Page 50 - Acts Student Textbook

Study Section 10: Acts 9- The Conversion of Saul
and the Raising of Dorcas to Life

10.1 Connect.

At this point, the emphasis in Acts is beginning to shift: from the Apostle Peter to the Apostle
Paul, from Palestine to the Mediterranean world, from Jews to Gentiles. Paul's conversion is
such an important point in church history that it is recorded three times in the book of Acts:
Luke's account (9:1-30), Paul's account before the mob in Jerusalem (22:3-16), and Paul's
account before Agrippa II at Caesarea (26:4-18). Paul also briefly mentions this same period in Gal.
1:13-17 and II Cor. 11:32-33. Paul’s conversion sets a stage for Jesus’ final prediction of the spread of
the gospel and the division of the book. In the min time, part of this chapter just gives us Paul’s
salvation background. We are still continuing with Peter’s ministry for the next three chapters. These
three chapters will even be more meaningful to Peter’s personal spiritual life and experience in
ministry. Let’s begin...

10.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to describe the two impossibilities that only God can do, the
conversion of Saul and the raising of Dorcas to life.

2. The student should be able to analyze the circumstances that lead to the conversion of
Saul.

3. The student should be able to discuss the twist in Saul’s assignments and early ministry.

4. The student should be able to describe the raising of Dorcas to life.

10.3 Acts 9: The Conversion of Saul and the Raising of Dorcas to Life

What was Saul’s assignment in Damascus (9:1-2)?

The gospel had just recently gone to Samaria, so it could not have been long in Damascus.
Yet there were enough Christians, Saul wanted to go there and capture them. Perhaps this
had been a major gathering place for many of those who had escaped from Jerusalem. Saul
had a self-assigned task to go and arrest all kinds of Christians including women and children, all he
needed was approval from the Sanhedrin, and he had it. Note Saul’s zeal for his beliefs. This was a
long journey for such a purpose. But doe Saul accomplish his mission?

How does Saul’s assignment change? (9:3-9)

Because of Saul’s encounter with the risen Lord in his way to Damascus, he could not accomplish his
mission. Interestingly, Saul gets assigned an opposite task.
Saul’s encounter with the risen Lord was dramatic. Luke, in
26:14 adds that those who were with Saul fell to the earth
also, and that the voice spoke in the Hebrew tongue.
Further, in 22:6 adds that this occurred about noon, yet the
light that shone was brighter than the midday sun (26:13).

These details show that the event could simply never have
been faked. It occurred on a public road in the open in the

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