ACTS  9

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lords disciples. He went to the high priest,

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged the Way, whether men or women, he might take them prisoners to Jerusalem.

3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul Saul why do you persecute Me.

5 Who are you Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus whom you are persecuting He replied.

6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

9  For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias. Yes Lord he answered.

11 The Lord said to him. Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. for he is praying.

12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.

13 Lord, Ananias answered, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.

14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priest  to arrest all who call on your name.

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! 

 16 This man is my choosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 17 I will show Him how much he much suffer for my name.

 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul he said Brother Saul the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

18 Immediately something like scales fell from Sauls eyes and he could see again.

19 He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

20 At once he began to preach in  the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, Is not this the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?

22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

23 After many days had gone by the Jews in Damascus conspired to kill him,

24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept a close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.

25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through a opening in the wall.

26 When he came to Jerusalen he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him,  not believing that he really was a disciple.

27  But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him. and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.

30 When the brothers learned about this, they took him down to Carsarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31  Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthed: and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

33 There he found a man named Aeneas a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years.

34 Aenaes Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat. Immediatedly Aeneas got up.

35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha which when translated means Dorcas who was always doing good and helping the poor.

37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in a upstairs room,

38 Lydda was near Joppa; so that when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, Please come at once.

39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room, All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room, then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman he said, Tabitha get up. She opened her eyes and seeing Peter she sat up.

41  He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet in reverence. but Peter made him get up. Stand up he said, I am only a man myself. Acts 10: 25,26 

 At this I fell to his feet to worship him. But he said to me,, Do not do it ! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10

GODS OWN MERCY

 Thomas J. Grace

1 Saul breathes out murder against Christian believers for the past two years he has devoted himself to persecute the new church. Since the death of Stephen he has in Jerusalem hunted and arrested Christians as he searched from house to house to discover where the leaders were. Saul breathes out murder this has become his holy cause he is now more persecutor than Jew he is now more policeman than Pharisee. In the Sanhedrin he does not seem to have a official ,position and we do not learn of him acting as a Rabbi at any synagogue. Later also we do not see Paul as a apostle in a  leadership role  in  Jerusalem as he continues  his new ministry away from Jerusalem. Just as Jesus breathed on the apostles John 20:22 And with that Jesus breathed on them and said. Receive the Holy Spirit. Christ breathed on them to be full of the Spirit as Saul also breathed out the fierce anger that filled him which inspired his followers to arrest and murder many Christians.

     As it will be in the last days many Christians will be taken away by a larger better organized army in order for them to deny our Savior and believe in the false prophet and the antichrist as god. Many of the large churches and religions in order to keep their churches and jobs as pastor will deny Christ in their churches and introduce the teachings of the new one world religion. We have already seen such teachings begin to be taught that deny the full diety of Christ, deny the complete work of the death and resurrection of Our Lord. They speak of a new atonement and tell how all will go to heaven, where there will be stages of joy and suffering.  These new teachings will be introduced as self improveing teachings to make us all better people. These pastors and leaders both men and women will value their positions as greater than our Savior. They will claim when questioned that they are protecting you from persecution by allowing the new one world religion teaching into their church but as the new system becomes more powerful your pastor will bow and have you bow and believe in the new god of this world. The persecution will be powerful and will force the true church to go underground in order to survive. 

      2 Saul receives letters to Damascus synagogues to persecute Christians in a city two hundred miles away, he may have already have visited this city and organized spies there to identify and locate Christian people and meeting sites. Just as after the trial and death of Stephen Saul was already organized to begin a full persecution of the church in Jerusalem. When he arrived he would be prepared for a full attack on the believers there.  False witnesses would be trained and ready for trials judges and juries would already be selected and quick to convict and sentence to death all who will not believe and deny that Christ is Lord. Saul in his fury will continue his search for the apostles who have managed to escape his arrest and maintain their leadership while the church continues to grow.                              

      On the road to Damascus a light from heaven flashes around him. Like Moses who saw a burning bush God once again appears in a light form Exodus 3:3 we see God and Jesus useing the same action to attract a new leader of the people. 4 Saul falls to the ground and heard a voice speak to him. Why do you persecute Me. Christ does not mention Stephen or any of the other Christians Saul has arrested He states you persecute Me. God did not even say this to Pharaoh. Saul had caused damage and hurt Christ as our Lord suffered while His believers were hurt by Saul. 5 We already see uncertainty in Sauls response Who are you Lord? I am Jesus. Laying on the ground and blind Saul hears the most stuning answer he could hear KJV 9:6 Saul trembled and astonished says What will you have me do? Saul already blind in case he reacted badly and refused still to believe Christ. Saul would not be able to persecute the church as a blind man who would be considered unclean and a sinner himself and not allowed in the temple. Within  a instant Saul must understand everything he has done now for many years has been wrong and has hurt Jesus . 

