KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:22. “But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the very Christ.”

 Acts 9:20 reveals that Paul started preaching about the Lord Jesus straight away. after his conversion. The question is what he knows about Jesus Christ to be able to teach, and the Jewish lawyers and teachers? Apostle Paul, as a new convert, needed to be taught the truths about Jesus. According to Isaiah 28:13, ” But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” This verse shows us how the scriptures are interpreted or rightly divided. A little here, a little there

Our question in Acts 9:20 is answered by Galatians 1:12, which says,” 

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

These developments give credence to what Paul said in Galatians 1:15-17. It was after he visited Arabia and was confined in the presence of the Lord that he received insight into the truths about Jesus. It was on his return to Damascus that he started teaching in the synagogues and confounded the Jews.

  From what Paul wrote to the Galatians about himself, we can explain what Luke wrote in the Acts of the Apostles.  When we explain scriptures with other portions of the bible, we appreciate the clarity of what has been written.

Some brethren complain they do not understand the scriptures, because what they may be reading may not be so clear. Dear one, my piece of advice to you is that keep reading the scriptures generally. A good grasp of the scriptures as a whole would explain to you part of what may be lacking in one part that you might have read. The bible is indeed an amazing book. It has so many books written by various persons, yet the author is one, the Holy Spirit. It says all scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.2nd Timothy 3:16. The Holy Spirit, who inspired these men to write the scriptures, gives a perfect blend and meaning to what has been penned down, by taking a little here and a little there.

People go into heresy or error in interpreting the scriptures because they try to explain or make doctrines out of one verse, without reading further to understand what subsequent verses teach. I have heard people of other faiths trying to condemn Christianity as a whole simply because they read one verse and went ahead to conclude and even use it to condemn Christians. The bible is one book. Acts 9:20 cannot be interpreted in isolation.  A critical examination of the verse would raise many difficult questions that one may find hard to answer.

PRAYER

Father, help me through the assistance of your Spirit to be able to blend various portions of the scriptures, so I will rightly divide and apply them effectively.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”