But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Ac 9:1–2
Acts 9 starts with Saul, soon to be called Paul, so incensed about the preaching of the gospel that he is threatening murder and seeking warrants to look for disciples/followers of The Way in Damascus. It ends with him escaping his former persecuting partners in a basket over the wall.
Paul intends to enter Damascus zealous to begin rounding up followers of The Way, yet has an undeniable encounter himself with the risen Lord.
As I read through Acts again, I’m reminded that language is important. In the two verses above, Saul is breathing murder against the disciples of the Lord and those belonging to The Way. In scripture, these designations mean something. There are implications attached to following as a disciple or being recognized as a person “of The Way.”
Disciples of the Lord
Paul was going after disciples. Those who followed. Had he arrived at the synagogues and shared his mission, the rabbis and congregants would have known exactly who he was looking for. It’s a bit sobering to think how the terms “Christian,” and “believer,” and “disciple” today have taken on an almost nebulous meaning. Depending on who you ask, any of these terms could mean any number of things except what they are intended to mean.
But words do have meaning.
A disciple is a student, pupil, or learner. In the New Testament it is used for Jesus’ followers.
J. Barry, Lexham Bible Dictionary
Jesus was a different rabbi. He called His own disciples.
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Mt 4:18–20
Those who wanted to be changed came to Him by faith, not by their own intellect or power.
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
Mt 9:2
The disciples have a changed heart due to the gospel. They die to themselves and follow the Lord.
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Mt 10:38
Paul was not seeking those who had a passing interest in Jesus. He sought those who may have suffered persecution at his hands in Jerusalem (Acts 8:3; 26:10) and fled to Damascus. In fact, they had a specific designation.
Belonging to The Way
Luke gets more specific in describing the disciples by using the phrase “followers of The Way.”
“The Way” is explicitly mentioned in Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:22; and possibly in 16:17; 18:25–26; 24:14. Craig Keener believes this title to be Semitic in its context as it does not seem to have been used by the Gentile church. He also correlates The Way with the narrow door of salvation, the way of peace and righteousness seen in Matthew, Luke, John, and Acts.
The movement is related to the narrow “door” of salvation (Luke 13:24–25; cf. Matt 7:13–14) and to “the way of peace” (Luke 1:79), the Lord’s way prepared by John (1:76; 3:4), “the way of God” (20:21, despite the speakers), and “the way of righteousness” (Matt 21:32; cf. Acts 13:10; 16:17).
Craig S. Keener, Acts: An Exegetical Commentary & 2: Introduction and 1:1–14:28, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012–2013), 1626.
The “way” was the right moral path or lifestyle in which the upright would walk.
As a descriptive phrase for disciples, “Belonging to The Way” would be appropriate for believers (disciples) to call themselves today.
Damascus Christians in Acts 9
The city of Damascus, located in Syria, is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back to the 16th century BC.
In Acts 9, we learn that Saul (Paul) was on his way to Damascus with letters “to the synagogues at Damascus so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:2) To understand the significance of how zealous Saul was to crush this threatening movement known as The Way, please remember that Damascus was a six-day walk from Jerusalem. Saul was zealously going after The Way. One commentator uses the phrase, “searing rage.” Anger might cause us to veraciously pound our keyboards and write behind the safety of a screen name. Searing rage may cause us to walk SIX DAYS and use our relational and communal connections to hunt people we don’t even know AND THEN haul them SIX DAYS back!
As he approached the city, the Lord struck him blind and his companions brought him by the hand into the city. Luke tells us where Paul ends up: on Straight Street, at Judas’s home.
Craig Keener has an interesting take on the word “Straight.”
Why does Luke specify the particular street in this case? Elsewhere, revelations might include sufficient directions for travelers to find their way (cf. Acts 10:6)—“Judas” was, after all, a common name and hence could hardly specify the house’s location in Damascus by itself. But the street’s name in this case may have also supplied Luke a fortuitous opportunity for a literary connection: those who twisted God’s “straight” road (13:10) must be blinded (13:11), but the kingdom mission of true prophets entailed straightening that road again (Luke 3:4–5). Saul has turned to the Lord’s right path, to “the Way” (Acts 9:2).
Craig S. Keener, Acts: An Exegetical Commentary & 2: Introduction and 1:1–14:28, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012–2013), 1653.
Acts 9 truly shows the Lord’s kindness to Paul.
- His traveling companions lead him by the hand to the city.
- He finds accommodations and rest in Judas’s home thanks to Jewish hospitality.
- A godly man (Ananias) in the city was praying and listening to the Lord. (9:10)
- Paul was welcomed into the believing community (The Way) in Damascus and strengthened by the disciples. (9:19)
- Instead of singling out followers of The Way in the synagogues, he preached Christ. He increased in strength and confounded the Jews. (9:20-22)
These disciples, or followers of The Way, provided a biblically solid ground for which the newly converted Paul would begin his ministry. These disciples showed Paul the following insights that we would do well to instill in new disciples from day one:
- Faith and Obedience: The disciples in Damascus, like Ananias, demonstrated unwavering faith in Jesus and obedience to His commands. Ananias, despite his initial hesitation and concerns, ultimately obeyed God’s instruction to lay hands on Saul, trusting that God had a divine purpose.
- Community and Support: The Damascus community appears to have been a supportive and interconnected group. They were aware of Saul’s previous persecution and likely shared a common understanding of the gospel. Their willingness to welcome and accept Saul, despite his past actions, speaks to their love and compassion.
- Perseverance and Resilience: Given the context of early Christianity, the Damascus disciples likely faced significant challenges and persecution. Their continued commitment to their faith and their willingness to gather and support one another demonstrate their perseverance and resilience.
- Spiritual Growth and Development: The Damascus community seems to have been a place of spiritual growth and development. Their interactions with Saul and their experiences of God’s miraculous work likely contributed to their own faith journeys.
Though the narrative of Acts 9 is primarily centered around Saul’s conversion, the brief glimpses we have of the Damascus disciples reveal a community of believers ready to listen to the Spirit, obey His commands, and make new disciples.
Toby DeHay 