     Just as quickly we are to accept Christ as our Savior admit that we are sinners and ask to be forgiven. We may have had sins in our lives and even activities that may have hurt and even persecuted Jesus in the lives of people we have known. Christ has choosen to forgive and change the life of a sinner rather than punish him He might have choosen any of the other apostles or other believer to bring the gospel to the Gentile  world. He choose to end the persecution and turn the same man into a new apostle. Jesus not concerned with the other men with Saul gives him directions go to Damascus wait there for new directions. Jesus does not say worship Me, go get baptized or return to Jerusalem. Go and wait for someone to tell you what to do.

     7 The men with Saul hear the voice they are not said to have fallen as Saul had and they are not blind. Were they wearing sunglasses God did know that Saul being blind did not receive his sight as soon as he recognized Christ as God would need help to arrive at Damascus safely.  8 Saul blind was led by the men with him to Damascus does Saul tell them that Christ is God, do they believe and become Christians we do not hear about them again.  9 Saul prays for three days while blind he does not eat or drink.  Three days alone to decide and remember his past and wonder what his future will be like, he has not been told he will see again. As a blind man Saul could not expect to live very long he has made many enemies and in his mind Christians would kill him as quickly as he would kill them. Also many Jews and Gentiles who saw their friends and neighbors taken away by Saul would come and kill Saul as a defenseless blind man.

     Will Saul believe in Christ who has made him blind this is not what he had heard of Christ in the stories he heard while he punished Christians in Jerusalem. Perhaps in Saul idea of justice being blind was a small punishment for what he had been doing, maybe he was expecting to be struck again, It could be he did hear about Ananias and his wife Saphira and was waiting to be struck dead. According to the law  of the Old Testament and the examples we have seen by a angry God who punished others for rebellion and disobeying Gods will Saul would expect a severe punishment of death. He would now learn of Gods mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Maybe he feared being discovered by the Christians  that had escaped to Damascus to escape from his persecution in Jerusalem. 

      Saul would wait and pray while Jesus watched and listened.  Let us remember that thousands saw Jesus do many miracles and soon left and did not believe that  He was the savior of the world. Saul is still a man with a free will to choose and decide what he will believe.

     10 In Damascus Jesus speaks to a man named Ananias who is having a vision, Jesus Calls Ananias, he answers, Behold I am here. This could not have been the first time he heard a voice or seen a vision as we see and hear his quick reaction and words. Not like Saul who asked Who are you, Lord? a question Ananias knows who is calling him he does not seem surprised or unknowing about what is happening. 11 Jesus tells him Go to Straight Street, the house of Judas, find Saul of Tarsus who is praying. 12 Jesus continues Saul has seen a vision just as you Ananias is now part of a vision we will see other people seen in visions and prophecies.  12 He has seen you come to put your hands on him to receive his sight. Hands are used once again this time it was foretold by Jesus that a healing would be done by useing this method. 13 Ananias answers Lord this is a bad man he has hurt many of your people in Jerusalem. 14 He has come here also to arrest and punish all who call on your name. Ananias had doubts about the work of Christ one of the apostles might have refused to go to Saul as they were searched for and hunted down and did manage to escape from Saul. They saw Stephen and many other Christians suffer while  Saul hurt and persecuted their church. Many of the people they converted and baptized were put in prison by Saul. Ananias fear is understood by our Lord.

