chapter viii

. verse 1. “That _Saul_ was consenting unto his death;” and again, at verse 3. he is brought in as exceeding all in his opposition; for thus speaks the evangelist, “As for _Saul_, he made havock of the church, entring into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison.” One would have imagined, that this should have satisfied, at least abated the fury of this young zealot. No: being exceedingly mad against them, as he himself informs _Agrippa_, and having made havock of all in _Jerusalem_, he now is resolved to persecute the disciples of the LORD, even to strange cities; and therefore yet breathing out threatnings. “Breathing out.” The words are very emphatical, and expressive of his bitter enmity. It was as natural to him now to threaten the christians, as it was for him to breathe: he could scarce speak, but it was some threatnings against them. Nay, he not only breathed out threatnings, but slaughters also (and those who threaten, would also slaughter, if it were in their power) against the disciples of the LORD. Insatiable therefore as hell, finding he could not confute or stop the christians by force of argument, he is resolved to do it by force of arms; and therefore went to the high priest (for there never was a persecution yet without a high priest at the head of it) and desired of him letters, issued out of his spiritual court, to the synagogues or ecclesiastical courts at _Damascus_, giving him authority, “that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto _Jerusalem_,” I suppose, there to be arraigned and condemned in the high priest’s court. Observe how he speaks of the christians. _Luke_, who wrote the _Acts_, calls them “disciples of the LORD,” and _Saul_ stiles them “Men and women of this way.” I doubt not but he represented them as a company of _upstart enthusiasts_, that had lately gotten into a new method or way of living; that would not be content with the temple-service, but they must be righteous over-much, and have their private meetings or conventicles, and break bread, as they called it, from house to house, to the great disturbance of the established clergy, and to the utter subversion of all order and decency. I do not hear that the high priest makes any objection: no, he was as willing to grant letters, as _Saul_ was to ask them; and wonderfully pleased within himself, to find he had such an active zealot to employ against the christians.

Well then, a judicial process is immediately issued out, with the high priest’s seal affixed to it. And now methinks I see the young persecutor finely equipped, and pleasing himself with thoughts, how triumphantly he should ride back with the “men and women of this way,” dragging them after him to _Jerusalem_.

What a condition may we imagine the poor disciples at _Damascus_ were in at this time! No doubt they had heard of _Saul_’s imprisoning and making havock of the saints at _Jerusalem_, and we may well suppose they were apprised of his design against them. I am persuaded this was a growing, because a trying time with these dear people. O how did they wrestle with GOD in prayer, beseeching him either to deliver them from, or give them grace sufficient to enable them to bear up under, the fury of their persecutors? The high priest doubtless with the rest of his reverend brethren, flattered themselves, that they should now put an effectual stop to this growing heresy, and waited with impatience for _Saul_’s return.

But “He that sitteth in heaven laughs them to scorn, the LORD has them in derision.” And therefore, verse 3. “As _Saul_ journeyed, and came even near unto _Damascus_,” perhaps to the very gates, (our LORD permitting this, to try the faith of his disciples, and more conspicuously to baffle the designs of his enemies) “suddenly (at mid-day, as he acquaints _Agrippa_) there shined round about him a light from heaven,” a light brighter than the sun; “and he fell to the earth (why not into hell?) and heard a voice saying unto him, _Saul, Saul_, why persecutest thou me?” The word is doubled, “_Saul, Saul_:” Like that of our LORD to _Martha_; “_Martha, Martha_;” or the prophet, “O earth, earth, earth!” Perhaps these words came like thunder to his soul. That they were spoken audibly, we are assured from verse 7. “His companions heard the voice.” Our LORD now arrests the persecuting zealot, calling him by name; for the word never does us good, till we find it spoken to us in particular. “_Saul, Saul_, Why persecutest thou Me?” Put the emphasis upon the word _why_, what evil have I done? Put it upon the word _persecutest_, why persecutest? I suppose _Saul_ thought he was not persecuting; no, he was only putting the laws of the ecclesiastical court into execution; but JESUS, whose eyes are as a flame of fire, saw through the hypocrisy of his heart, that, notwithstanding his specious pretences, all this proceeded from a persecuting spirit, and secret enmity of heart against GOD; and therefore says, “Why persecutest thou me?” Put the emphasis upon the word _me_, why persecutest thou me? alas! _Saul_ was not persecuting CHRIST, was he? he was only taking care to prevent innovations in the church, and bringing a company of enthusiasts to justice, who otherwise would overturn the established constitution. But JESUS says, “Why persecutest thou me?” For what is done to CHRIST’s disciples, he takes as done to himself, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. He that touches CHRIST’s disciples, touches the apple of his eye; and they who persecute the followers of our LORD, would persecute our LORD himself, was he again to come and tabernacle amongst us.

