic nerve of the eye as to cause a temporary blindness. This effect is not uncommon. The disease of the eye which is thus produced is called amaurosis, or more commonly gutta serena. It consists in a loss of sight without any apparent defect of the eye. Sometimes the disease is periodic, coming on suddenly, continuing for three or four days, and then disappearing (Webster). A disease of this kind is often caused by excessive light. When we look at the sun, into a furnace, or into a crucible with fused metal, we are conscious of a temporary pain in the eye, and of a momentary blindness. In northern and tropical climates, from the glare of the sun or snow, a variety of amaurosis (gutta serena) occurs, which, if it produces blindness during the day, is named nyctalopia; if during the night, it is called hemeralopia. Another variety exists in which the individual is blind all day, until a certain hour, when he sees distinctly, or he sees and is blind every alternate day, or is only blind one day in the week, fortnight, or month (the Edinburgh Encyclopedias Surgery). A total loss of sight has been the consequence of looking at the sun during an eclipse, or of watching it as it sets in the west. This effect is caused by the intense action of the light on the optic nerve, or sometimes from a disorder of the brain. A case is mentioned by Michaelis (Kuinoel in loco) of a man who was made blind by a bright flash of lightning, and who continued so for four weeks, who was again restored to sight in a tempest by a similar flash of lightning. Electricity has been found to be one of the best remedies for restoring sight in such cases.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Act 9:8-9
And Saul arose, and they led him by the hand.
Hand led
A wonderful change in the soul of which this was the symbol.
I. The hand yielded.
1. Confession of futile character of past opposition. Sense of helplessness.
2. Trust in a newly discovered guide.
II. The hand grasped. Soldiers accompany Saul, or strangers to him; they yet represented Divine guidance given in weakness. The responsibility of those who offer to guide.
III. The hand kept–a type of soul attitude. Continue with Christ. True progress was the outcome of being led. We shall be brought to the great ends of life by being led. We shall attain rest. We need to gain that submissiveness embodied in Lead, kindly light. (A. F. Muir, M. A.)
And was three days without sight.—
What Saul felt in his seclusion and saw in his blindness
Only one other space of three days duration can be mentioned of equal importance. The conflict of Sauls feelings was so great and his remorse so piercing that he could neither eat nor drink. He could have no communication with the Christians, for they had been terrified by the news of his approach, and the Jews could have no sympathy with his present state of mind. He fasted and prayed in silence. The recollections of his early years–the passages of Scripture which he had never understood–the thoughts of his own cruelty–the memory of the last looks of Stephen–all these crowded into his mind, and made the three days equal to long years of repentance. And if there was one feeling which above all others kept possession of his heart it was that suggested by Christs expostulation, and this feeling would be attended with thoughts of peace, with hope and faith. He waited on God; and in his blindness a vision was granted unto him. (Dean Howson.)
Saul at Damascus
Just as an eagle which has been drenched and battered by some fierce storm will alight to plume its ruffled wings, so when a great soul has passed through fire and water, it needs some quiet place in which to rest. Like Moses, like Elijah, like our Lord Himself, like almost every great soul in ancient or modern times to whom has been entrusted the task of swaying the destinies by moulding the convictions of mankind–like Sakya Mount, like Mohammed in the cave at Hira, like St. Francis of Assist in his sickness, like Luther in the monastery of Erfurt, Paul would need a quiet period in which to elaborate his thoughts, to still the tumult of his emotions, to commune in secrecy and silence with his own soul. (Archdeacon Farrar.)
The three days sepulture for the inward man
I. The old must pass away.
1. The old light is gone.
2. The old enjoyments are no longer palatable.
3. The old activity is paralysed.
4. The old friends are away.
II. The new is quietly preparing.
1. A new light is kindling within.
2. A new salvation is rising up in the soul.
3. Strength is collecting for a new calling.
4. New friends are standing at the door. (K. Gerok.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 8. When his eyes were opened, he saw no man] Instead of , no man, the Codex Alexandrinus, the Syriac, Vulgate, and some others, have nothing. He not only saw no man, but he saw nothing, being quite blind; and therefore was led by the hand to Damascus, , being without sight.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When his eyes were opened; when he opened his eyes as at other times, when he did rise to see, the glorious light had so dazzled him, that he could see nothing: thus Saul as, and all men are, before their conversion; he had the shape of a man, and of one learned in the law, when notwithsanding he is blind, and sees or knows nothing as he ought to know.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. Saul arose . . . and when hiseyes were opened, he saw no manafter beholding the Lord, sincehe “could not see for the glory of that light” (Ac22:11), he had involuntarily closed his eyes to protect them fromthe glare; and on opening them again he found his vision gone. “Itis not said, however, that he was blind, for it was nopunishment” [BENGEL].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Saul arose from the earth,…. As he was bid by Christ, Ac 9:6
and when his eyes were opened he saw no man; neither Christ, who appeared to him from heaven, whom he had before seen, nor even any of his companions, nor indeed any object: the Syriac version renders it, “he saw nothing”; not anything at all; and the Ethiopic version, “he could not see”: when he opened his eye lids, he perceived his sight was gone, and this showed it to be real blindness; and which was an emblem of the ignorance and blindness he had been in:
but they led him by the hand; the men that were with him, perceiving that he could not guide himself, took him by the hand, and led him on his journey;
and brought him into Damascus; and now was fulfilled, at least in part, the prophecy in Zec 9:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He saw nothing ( ). Imperfect active indicative, was seeing nothing. “The glory of that light” (22:11) when he saw Jesus had blinded his eyes now wide open (, perfect passive participle of with double reduplication). The blindness was proof that something had happened to him and that it was no hallucination that he had seen the Risen Christ. Saul arose after the others were on their feet.