     15 Jesus tells Ananias Go thy way, which assures him of his safety, he is My choosen vessel. Jesus choose the apostles to be His followers and future leaders of the church others will become deacons pastors and even gospel writers but like the apostles Jesus has choosen Saul. 16 Saul is a man who will suffer just as he has caused suffering for My names sake not as a punishment for his past but because of his own devotion to Christ and his willingness to spread the Gospel in dangerous parts of the world. He will also suffer as he learns that his time on earth causes him be be apart from Christ which will be much better. Philippians 1:23 ,24 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

      In the last days there will be few miracle conversions of those who wish to arrest Christians because the power of satan will be great and powerful in this world. One difference from Saul is he did believe he was doing Gods work to rid the world of people who were leaveing their faith and being misled by the apostles. We never see Saul having any connection with satan as Judas and Ananias had. These men in the last days will have direct connection to the empire that the antichrist has created on earth.                                                    

      Just as God has forgiven Saul He is there to forgive all of us and does have a work for each one of you to reach others with the love of God and the messgae of forgiveness of sins through His Son Our Lord Jesus Christ. Please if you have not take a moment now and pray ask Jesus to come into your heart, forgive your sins and become your Savior. As Saul lived in the first days of the church we are living in the last days and God has choosen you today to become a believer. 

     17 Ananias arrives at the home of Judas and calls Brother Saul a sign that Ananias already knows Saul is a true believer. I have come so you will get your sight back and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Sauls eyes will be opened and so will his heart and mind as the Spirit will teach him all he could not learn merely by his own wisdom. Christ spoke to him in the desert man layed his hands on him and the Spirit filled him. It took the work of three all governed by the will and work of God to bring one man to repent and believe. your salvation is just as important to our Father, His Son, the Holy Spirit and people here that are praying for you to know Christ. 18 Scales fall of Sauls eyes and he sees again, and he goes out with Ananias to be baptized in water. Maybe Ananias asked for Saul to do this or the Spirit told Saul to be baptized but it is the first act as a Christian and Saul decides to do this right away. Just as Christ was baptized and all the apostles were baptized and continued the baptisms while Jesus was with them and on the day of Pentecost the apostles baptized three thousand. It may have been the only Christian event that Saul was aware of in his past he may have looked out for baptism events to identify new Christians.

      19 Saul eats food after three days of fasting he has choosen to be baptized before he eats a meal. Saul remains in Damascus this is where Jesus told him to go not only to receive his sight but to begin his ministry. Perhaps Saul was remaining in Damascus until he heard from the Lord to go somewhere else. 20 Saul goes to the synagogues these were the people waiting for him to begin there persecution of Christians. He addressue the crowd there and tells them Jesus is the Son of God we see this is not a message he could begin in Jerusalem. 21 The Jews were astonished by Saul and some might have been relieved as we do not know of any problems that existed between the new Christians and the people of Damascus. Has not Saul come here to take Christians prisoners as he had done in Jerusalem. Saul still believed himself to be a wise Jewish leader and thought he could convince the people in the synagogues to believe in Christ just as he convinced them earlier to persecute Christians. 22 Saul a great debater was able to convince and prove Jesus  is the Christ Saul grew more powerful but here we do not hear of anyone believeing Sauls message about Christ.  We do not read of anyone being healed or baptized in water or by the Holy Spirit neither do we read of Saul and any other gifts of the Holy Spirit. Many people today know that Christ is the Son of God but still treat Him as a great teacher, or a miracle worker but not as their own Savior.

     23 Soon there was a plan to kill Saul to them he was a traitor they may have already informed the Sanhedrin of Sauls change and were given permission to kill Saul. Some from Jerusalem may have traveled to Damascus to hear Saul speak before giving the execution order, they may even have spoken to Saul. 24 Saul learns of this plan he must take this very seriously he knew how dangerous these people were he trained them. Some of these men may have been the men that traveled with him from Jerusalem and held his hand while he was blind and had to be taken to Damascus.  The Jews watch the gates of the city they will search all cargo and carts to look for Saul sneaking out of the city.

     25 This would certainly humble Saul who was a powerful man just days ago now forced to hide in a basket to escape the angry mob he came there to be the leader of. This was no miracle rescue there were no angels there to help or protect Saul but we are sure if he was captured there would have to be further aid to save his life.  It was fortunate that Saul had already made followers that were willing to risk their own lives to hide him for several days and put themselves in danger while they helped Saul escape.

     26 Saul comes to Jerusalem which now is already a very dangerous place for him if the Sanhedrin was not involved or consenting to the first death attempt they will be involved in the next one as soon as they learn he has come to Jerusalem. Many of the disciples were still afraid of Saul and did not believe he was now a Christian. Saul had arrested many of the family members and neighbors of those still in Jerusalem, he may have seen some of those he had arrested. It would seem that the Holy Spirit had not confirmed Sauls new faith to the people of Jerusalem as Jesus had with Ananias.

