ACTS 9-10

9:1-2 The high priest as head of the Sanhedrin was placed by Roman government in charge of all 

internal affairs of the Jewish state. Decrees were binding on Jewish residents even those outside 

Palestine to a great extent. The “letters to the synagogues” are not like “wanted” posters, but more like 

open warrants.

“The way” was an earlier name than Christian for believers. 

 

9:3-6 F. F. Bruce relates a parallel in the life of the Sikh Sundar Singh who persecuted Christians until 

he had a very similar vision the night before he was going to commit suicide.

 

9:7 It is odd that the other people traveling with Saul heard Jesus, but didn’t see him. It probably 

means they heard Paul's voice only (to avoid contradiction to later accounts of same event). Most 

prophetic calls only involve voices and are to the prophet only.

 

9:10-14 Preparation of Ananias was needed because of Paul's reputation. Acts 26:16-18 gives more 

details on Ananias' vision. It is interesting that Ananias argues with God on the point, just like Gideon, 

Moses, Abraham, Peter, etc.

 

9:17 Acts 22:14-16 gives more details on what Ananias said to Paul.

 

9:19-20 According to Galatians 1:15ff, Paul went away into Arabia (Nabathaea) and then returned to 

Damascus. 

 

9:23-25 The disciples rescued Paul in verse 23, but then avoid him in 26. The reason is that he had 

Ananias to vouch for him in Damascus, but the Jerusalem disciples only knew of his reputation as a 

persecutor. Three years later he returns to Jerusalem after escaping from the Damascus authorities (also 

described in II Corinthians 11:32f.)

 

9:27-28 Barnabas' character is shown again here. The apostles were only Peter and James the brother of 

Jesus, according to a later Acts account.

 

9:29 This probably does not mean Jews who acted like Greeks, but those who habitually spoke only 

Greek. These are the very people who started the persecution of Stephen.

 

9:31 “Church” is singular, indicating not the building but the people.

 

9:39-42 Interesting that in Aramaic, Peter said, “Tabitha qumi” whereas Jesus in similar circumstances 

said “Talitha qumi (Little girl, get up) (Mark 5:41)

 

9:43 Lodging with a ritually unclean tanner shows that Peter was already somewhat prepared for what 

follows.

 

10:1-8 Another double vision to confirm actions (as in Ananias and Paul). How many Italian Romans 

would have actually considered themselves Christians at this point? Cornelius had to have been 

exceedingly rare. Cornelius was a God-fearer. This represents another small step in the spread of the 

gospel. Later it will be out-and-out pagans who are converted.

 

10:12-13 Dietary laws were one thing that really differentiated the Jews, but if Peter is to evangelize to 

the Gentiles, he must be accepted by them and in order to do that, he must not turn up his nose at their 

food. But God's words go well beyond that as Peter recognizes. See verse 28.

 

10:14-16 Peter is still contradicting Jesus. Note that he does so three times. This exchange is quite 

similar to Ezekiel's vision where God tells him to make a cake out of mixed grains and cook it over 

human dung.

 

10:36-42 Why is Dorcas returned to life? Why was she brought back from paradise and put them back 

on earth? Is it because whe was not saved, and this was giving her another chance? No, because even 

Jesus did the same thing with Lazarus and others, probably out of feelings for the bereaved and to 

bolster their faith and for evangelistic reasons. Look at the end result of the miracle in the last verse. 

One might as well ask why today some believers die in their youth and others continue on into old age. 

Ultimately, God has reasons in both cases. 

 

10:44-48 This represents another unusual order of events (like the case of the Samaritans where 

baptism of Holy Spirit followed water baptism) in which baptism with the Holy Spirit precedes water 

baptism. Both events served as heavenly confirmation to the apostles that those converted were indeed 

worthy of being included. In all other NT cases, both events happen at the same time.