Acts 22:6-10 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come near to Damascus about noon… Note — I. THAT MAN IS THE OBJECT OF DIVINE INSPECTION. Though Christ was now in heaven, yet His eye followed Saul. Little did Saul know that He whose name he endeavoured to blot from the earth not only marked his every footstep, but saw his every passing thought and feeling. That God knows all about man individually is obvious — 1. From His omniscience. He who sees all things, see each thing — the minute as well as the vast. 2. From history. Hagar in the wilderness, Jacob at Bethel, Elijah in the cave, and now Saul on his way to Damascus. 3. From the teachings of the Bible (Psalm 139; Proverbs 15:3; Hebrews 4:13). This solemn fact should make us serious, circumspect, devout. II. THAT CHRIST IS THE ORIGINATOR OF MORAL REFORMATION. What now gave the turning point to Paul's life? The manifestation of Christ in the "light," the "voice," the address. Conversion does not originate with self; nor with the agency of man outside, but always with Christ. It is a resurrection. Who can raise the dead but He? It is a creation. Who can create but He? This fact agrees — 1. With the consciousness of the good. The good everywhere ascribe their goodness to Him. This is the burden of heaven's anthem. 2. With the teachings of Scripture. "Of His own will begat He us," etc. "When it pleased God to reveal His Son in me," etc. III. THAT HUMILITY IS THE CONDITION OF HEAVENLY COMMUNION. Saul heard the voice of Jesus when he had fallen to the ground. Humility implies a deep sense of need, and without that the soul will never open its eye or ear to the Divine. We must take off the shoes from our feet, like Moses — fall to the dust, like Isaiah — smite our breast, like the publican, if we would hear what God has to say. "Unto that man will I look who is of a broken spirit," etc. IV. THAT UNION WITH CHRIST IS THE PRIVILEGE OF THE GOOD. "Why persecutest thou Me?" So dear are His disciples to His heart, that their sufferings are His. He bears their infirmities, and carries their sorrows, even in heaven. They are "members of His body," and no part can be wounded without quivering to the sensorium (Matthew 25:40, 45). (D. Thomas, D. D.) 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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