Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 9:1-19.
Saul’s hatred for Christians had only grown since Stephen’s death. He was on his way to Damascus with official authority to imprison more Christians when the Lord Jesus Himself stopped Saul in his tracks. Jesus revealed Himself in blinding light to Saul as the One whom Saul had been persecuting. By this, Jesus preached the condemning Law to Saul, who had to be led into Damascus due to his blindness. The Gospel would be proclaimed by a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord gives great honor to the ministry He established by making use of His preachers. Jesus assured Ananias that Saul would bring His name before all nations. Ananias heard the Lord’s command in faith and went to Saul as a brother. He pronounced absolution upon Saul and laid his hands on the blind man so that his sight was restored. Saul was promptly baptized as his welcome into the family of God.
“To the End of the Earth” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Acts. In his second volume, St. Luke records all the things that Jesus continued to do through the ministry of His Church. By the end of the book, the proclamation of the Lord’s Word that began in Jerusalem grows all the way to Rome. By God’s grace, even now, that same Word is proclaimed to us.