They led him by the hand (). From (, hand and , to lead). Only here in the N.T., but in LXX and late writers though not in the old Greek. It was a pathetic picture to see the masterful Saul, victorious persecutor and conqueror of the disciples, now helpless as a child.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And Saul arose from the earth; (egerthe de Saulos apo tes ges) “Then Saul was raised (helped up) from the ground,” by those who were traveling with him.
2) “And when his eyes were opened,” (aneogmenon de ton ophthalmon autou) “Then, when his eyes were opened,” were having been opened, or when he tried to see, Act 22:11.
3) “He saw no man:” (ouden eblepen) “He saw no person,” absolutely saw no one, or nothing, because of a temporary loss of his physical vision. Ananias was later to restore his sight, Act 9:17-18; Act 22:13.
4) “But they led him by the hand,” (cheirogogountes de auton) “So they led him by the hand,” or leading him by the hand, all the way; The “they” who led him were those journeying with him on this persecution mission, Act 9:7; Act 22:11.
5) “And brought him into Damascus,” (eisegagon eis Damaskon) “Even bringing him into Damascus,” or all the way into the city of Damascus, where he was to recover his sight, be instructed by Ananias, be baptized, and begin preaching, Act 9:17-20; Act 26:14-20. How different his entrance into Damascus was from what he planned or purposed. Man proposes, but God disposes.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. He was raised up from the earth. Luke addeth now, that he was taken with so great fear that he could not rise of himself; and not that only, but he was also blind for a time, that he might forget his former wit and wiliness. (580) When as he saith, that after that his eyes were opened, he saw not, it seemeth that it doth not agree with the other words which shall follow by and by, that his eyes were covered, as it were, with scales; but the meaning of this place is, that he was blind indeed, and deprived of his sight for that three days; because when he opened his eyes he saw nothing.
(580) “ Acumen,” acumen.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
3.
IN DAMASCUS. Act. 9:8 b Act. 9:22.
Act. 9:8 b
and they led him by the hand, and brought him to Damascus.
Act. 9:9
And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.
Act. 9:10
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias.
And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
Act. 9:11
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth;
Act. 9:12
and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.
Act. 9:13
But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Act. 9:14
and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.
Act. 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act. 9:16
for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my names sake.
Act. 9:17
And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Act. 9:18
And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
Act. 9:19
and he took food and was strengthened.
And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.
Act. 9:20
And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
Act. 9:21
And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.
Act. 9:22
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
Act. 9:10-16 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there, departed, and entered into the house and came unto me, and standing by, and laying his hands on me said, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And straightway there fell from my eyes as it were scales and in that very hour I received my sight and I looked upon him.
284.
Tell what you know of the character and position of Ananias.
285.
Why did Ananias call Saul brother?
And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from His mouth; the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name. And I arose and was baptized; and I took food and was strengthened. Act. 9:3-9; Act. 9:17-19; Act. 22:6-16; Act. 26:12-18 are interwoven so as to make a complete narrative of all the facts stated in each account (Compiled by Wilbur Fields). Here are a few further points in this conversion.
1. Saul believed and repented and confessed Christ as Lord. (This is the same word used in the epistles when referring to Jesus as the Christ).
These events that occurred on the road accomplished a conversion. The word conversion carries the thought of a complete change of mind and heart. But Saul was not forgiven of his sins until he had arisen and was baptized and washed away his sins (Act. 22:16).
Conversion takes place in the heart of the sinner but forgiveness occurs in the heart of God. Faith, repentance and confession completes the one, baptism completes the other.
2. Any effort exerted against the church is an effort directed against Christ. This thought is vividly portrayed in the fact that the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23). One cannot do injury to the body without affecting the head.
3. Jesus did not tell Saul what to do to be saved but rather directed him to a humble disciple in Damascus (Act. 9:6). The Lord never has and never will directly tell any soul what to do to be saved for He has ordained through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1Co. 1:21).
