How does Saul’s conversion lead to disputed reception, and what does Peter do?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Saul’s encounter, baptism, testimony and two threats precede Peter’s visits to Eneas and Tabitha.

Chapter breakdown

Saul still breathes threats and slaughter against the Lord’s disciples and asks the high priest for letters to Damascus’s synagogues, so men and women of this way may be brought bound to Jerusalem. Near Damascus a light from heaven shines around him. Falling, he hears Saul repeated and a question about why he persecutes the speaker. He asks who speaks and hears Jesus, whom he persecutes, saying it is hard to kick against the goad. Trembling and astonished, he asks what to do and is told to enter the city for instructions. His companions stand amazed, hearing a voice but seeing no man. Saul rises and opens his eyes but sees nothing. They lead him by hand to Damascus, where he neither sees, eats nor drinks for three days.

The Lord calls the disciple Ananias in a vision and sends him to Strait street, Judas’s house, to find Saul of Tarsus praying. Saul has seen Ananias enter and impose hands to restore sight. Ananias recalls reports of Saul’s evil to Jerusalem’s saints and his authority to bind those invoking the Lord’s name. The Lord tells him to go: Saul is a vessel of election to carry his name before Gentiles, kings and Israel, and will learn the sufferings awaiting him for that name. Ananias enters, imposes hands and calls him Brother Saul, saying Jesus who appeared on the way sent him for sight and the Holy Ghost’s fullness. Something like scales falls from Saul’s eyes. He sees, rises, is baptized, takes food and is strengthened. He spends some days with the Damascus disciples.

Saul immediately preaches Jesus as God’s Son in the synagogues. Hearers marvel that the persecutor came to bind believers for the chief priests. Increasing in strength, he confounds the Damascus Jews by affirming Jesus as Christ. After many days they plan to kill him, watching the gates day and night. Saul knows of the ambush, and disciples lower him in a basket by the wall at night. At Jerusalem the disciples fear him and disbelieve his discipleship. Barnabas brings him to the apostles, relating his encounter with the Lord and confident testimony in Damascus. Saul moves among them in Jerusalem, speaking confidently in the Lord’s name to Gentiles and disputing with Greeks, who seek to kill him. Brethren take him to Cæsarea and send him to Tarsus. The church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria has peace, is edified, walks in the Lord’s fear and receives the Holy Ghost’s consolation.

Peter visits the saints at Lydda, where Eneas has been bedridden with palsy for eight years. Peter tells him the Lord Jesus heals him and commands him to rise and make his bed; he rises immediately. Those in Lydda and Saron see him and turn to the Lord. At Joppe the disciple Tabitha, translated Dorcas, abounds in good works and alms. She becomes sick and dies, and is washed and laid upstairs. Knowing Peter is nearby, disciples send two men for him. Widows show him Dorcas’s coats and garments while weeping. Putting everyone out, he kneels, prays and tells Tabitha to arise. She opens her eyes, sees him and sits up. He raises her by the hand and presents her alive. Many in Joppe hear and believe. Peter stays many days with Simon the tanner.

The story inside

Ananias voices specific reports and authority concerns before the renewed command. Saul receives sight and is baptized; Damascus disciples help him escape, Barnabas addresses Jerusalem fear. Peter’s subsequent healings are narrated locally.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The Lord says go, without adding a promise of no danger.
2
Speaking to Gentiles must not be omitted when Greeks are mentioned.
3
Neither these healings nor conversion supplies a general medical or invulnerability guarantee.

Test your recall

What concerns does Ananias voice?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 124722–124734
9:3. And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. 9:4. And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 9:5. Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. 9:6. And he, trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
Lines 124763–124776
9:15. And the Lord said to him: Go thy way: for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 9:16. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 9:17. And Ananias went his way and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 9:18. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized.
Lines 124822–124832
9:32. And it came to pass that Peter, as he passed through, visiting all, came to the saints who dwelt at Lydda. 9:33. And he found there a certain man named Eneas, who had kept his bed for eight years, who was ill of the palsy. 9:34. And Peter said to him: Eneas, the Lord Jesus Christ healeth thee. Arise and make thy bed. And immediately he arose. 9:35. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him: who were converted to the Lord.
Lines 124845–124857
9:39. And Peter rising up went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood about him, weeping and shewing him the coats and garments which Dorcas made them. 9:40. And they all being put forth, Peter, kneeling down, prayed. And turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, sat up. 9:41. And giving her his hand, he lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and the widows, he presented her alive. 9:42. And it was made known throughout all Joppe. And many believed in the Lord.