Acts 9 (CEB)
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still spewing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest, 2 seeking letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found persons who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, these letters would authorize him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 During the journey, as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven encircled him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?”
5 Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?”
“I am Jesus, whom you are harassing,” came the reply.
In Christ, God finds solidarity with the afflicted.
Here are some questions for discussion:
1. Jesus asks Saul why he is persecuting Him, not the church. What does this line reveal about the deep connection between Christ and his followers? What does this suggest about the spiritual consequences of causing harm to others, especially within the body of believers?
2. How does zeal (great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective) in our own lived experiences so easily and often get turned into something negative? What checks can we place on ourselves to prevent this?
3. God says “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14) and Jesus says “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:5) The two statements are simple and direct. The former is a reflection of divine or holy essence & existence, and the latter is a statement of identity and perception. Can both be true? How so, or why not?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. Saul’s previous actions were driven by zeal, but they led to violence. How does this passage complicate the notion of zeal and conviction in the pursuit of justice or righteousness? Is there a time when you might have acted out of zeal without fully considering the consequences for others? How can you align your passion with love and justice moving forward? How can we ensure that our convictions do not become destructive?
2. After Saul’s vision, he becomes a powerful advocate for the early Christian movement, taking the message of Christ to the Gentiles. His work reflects both personal and collective liberation. Similarly, Moses’ role as a deliverer reflects God’s desire for the liberation of a people. How does the church today play a role in advocating for justice and liberation and what responsibility do we bear to work against injustice both within and outside of the church. How should that look?
3. Privilege is defined as “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.” How does our helping the persecuted start with recognizing our own privileges?
4. Jesus speaks against those that would teach the law but forget the heart position behind the laws (Matthew 15:8-11.) How can we ensure that we are not persecuting others by changing from the legalistic focus to the loving focus of the laws in our lives?
5. A common meme on social media compares many past atrocities and tragedies with the common theme of all being legal at the time. And, we have all heard that good intentions pave the path to hell. How does our intention to do good become bad? What can we do as individuals, and as a community, to ensure our best intentions are centered on a grace filled loving position?
For further contemplation, consider these quotes & prompts:
1. Acts 9:1 (CEB) describes Saul as “breathing out murderous threats.” What does this intense language reveal about Saul’s mindset and his understanding of religious zeal? How does his zeal reflect the dangers of unchecked fervor in the name of righteousness, especially when directed at a marginalized group?
2. Further down, in Acts 9:8-9, we see that after Saul’s vivid encounter with the voice of Jesus, he is left physically blinded and must be led by others into the city. What is the significance of Saul’s helplessness and reliance on others to guide him after such a dramatic moment? How does this possibly reflect his spiritual state and foreshadow the transformation that is to come? Are there areas in your own life where you might be “blind”? How might we benefit from the fellowship of the collective Body? How might others from our own engagement as part of the Body?