Act. 9:8 b Act. 9:9 When the light above the brightness of the Syrian sun fell upon Saul, Saul saw Jesus in all His effulgent glory. He could not, however, bear this intense brightness for long. Indeed he was blinded by it.
Following his conversation with Jesus, he lifted himself from the dust of the Damascus road and opened his eyes. The Lord had opened the eyes of Sauls understanding but had blinded the eyes of his body. (To say then that Ananias was sent to give Saul his spiritual sight is an absurdity, seeing that this was clearly given to him in what he saw and heard.)
286.
What two things did Ananias mention as the purpose for his being sent to Saul?
287.
What were the scales spoken of in verse eighteen? Was this not the receiving of his spiritual sight?
What a contrast do we behold in the humble penitent believer being led by the hand into Damascus from the maddened Pharisee who was to march through the gates of the city in a triumphant quest for any that were of the Way. What thoughts of guilt and humiliation must have coursed through the mind of Saul as he followed in darkness the hand of him who led him.
Jesus had told Saul that it would be told him what he must do. But He did not say when Saul was to receive this information. Saul evidently felt that his sin was so great that he could only fast and pray. This he would do until his Lord would again speak to him. God knew what was best so He left Saul in this state for three days and nights.
The Master had said that it was hard for him to kick against the goad. In this statement we have some indication of the thought that Saul in his heart of hearts was troubled concerning this Jesus of Nazareth. The death of Stephen had made a profound impression upon his mind (Act. 22:20). He must have been one of the synagogue of the Libertines since he was from Cilicia (Act. 6:9). If so he with others was not able to withstand the power and wisdom by which Stephen spake. The proof from the Old Testament that Jesus was the Christ must have been presented by Stephen. And then Saul was present when Stephen made his defense before the Sanhedrin (Act. 26:10). All of these influences were galling the conscience of this young man.
Sauls intense persecution was but a quenching of the voice of his conscience. When his heart was filled with anger and self-righteousness and his life with activity he had no time nor inclination to listen to the call of his better self. But now in the house of Judas on the street called Straight, as he knelt in prayer, all of these pent up feelings and. facts came all at once into focus. He saw clearly for the first time the dark picture of his evil work.
288.
Explain the difference in the use and meaning of the words conversion and salvation as found in the case of Saul.
289.
Did Jesus tell Saul what to do to be saved? What import does this have for us?
290.
Did Saul see Jesus when he looked into the bright light?
291.
What is the meaning of the phrase it is hard for thee to kick against the goad?
292.
Do you believe that the intense zeal of Sauls opposition to Christ had anything to do with his conscience?
Act. 9:10 Sometime during the course of the three days there appeared in the mind of Saul the image of a man whom he had never seen. The vision was so clear, however, that he knew he would recognize him if he were to see him in person. As he meditated he saw in this vision this stranger come up to him and lay his hands upon him to give him his sight.
This man whom God had shown to Saul was a humble disciple of Jesus named Ananias. A short time after Christ appeared to Saul the Lord spoke to Ananias calling him by name. Ananias promptly answered with the statement that suggested a desire to hear and do the bidding of the Lord. Behold I am here, Lord. The words of instruction were direct and explicit; he was told where to go and what to do. Ananias reacted like many of us would today. He asked Why? And then added the reason for his query. Hear him say: Go and make a call on Saul of Tarsus? Why Lord when I think of what many fellow disciples have told me of the terrible cruelties of Saul in Jerusalem, then when I know that he is here armed with authority for the same purpose I cannot understand, I am filled with fear.
See the wonderful patience and love of our great God. Who is man to question the authority and word of Jehovah? And yet although the Lord insists on obedience He does not do so without reason. Go thy way or we might say Arise and do my bidding, Then follows the explanation Ananias wanted for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my names sake.
Act. 9:17-19 We have already spoken of the events that took place upon the meeting of Saul and Ananias so it will not be necessary here to repeat them, The only word we would add is that Ananias must have given the Holy Spirit to Saul in the same way Peter gave the Holy Spirit to the three thousand, i.e. when Saul was baptized he received, as did those on Pentecost, the gift from God, the Holy Spirit.
How long did Saul remain in Damascus following his conversion? We have no way of knowing. But we do know that he began immediately to carry out the commission given him by Jesus.
Act. 9:20-22 He made no apology for his work or word but came out boldly with the message that Jesus of Nazareth was none other than the Son of God. (How could he call Him anything else after having seen Him as he did?) Sauls preaching was done in the very synagogues he had previously hoped to enter as a persecutor. Imagine the surprise of those who heard. There must have been present not only those disciples of the Lord but also those who were as zealous for the law as Saul had been, Despite both suspicion and unbelief Saul increased in strength and laid before the minds and hearts of all present such proof that this Jesus was the Christ that the Jews who would not accept were at least confounded. How alike was the response of these Jews to that of Saul with the message of Stephen (Act. 6:8-10).
293.
