Acts 22:6-10 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come near to Damascus about noon… I. HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE HERE UNITED IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST. The Saviour here identifies Himself with the world which He had left, calling Himself by His human name, and associating with it the Galilean village where He lived. The name which was His reproach here has gone with Him to His heavenly throne. II. JESUS OF NAZARETH IS LORD OF HEAVEN. Saul gave Him this title, and He accepts it as His right. Two things especially engendered the conviction that He was Lord while on earth: His miracles (John 9:36) and His teaching, both from its matter (John 6:38) and manner (Matthew 7:29). The miraculous light which shone forth upon Saul, with the rebuke of authority which accompanied it, convinced him of the dignity of the Person who addressed him. III. BECAUSE THE LORD OF HEAVEN IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, HE HAS A SPECIAL SYMPATHY WITH HIS PEOPLE'S WRONGS. The sympathy of Jesus arises not merely from His having while on earth passed through human suffering: His vital connection with His Church as its Head (Ephesians 5:23) makes Him now a sharer in their sufferings for Him. Lessons: 1. The powerlessness of death to destroy conscious identity. Christ has passed through death, yet is still "Jesus of Nazareth." 2. The place where we have honestly toiled in this world will be remembered by us in the next. The carpenter's shop at Nazareth was as much a part of the Saviour's education (Hebrews 5:8) as His after experience. So is the scene of our lowliest work. 3. It is dangerous to harm a Christian, seeing his intimate relation with the Lord of glory. 4. The gentleness of the Saviour's reproof of this bitter persecutor may encourage any who mourn over their past opposition. (W. Harris.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. |
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