I do not find that _Saul_ gives any reason why he did persecute; no, he was struck dumb; as every persecutor will be, when JESUS CHRIST puts this same question to them at the terrible day of judgment. But being pricked at the heart, no doubt with a sense not only of this, but of all his other offences against the great GOD, he said, verse 5. “Who art thou, LORD?” See how soon GOD can change the heart and voice of his most bitter enemies. Not many days ago, _Saul_ was not only blaspheming CHRIST himself, but, as much as in him lay, compelling others to blaspheme also: but now, he, who before was an imposter, is called _Lord_; “Who art thou, LORD?” This admirably points out the way in which GOD’s Spirit works upon the heart: it first powerfully convinces of sin, and of our damnable state; and then puts us upon enquiring after JESUS CHRIST. _Saul_ being struck to the ground, or pricked to the heart, cries out after JESUS, “Who art thou, LORD?” As many of you that were never so far made sensible of your damnable state, as to be made feelingly to seek after JESUS CHRIST, were never yet truly convicted by, much less converted to, GOD. May the LORD, who struck _Saul_, effectually now strike all my christless hearers, and set them upon enquiring after JESUS, as their all in all! _Saul_ said, “Who art thou, LORD? And the LORD said, I am JESUS, whom thou persecutest.” Never did any one enquire truly after JESUS CHRIST, but CHRIST made a saving discovery of himself, to his soul. It should seem, our LORD appeared to him in person; for _Ananias_, afterwards, says, “The LORD who appeared to thee in the way which thou camest;” though this may only imply CHRIST’s meeting him in the way; it is not much matter: it is plain CHRIST here speaks to him, and says, “I am JESUS, whom thou persecutest.” It is remarkable, how our LORD takes to himself the name of _Jesus_; for it is a name in which he delights: I am JESUS, a Saviour of my people, both from the guilt and power of their sins; “a JESUS, whom thou persecutest.” This seems to be spoken to convince _Saul_ more and more of his sin; and I doubt not, but every word was sharper than a two-edged sword, and came like so many daggers to his heart; O how did these words affect him! a JESUS! a Saviour! and yet I am persecuting him! this strikes him with horror; but then the word JESUS, though he was a persecutor, might give him some hope. However, our dear LORD, to convince _Saul_ that he was to be saved by grace, and that he was not afraid of his power and enmity, tells him, “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” As much as to say, though he was persecuting, yet he could not overthrow the church of CHRIST: for he would sit as King upon his holy hill of _Zion_; the malice of men or devils should never be able to prevail against him.

Verse 6. “And he, trembling and astonished, said, LORD, what wilt thou have me to do?” Those, who think _Saul_ had a discovery of JESUS made to his heart before, think that this question is the result of his faith, and that he now desires to know what he shall do, out of gratitude, for what the LORD had done for his soul; in this sense it may be understood; ¹and I have made use of it as an instance to prove, that faith will work by love; but perhaps it may be more agreeable to the context, if we suppose, that _Saul_ had only some distant discovery of CHRIST made to him, and not a full assurance of faith: for we are told, “he trembling and astonished,” trembling at the thoughts of his persecuting a JESUS, and astonished at his own vileness, and the infinite condescension of this JESUS, cries out, “LORD, what wilt thou have me to do?” Persons under soul-trouble, and sore conviction, would be glad to do any thing, or comply on any terms, to get peace with GOD. “Arise, (says our LORD) and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou shalt do.”

¹ See Volume V. Sermon 24.

And here we will leave _Saul_ a while, and see what is become of his companions. But what shall we say? GOD is a sovereign agent; his sacred Spirit bloweth when and where it listeth; “he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy.” _Saul_ is taken, but, as far as we know to the contrary, his fellow-travellers are left to perish in their sins: for we are told, verse 7. “That the men who journeyed with him stood, indeed, speechless, and hearing a confused voice;” I say, a _confused voice_, for so the word signifies, and must be so interpreted, in order to reconcile it with