What was the response of Ananias to the call of God? What is revealed in the answer of God to his hesitancy?
294.
Why would it be natural for us to imagine that Saul would declare that Jesus was the Son of God?
295.
What is paradoxical about the place where Saul preached Jesus?
296.
Tell of the reasons for the amazement on the part of those who heard Saul.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(8) He saw no man.The blindness was that of one who has been dazzled with excess of light (comp. Act. 22:11), the natural result of the vision of the supernatural glory, a witness to the man himself that the vision was not a mere play of imagination. Traces of its permanent effect on his powers of sight have been found in his habit of dictating rather than writing letters (see Note on 2Th. 3:17), in the large characters traced by him when he did write (see Note on Gal. 6:11), in his not recognising the high priest who commanded him to be struck. (See Notes on Act. 23:2-5.) Of the many theories as to the mysterious thorn in the flesh (see Note on 2Co. 12:7), there seems most reason for accepting that which connects it with some affection of the eyes, involving, perhaps, attacks of agonising pain. On this assumption, the eager wish of the Galatians, if it had been possible to have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him, receives a special and interesting significance. (See Note on Gal. 4:15.) For Saul himself, the blindness may well have had a spiritual significance. He had looked on himself as a guide of the blind, boasting that he saw clearly (Rom. 2:19). Now, for a time, till inward and outward light should shine in on him, he had to accept his blindness. The new-born soul had to be as
An infant crying for the light,
And with no language but a cry.
They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.The mission on which Saul had come was already known at Damascus, and his arrival expected with alarm. Now he came, and the mission fell to the ground. The letters to the synagogues were not delivered.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.’
Then when Saul picked himself up and opened his eyes he realised that he was blind. And the result was that he had to be led into Damascus by the hand. He was blind both physically and spiritually. All that he had believed in had gone. He saw nothing.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 9:8. And when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: And though his eyes were open, he was incapable of discerning objects, and saw no one man of those who stood near him; forhis nerves were so affected with the glory of that light, which had shone from the body of Jesus, that he had lost the power of sight. The divine Glory had struck his bodily eyes quite blind; as the eyes of his understanding had hitherto been in the midst of the marvellous light of the gospel: see ch. Act 22:11. But the judicious reader, desirous of enteringfully into this wonderful transaction, will not refer to single verses only, but will diligently compare the whole account, as given by St. Paul himself.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 9:8-9 . .] Consequently Saul had lain on the ground with closed eyes since the appearance of the radiance (Act 9:4 ), which, however, as the appearance of Jesus for him is to be assumed as in and with the radiance, cannot prove that he had not really and personally seen the Lord.
] namely, because he was blinded by the heavenly light (and not possibly in consequence of the journey through the desert, see Act 22:11 ). The connection inevitably requires this explanation by what immediately follows; nor is the Recepta . (see the critical remarks) to be explained otherwise than of being blinded , [240] in opposition to Haselaar and others, who refer to Jesus.
] he was for three days without being able to see , i.e. blind (Joh 9:39 ; Ellendt, Lex. Soph. I. p. 308), so that he had not his power of vision; comp. Winer, p. 453 [E. T. 610]. Hence here from the standpoint of the subject concerned; but afterwards and , because narrating objectively.
] an absolute negation of eating and drinking (Joh 3:7 ; Est 4:16 ), and not “a cibi potusve largioris usu abstinebat,” Kuinoel. By fasting Saul partly satisfied the compunction into which he could not but now feel himself brought for the earlier wrong direction of his efforts, and partly prepared himself by fasting and prayer (Act 9:11 ) for the decisive change of his inward and outward life, for which, according to Act 9:6 , he waited a special intimation. See Act 9:18 .
[240] That the blinding took place as a symbol of the previous spiritual blindness of Saul (Calvin, Grotius, de Wette, Baumgarten, and others) is not indicated by anything in the text, and may only be considered as the edifying application of the history, although Baur makes the formation of the legend attach itself to this idea. That blinding of Saul was a simple consequence of the heavenly radiance, and served (as also the fasting) to withdraw him for a season wholly from the outer world, and to restrict him to his inner life. And the blindness befell Saul alone: , , Oecumenius.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
Ver. 8. He saw no man ] This bodily blindness was a means to open the eyes of his mind, as Gehazi’s leprosy cured his soul.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
8. ] On his eyes being opened (it would seem that he had closed them on the first disappearance of the vision), he saw no one . He explains it, ch. Act 22:11 , . He had seen, what those with him had not seen, the glorious Person of the Lord Jesus. See below on Act 9:18 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 9:8 . ; see critical notes. : his eyes, which he had closed mechanically, as he fell overwhelmed with the dazzling brightness of the light, and of the appearance of Jesus, he now opens, but only to find that he saw nothing ( ) (see critical note) he had become blind (so Weiss and Wendt, cf. Act 22:11 ). This blindness was the clearest proof that the appearances vouchsafed to him had been a reality (Felten), see also Act 9:18 . : the necessary result of his blindness, cf. Jdg 16:26 and Tob 11:16 , but in each case the reading is varied (see H. and R.); in N.T. only in Acts, cf. Act 22:11 (and see Act 13:11 ); it is also found in the Apocryphal Gospel of Peter , x. (ver. 40 in Harnack’s edition). “He who would strike others was himself struck, and the proud Pharisee became a deeply humbled penitent a guide of the blind” he was himself to be guided by others (Felten).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
arose = was raised up. Greek. egeiro. App-178.
saw. Greek. blepo. App-133.
