Proclamations and Conversions Discussed Only in Acts: Damascus
Damascus is an ancient city, first appearing in the Bible in Genesis (Genesis 14:15). It is about 130 miles north of Jerusalem (but about 180 miles south of Antioch). Paul was on his way there to persecute Christians when the Lord appeared to him (Acts 9:3). He was led into the city and baptized by a Jewish Christian named Ananias (Acts 9:10ff). Thus there were other Christians there already, though we don't know exactly how or when they were converted. All we hear about is Paul's ministry to the people of Damascus.
 
Text  Observations
AC 9:19 Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, [20] and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." [21] And all those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?" [22] But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Paul visits the synagogues in the first version of a role that will be repeated many times in Acts: The visiting teacher who proclaims Jesus as the Son of God.

The amazement wasn't about the message, but about how the messenger had changed sides. Yet Paul also grew in power in proving that Jesus is the Christ.

 
AC 26:19 "Consequently, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, [20] but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.  Paul relates the story of his Damascus ministry to Agrippa, summarized with the following points: repentance and turning to God, with actions in accordance with repentance.

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Comments Copyright © 2002 John Engler. All rights reserved.