Acts 9:16-20
 
Acts 9:16 (KJB)
For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
 
Must - Necessary
 
Saul will soon begin his ministry and when he does, he will be subject to the same persecution in which he persecuted those before his salvation. He will realize that the true message of the Bible, being the Lord Jesus Christ, will be hated and rejected to the point that he will suffer much physical persecution. Saul will not be persecuted because of his past history which has been wiped clean by the blood of Calvary. He will be persecuted because of the message he will be bringing.
 
Acts 9:17 (KJB)
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
 
Ananias no longer hesitated but now did what he was commanded to do by the Lord Jesus Christ. He had gone to the house of Judas and went to Saul. Notice that Ananias calls him “brother Saul.” Ananias now recognizes Saul as a Christian. (2 Cor 5:16 KJV) Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. A very important principle in this verse is that when a person becomes saved, no matter who they were before, they are now either brother or sister. We see them according to their regenerated state and not their previous unsaved state. Ananias then goes into Saul and explains what happened to him on the road to Damascus. He was very explicit about the fact that it was Jesus who appeared to him. To the Jews the term “Lord” would normally point to Jehovah, the Father but here Saul was approached on the road by the Son. He then states that at the same time the Lord came to him and told him that he was to go to Saul of Tarsus in the house of Judas for two reasons, so he may receive his physical sight and that he would be filled with the Holy Ghost, thus preparing him for his coming ministry. Ananias was not an Apostle nor held any rank but God uses him to bring the Holy Spirit on Saul. This was a miracle which happened in the very early church and was done away with by the end of the first century. Now when a person becomes saved they receive the Holy Spirit immediately without any laying on of hands.
 
Acts 9:18 (KJB)
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
 
Scales - Fish scales
Forthwith - Instantly
 
There is a medical procedure called descaling in which a patch of skin is removed from over the eyes which causes blindness. These scales which Saul had looked like fish scales which would have been apropos because Saul was about to be a fisher of men. (Mat 4:19 KJV) And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. As soon as those scales were providentially removed, Saul received back his sight. The next thing that they did was to baptize Saul in water which was his initial testimony to what happened to him internally.
 
Acts 9:19 (KJB)
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
 
Meat - Food
 
After Saul received the Holy Ghost and his sight back, he then ate something which brought back his physical strength. After three days he no doubt was in a weakened state. He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for a period of time and I can guarantee that the conversation of those days was one big Bible study and I am sure Saul had many questions about Christianity. The fact that the word “disciple” is in the plural means that Saul met with many of the disciples and probably heard enough to fill a book.
 
Acts 9:20 (KJB)
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
 
Straightway - Immediately
 
Since Saul did not know anyone personally in Damascus except Judas and Ananias, they would have taken Saul to the local assembly of believers. Saul then went to the Synagogues in the city and started to preach the true Gospel to the Jews that Jesus is the Son of God. Notice here too that Saul uses the term “is” rather than “was” because he has firsthand knowledge that Jesus is alive and well. The word “is” in the Greek is in the present tense. Saul did not waste any time in starting his ministry. He ministered right where he was at the time.

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