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis. The texts read “nothing”.
led . . . and = leading him by the hand. Greek. cheiragogeo. Only here and Act 22:11. Compare Act 13:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
8.] On his eyes being opened (it would seem that he had closed them on the first disappearance of the vision), he saw no one. He explains it, ch. Act 22:11, . He had seen, what those with him had not seen, the glorious Person of the Lord Jesus. See below on Act 9:18.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 9:8. , arose) at the word of Christ, ch. Act 26:16.-, when his eyes were opened) Therefore they who beheld Saul would not have thought that he did not see.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
he saw: Act 9:18, Act 13:11, Act 22:11, Gen 19:11, Exo 4:11, 2Ki 6:17-20
Reciprocal: Gen 15:12 – horror Isa 51:18 – that taketh Mar 8:23 – by the Act 9:17 – that thou Heb 8:9 – I took
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
The Beneficence of Blindness
Act 9:8-9
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
We now come to a most interesting study. In our last message we saw Saul, the persecutor, stricken down by a great light from Heaven. When he arose and opened his eyes, he saw no man. We wish now to set before you the meaning of Saul’s three days of misery. We trust that we will, perhaps, have withal, some insight into the hours of darkness that sometimes lower over our own heads. Read the following Scripture:
“And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
“And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink” (Act 9:8-9).
I. THE DAYS OF DARKNESS THAT SHUT MAN OUT FROM OUR VIEW
We read that when Saul opened his eyes, “he saw no man.” Our minds are carried back to the scene of the Transfiguration. There, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from that cloud God spoke saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” When the disciples heard that, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. Jesus touched them and said, “Arise, and be not afraid.” And when they had lifted up their eyes, “they saw no man, save Jesus only.”
Peter had desired to make three tabernacles, one for Moses, one for Elias, and one for Jesus. God quickly answered his folly by acclaiming Christ, and Christ alone, as His beloved Son. It was then that the disciples opened their eyes and saw Jesus only.
Perhaps for this cause Saul was blinded so that being unable to see men, with his physical eyes, he might the better see Jesus Christ with his spiritual eyes.
When George Matheson became blind his sweetheart turned him down. With broken heart he went home to weep over the loss of his eyes and the loss of his betrothed. There, mid the darkness of night, he poured out his soul to God, and wrote:
“O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul on Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer fuller be.
“O Light that followest ail my way,
I yield my flick’ring torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s glow its day
May brighter fairer be.
“O Joy that seekest me thro’ pain,
I cannot close my heart, to Thee;
I trace the rainbow thro’ the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.
“O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to hide from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.”
Saul of Tarsus could well have written in a like strain about the loss of his sight. He saw no man, but he saw God. His whole life had thus far centered in men. He had lived for men, and for their plaudit; now he is shut out from the sight of men.
Sometimes it becomes necessary for God to shut out of lives the lure of the earthly, that the love of the Heavenly may glow.
If our darkness in dimming the sight of things terrestrial, causes the light of the Saviour’s face to shine upon us, all is well.
If our loss of the things temporal makes sure the gain of things eternal, all is well.
If our sorrow and our sighing in this present time, increases our songs and singing in the time to come, then, all is well.
II. THE DAYS OF DARKNESS THAT ARE MARKED WITH DEPENDENCY
How stirring the words: “They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus!” How had the mighty fallen! How had the strong become weak? He who was once the essence of self-trust and of self-confidence could no longer lean on the arm of his own prowess.
Saul had been a captain, a leader of others; now he is a captive, led of others.
Saul had been prone to trust his own strength; now he was all weakness, cast upon the power of God.
We say again,-How had the mighty fallen! He who was chief, had become tributary. He who was sought by reason of his leadership, had become solitary. He who went forth to lead men and women bound into captivity, was a captive to his own weakness.
Once more Saul of Tarsus was cast upon God. He who was led by the hand, knew that the end of his own self-life had come. He had always, in the past, leaned on the arm of his own strength, now he was forced to lean on God, Once again we see the beneficence of Saul’s blindness. The Lord was not only bringing Saul to the end of himself; He was also bringing him to the place of dependency on God.
