Acts 9: Blind Sight
What driving force do you think was behind Saul’s passion to kill followers of Jesus?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Why might the believers in distant Damascus be a concern to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Of those who were brought to trial before the Sanhedrin, what percentage do you think recanted their belief in Jesus?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
What was the source of the light that shone from above, just before Saul reached Damascus? What time of day do you think it was?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
How did Saul react to the sudden, unexplainable appearance of brilliant light? Would those traveling with him have reacted in the same way?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
In what tone do you think Jesus spoke to Saul? Do you think others heard what Jesus was saying?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
How do you think Saul felt when he learned that this appearance was the person he had refused to believe in?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
With Jesus revealing Saul’s struggle with past prodding, we know Saul had more than one opportunity to believe in Jesus. When do you think those times might have been? What reasoning could have made the difference in his choosing not to believe?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Saul asked Jesus for guidance and chose to obey. What does this say about Saul’s change of heart? What might Saul’s response have been if he still chose not to believe?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
How did the men not see Jesus when Saul saw him?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Why did the men with Saul not say anything to him or to one another?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
If the brilliant light caused Saul to be blind, then he couldn’t have seen Jesus. What else might have caused his blindness?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
What might the men have said to Saul after they realized that he could not see? What do you think Saul would have said?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Why did Saul choose to not eat or drink anything for three days?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
When do you think Saul had a vision of a man named Ananias coming to touch him and restore his sight?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
How much time might have passed after Saul’s vision before the Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision? During that time of waiting, what was Saul doing?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Why did Ananias object to going to heal Saul? Since God was the one who gave the command, should he have gone without questioning God’s desire?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
What was God’s response to Ananias’s objection? Why do you think God chose to explain his plan?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
In what ways might Ananias have learned about Jesus appearing to Saul on the way to Damascus?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Beyond knowing God’s plan for healing, how could Ananias know Saul was to be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
During the considerable time Saul spent in Damascus with the followers of Jesus, what might have been said and done?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
After spending time with believers, what do you think motivated Saul to speak in the synagogues, declaring that Jesus was the Son of God?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
What were believers’ first thoughts when they heard about Saul?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
The more that Saul presented his arguments that Jesus was the Messiah, the more irrefutable his proofs were. What does this say about the importance of repeated practice of giving our testimonies?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
When Jewish leaders could not refute his arguments, what did they want to do?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
By what means do you think the plot became known to the person who told Saul?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
How did the disciples get Saul up and over the wall so he could be lowered in a basket?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
We can calculate about three years between the time Saul left Damascus and when he arrived in Jerusalem. After leaving Damascus, where did Saul go? Why do you think Luke didn’t report what Saul did during that time?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Why do you think believers the believers in Jerusalem were less inclined to accept Saul than the believers in Damascus had been, three years earlier?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
What happened to convince people that Saul’s conversion was genuine?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
How might the culture of Greek-speaking Jews differ from the Jews who spoke only Aramaic?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
What do you think Saul’s feelings were when believers sent him home to Tarsus?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
What brought a period of peace in the regions of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
When the paralytic in Lydda was healed, why do you think Peter was not arrested?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
If Dorcas was doing so many good works, why did she have to get sick and die?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
When followers of Jesus in Joppa sent for Peter to come immediately, what different expectations might they have had?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Why might Peter have thought it was important to be alone with the dead person?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
People who have seen Heaven don’t want to come back to Earth, so who do you think made her decision to return?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
After the miracle, many believed? What reasons would people have had for not believing?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Paraphrase
King James
Why do you think Peter chose to remain in Joppa for a long time and not go to some other city?