All of this was working out for Saul’s own good. It is not in a man to order his own steps. He who walketh in pride must sooner or later come to his fall. Man’s breath is in his nostrils, and whereof is he to be accounted for? Man’s wisdom is but foolishness with God; his strength is but weakness; his glory, is but as the grass.
How are men cut down as in a moment! They fade as fades the flower. In the morning they flourish and grow up, in the evening they are cut down and they wither away. They are carried away as with a flood. Even though their years reach unto threescore years and ten, or by reason of strength to fourscore years, yet is their strength, labor, and sorrow; for they are soon cut off and they fly away.
Even though pride compasseth a man as a chain; even though violence covereth him as a garment, even though he speaks loftily, and sets his mouth against the heavens, yet, he will be brought into desolation as in a moment; he will be cast down into destruction; he will be utterly consumed with terrors.
Thank God that Saul was made low! Thank God that Saul’s hopes were shattered, and his pride humbled!
As Saul was led by the hand, perhaps he knew not that his weakness would shortly lead him to a new strength; that his pathway of humiliation would prove the stepping stone to his Divine exaltation.
III. THE DAYS OF DARKNESS, THAT ARE WITHOUT FOOD OR DRINK
Eating and drinking represents the apex of a world-centered life. The rich farmer said, “I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” Christ said, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink.” Again He said, “Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek.)”
Solomon in discussing what wisdom had found out as the supreme good for a man, under the sun, all the days of his vain life, said; “A man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry.”
Saul “neither did eat nor drink,” for three days. We thus judge that his self-life had indeed met its collapse. He had come to the end of his own row. Plunged into darkness, his mirth was dampened, his joy was gone. Instead of satisfaction, sorrow of soul stirred him to the depth. Instead of the best of men, he felt himself the greatest of sinners. To be sure he was still righteous after the requirements of the Law; yet, he was altogether vile in the sight of God.
His bones began to wax old with their roaring all the day. He had awakened to the fact that his zeal was misguided, and that he had, in reality, been fighting against God. His only relief from the heinousness of his sin, was this, that he had done all in ignorance and unbelief. Now, however, that his spiritual eyes were opened, he saw the vileness of his own soul.
We have discovered in all of this just what the unsaved world needs today-a deep, pungent consciousness of sin. It is this sense of the heart’s depravity, that drives one to the Cross of Christ.
Is thy life all filled with sorrows and with sighing?
Dost thou walk in darkened pathways, lone, and drear?
Art thou given unto weeping and to sighing?
Dost thou know not that thy Saviour standeth near?
Do you pant for God as pants the hart for water?
Does no star of hope about you now appear?
Has the devil snared your soul and has he bound you?
Christ is standing at your side, His help is near.
Cease thy fear, thy pathway drear,
Christ is standing at thy side to give thee cheer;
Why delay, haste thou away!
Turn to Christ, He’ll wipe away each bitter tear.
This is just what happened to Saul of Tarsus. When the light had left his life and the sorrows of hell had laid hold upon him, then he saw that Christ was near. This brings us to our next consideration.
IV. THE DAYS OP DARKNESS THAT CAST THE SOUL UPON GOD
How meaningful are the words spoken of Saul, “Behold, he prayeth.” He who persecuted Christ now prayed to Christ. He had seen the One whom he had despised; the One whom the scribes and elders had delivered to Pontius Pilate to be crucified-he had seen Him exalted, and seated at the Father’s right hand. He had heard His voice, saying, “I am Jesus.” Now Saul prayed. He prayed for pardon and for peace; he prayed for his sight; he prayed that the burden that lay heavy upon him might be lifted.
We have often seen the motto, “Pray through.” Is this not what Saul of Tarsus found it necessary to do? We are saved by grace through faith, and yet there are other things that lie beyond the realm of saving grace, and of trusting faith Saul sought the restoration of his sight; he sought guidance for his next step. He still held those same letters of authority; he still was, supposedly, under obligation to the chief priests. That he was saved, we have no doubt; that he was willing to follow the Lord anywhere, we are sure; however, there was much of mist before him as to his future.
What was Saul to do now? He could not follow his old path. He could not persecute saints-what should he do? Closed in by circumstances that baffled him, he began to cry to God. He must have prayed with a Jacob-like clinging, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” One thing we know, God said of Saul, “Behold, he prayeth”; and God does not call “praying,” much that we call prayer.
When saints pray, God hears. Yea, when saints pray, as Saul prayed, God must hear and answer prayer. Do we not remember how the angel said to Lot, “Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.” What held back the angel’s hand? It was the prayer of Abraham, “Peradventure there be found fifty righteous,” “forty-five,” “thirty,” “twenty,” “ten”; thus, “God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out.”
At the blessed throne of grace,
Day by day I’ll take my place,
While I seek my Saviour’s blessing from on high:
There I’ll cast my ev’ry care,
Leave it at the place of prayer,
And His joy and peace I’ll share,
While He is nigh.
I will close my closet door,
And ray Lord I will adore,
Place on Him my ev’ry vexing care and strife:
In that hallowed, safe retreat,
I will worship at His feet,
And His Name I will repeat,
For He is nigh.
To the place of prayer I’ll go,
There I’ll seek His will to know,
And with joy I will His ev’ry word obey:
I will heed His voice Divine,
Make His will and purpose mine,
And my heart to Him incline,
Each passing day.
V. THE DAYS OF DARKNESS THAT BRING VISIONS OF DIVINE AID
Saul, in reality, had “visions in the night.” His loss of eyesight, increased his faith-sight. God came the closer to him, by reason of his distress. It is always so. When our boat is storm-tossed and driven of the wind; then, over the troubled waters our Lord comes walking on the waves. We may become alarmed, crying, “It is a spirit,” but soon we hear His voice saying, “It is I; be not afraid.”
When the storms sweep o’er your sky,
And the wind and waves are high,
Then look up, for help is nigh,
Christ is saying, “It is I.”
It is I; be not afraid,
I am come to give thee aid,
Let your eye on Me be stayed,
It is I, yes, it is I.
As Saul prayed, he saw “in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.”
Saul’s blinded eyes suggest to us the years that his spiritual eyes had been blinded to the Christ of God. Now, with his natural eyes blinded, he knew not whither he went; of old, with his spiritual eyes blinded, he knew not whither he went. Thousands today are walking in darkness, because the God of this world has blinded their eyes, lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine in upon them and convert them.
“O blind, blind, blind, amid the blaze of noon;
Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse,
Without one ray of light.”
That is the condition of every one who wanders on in sin. What do blind men need? It is vision. Saul’s first vision, was of Christ speaking to Him; Saul’s second vision, was of a man coming to give him sight.
What an analogy-a blind man, saw. Certainly that was true. Sometimes our natural sight hinders our spiritual sight. We speak with stronger words,-sometimes we cannot see, because we do see. This is what we mean-the natural mind receiveth not the things of God, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. No human eye hath ever seen, nor has human ear ever heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
Saul of Tarsus had been educated at the feet of Gamaliel. However, scholastic eyes do not suffice to see God. The blinding of Saul’s physical eyes demonstrated that he was now about to enter a realm where neither natural eyes, nor natural wisdom and scholarship could see. Had Saul sought to know God by his natural senses, he would not have known Him. It was only when his human eyesight was gone, that his spiritual eyes saw.
Jennie Lind said something once that suggested that the glare and glitter of the headlights, hid from her the vision of the glory of God. Saul of Tarsus blinded, saw as he had never seen-he saw in a vision the Lord of glory; he saw also a man coming to aid him.
We are not arguing that the sight of our natural eyes is not necessary, for God sent Ananias that Saul might receive his sight. We are only arguing that the eyes that operate in so marvelous a manner, along the path of the physical and earthy, are utterly useless along the pathway of things Divine. We have argued more-that the loss of the natural, often makes the vision of the spiritual more effective, for, “we walk by faith, not by sight.”
When I am lonely, then Jesus only,
Stands at my side the livelong day;
When naught doth cheer me, then He is near me,
He scatters sunlight on my way,
Fuente: Neighbour’s Wells of Living Water
8
Act 9:8. When the remarks of the Lord were concluded, Saul arose from the earth. The dazzling light that struck him to the ground also closed his eyes, and upon arising he naturally opened them. However, he was unable to see on account of what the light had done to his sight. (See chapter 22:11.) He had to be led by the men who had come with him, who took him into the city of Damascus.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 9:8. And when his eyes were opened. When Saul rose up, probably after some interval, and opened his eyes, he found he was blind from the effects of that gleaming light into which he had gazed for a short space. He himself tells us that he was blinded by the light which shone from heaven: I could not see for the glory of that light (chap. Act 22:11).
He saw no man. He could discern none of the familiar faces of his companions, because he was now blind. The reading of the older MSS. is even stronger: He saw nothing.
And they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. Thus came Saul into Damascus, not as he had expected, to triumph in an enterprise on which his soul was set, to brave all difficulties and dangers, to enter into houses and carry off prisoners to Jerusalem; but he passed himself like a prisoner beneath the gateway, and through the colonnades of the street called Straight, where he saw not the crowd of those who gazed on him. He was led by the hands of others, trembling and helpless, to the house of Judas, his dark and solitary lodging (Conybeare and Howson).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, 1. The change of Saul’s posture; He arose from the earth. He that fell to the earth a persecutor; rises up a saint. O free mercy, and astonishing rich grace! that the earth upon which he lay did not open her mouth and swallow him up alive: He that had run away from God, and employed his feet in the service of the devil, is once more set upon his feet again.
Observe, 2. His blindness and loss of sight: When his eyes were opened, he waw no man. Christ taught him, by his bodily blindness, the blindness of his soul in spiritual things, which till now he was insensible of. As Saul was, so all naturally are, spiritually blind, before regeneration and conversion: True, he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and was a great proficient in human learning, but after his conversion he counted that knowledge no better than blindness, Php 3:7-8.
Observe, 3. His manuduction or leading by the hand into the city; They hid him by the hand into Damascus. Who led him? Doubtless his companions that came along with him upon his bloody design from Jerusalem. Here the blind lead the blind; those very hands lead him to Damascus which should have haled the saints from Damascus to Jerusalem. But, O Saul! thou hadst a better leader than all these, even Christ himself: he led thee by the hand into the city, in order to the completing of thy conversion: Now happy Saul! though formerly rebellious, who hast thy Saviour for a leader, thou shalt neither wander nor miscarry.
Observe, 4. The duration and continuance of Saul’s blindness; He was three days without sight. This was a long night to him who persecuted the children of the day; a just time for him to be in darkness, who so implacably attempted to blow out the light of the gospel: But perhaps no less time would have been sufficient to humble him for his rage and madness against Christ and his members. Besides, there are some that think that, in these three days of his continued blindness, he had that rapture into the third heaven, which is mentioned, 2Co 12:2. But however that be, doubtless in this time his mind was filled with divine contemplations; and that glorious gospel was taught him in three days, which he taught to others all his days.
Observe, 5. His abstinence from food; He did neither eat nor drink: he spent those three days, we may believe in fasting and prayer, and extraordinary humiliation before God, for his former wicked life, and particularly for his violent persecution of the church of Christ: He fasted to make him more fervent in prayer; for fasting prepares for prayer, and gives wings to prayer.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Act 9:8-9. And Saul arose from the earth When Christ bade him; but probably not without help, the vision having made him faint and weak, like Daniel; when, upon receiving a vision, no strength remained in him, Dan 10:16-17. And when his eyes were open, he saw no man He was incapable of discerning objects; for his nerves had been so affected with the glory of that light which had shone from the body of Jesus, that he had lost the power of sight, Act 22:11; but they That were with him; led him by the hand For as they had not looked so earnestly and steadfastly, as Saul had done, on the glorious light wherewith the person of Christ was surrounded, but had lain with their faces on the ground, their eye-sight remained. And he was three days without sight By scales growing over his eyes, not only to intimate to him the blindness of the state he had been in, but to impress him also with a deeper sense of the almighty power of Christ, and to turn his thoughts inward, while he was rendered less capable of conversing with external objects. This was, likewise, a manifest token to others, of what had happened to him in his journey; and ought to have humbled and convinced those bigoted Jews, to whom he had been sent from the sanhedrim. And neither did eat nor drink This his long-continued fasting was a natural expression of his bitter grief, for having opposed the gospel, and persecuted the disciples of Jesus. With fasting he joined fervent and often-repeated prayer, perhaps, to Jesus; in which he made confession of his sin in persecuting him, and earnest supplication for pardon; all which, being certain signs of his repentance, they are here (Act 9:11) mentioned as such. During his three days
blindness and fasting, Saul was instructed by visions and revelations from the Lord, agreeably to what was promised him, that in Damascus it should be told him what he was to do. One vision of this kind is expressly mentioned, in which the restoration of his sight by Ananias was foretold to him. See Act 9:12. Here it is natural to reflect, that the situation in which Saul now lay, was indeed apparently very melancholy; his sight being lost, his appetite for food gone, and his whole soul wrapt up in deep astonishment, or melted in deep contrition and remorse. But, though he thus sowed in tears, he was soon to reap in joy. Light and gladness were sown for him. He came out of the furnace refined as gold and silver; and these three dark and dismal days are, no doubt, recollected by him in the heavenly world, as the era from whence he dates the first beamings of that divine light in which he now dwells. Let us never be afraid of the pangs of that godly sorrow, which, working repentance to salvation, not to be repented of, will soon be ten thousand times overbalanced by that exceeding weight of glory, and those full transports of eternal joy, for which it will prepare the soul. See Doddridge.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8, 9. When the vision disappeared, Saul promptly obeyed the commandment given him. (8) “And Saul was raised from the earth, but when his eyes were opened he saw no one, and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. (9) And he was there three days without seeing, and did neither eat nor drink.” The physical effect of the intense light into which he had gazed upon his eyesight was not more painful than the moral effect of the whole scene upon his conscience. The former made him blind; the latter filled him with remorse. To this feeling alone can we attribute his total abstinence from food and drink. The awful crime of fighting murderously against God and Christ was pressing upon his soul, and as yet he knew not what to do that he might obtain pardon. His Jewish education, if not his natural instinct, prompted him to pray, and this he was doing with all fervor; but the hands he lifted up were stained with blood-the blood of martyrs; and how could he hope to be heard? No penitent ever had greater cause for sorrow, or wept more bitterly than he.