     As Saul appeared in Jerusalem he aroused fear and suspicion in many believers who would mistrust Saul because of his recent history as a attacker of Christians. Could Saul now be a false teacher that would join them and later lead them astray as Jesus warned Mathew 24:24 For false Christ and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to decieve even the elect if that were possible,

     27 Barnabas brings Saul to the apostles who now had to face the man that murdered their friend Stephen and many of the other Christians they had brought into the faith, people they had baptized. Why had Saul come to Jerusalem it was not necessary for all new believers to meet the apostles. Saul did not need to confess his past sins to the apostles. He arrived in Jerusalem at a great risk to his own life soon after escapeing from a death plan in Damascus. Saul could not have expected to have any friends or people he could trust on either side in Jerusalem.  Saul discovers there are more Christians in Jerusalem than he had known of some may have surprised him as he discovered some people he had not known were believers. Saul would meet some he had forced to renounce Christ now he must explain to them how he could now be a believer in Christ after he did all he could to destroy their faith in Christ.

      Barnabas speaks up for his friend Saul to the apostles told them how Saul had seen the Lord, and how he preached fearlessly in the name of the Lord Jesus in Damascus. Barnabas a trusted  man who first becomes known to us for selling some land and bringing the money to the apostles. Acts 4:36  It must be Barnabas words only that convince the apostles of Sauls faith although the Spirit has not confirmed Sauls belief to the apostles by now they know the Spirit would have warned them if Saul was a danger to them and the other believers. 

     The apostles had to rely on some of the quieter gifts of the Spirit to assure them about Saul maybe there was a disernment of Spirit or a word of wisdom or knowledge about Saul that would convince them that Saul was a true believer. The apostles understood that God who had protected the apostles from Saul would not allow him to become a danger to them from within the church.

     28 Saul remains in Jerusalem and speaks boldly in the name of Jesus which will quickly gain the attention of the Sanhedrin.  We do not read of any event where Saul and any of the other apostles do work or minister together. As we do not know of any special reason for Saul to be there in Jerusalem we must believe that God had a reason for Saul to be tested in this city where he was a powerful figure for two years. Did any of the Sanhedrin come to visit Saul who might have offered him the position he in the past sought out if he would deny Christ now and rejoin them.  They may have offered him the high priest position if he married the daughter of the high priest just as Caiphias the son in law of Annas was made high priest.  We can be certain that every demon and every evil spirit was sent to tempt or destroy Sauls new faith in Jesus Christ before he could leave and bring the gospel to the rest of the world. If satan believed he could tempt Christ he would also know he had a opportunity to decieve Saul. As Jesus told Peter Luke 22:31,32 Simon, Simon Satan has asked to sift you as wheat, But I have prayed for you Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strenghten your brothers. We can be sure that Christ in heaven did everything possible to support and strengthen Saul.

     Perhaps this attack on Saul was the cause of Saul not healing or performing any miracles in his early ministry as all his prayers were directed to fighting satan and all the plans of the Sanhedrin to decieve or destroy him. Was he there to test the apostles and all the Christians there if they could forgive their persecutor as Jesus forgage those who crucified Him. Luke 23:34 Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. Would the apostles forgive Saul just as Christ forgave from the cross those who were mocking Him on the cross and those who executed the plan for His death. Would they trust God that our Lord Jesus could change the heart of the man who was filled with hatred for all they believed, or would the apostles be as the Jewish leaders who will try to kill Saul a man who has done no harm to them. The apostles were safer from the Sanhedrin than Saul will be.

     29 Saul went and debated with the Grecian Jews maybe some of the very same people that Stephen was speaking to, was Saul making a effort to complete some of the work that he had ended when he had Stephen arrested and killed. Saul does not have any more success than Stephen with these people as they plan to kill Saul also. It may have been that this time there was not to be any trial for Saul but this would be a straight plan to kill Saul. 30 The brothers who learn of the plan to kill Saul he is once again rescued by man with no help in a heavenly form Saul is taken to Caesarea and later sent to his home in Tarsus.  It might be that while in Caesarea he might have met for the first time Philip who he visits later and stays at his home with his four daughters and is visited by Agabus the prophet in Acts 21. Saul is called brother in Jerusalem as the Christians there now consider him a true Christian and now trust him and are willing to put themselves in danger to help Saul escape from the Grecian Jews who would kill him.

     Saul leaves Jerusalem after ministering but we do not see any works of God in the form of healings or miracles while Saul is in Jerusalem. Saul returns home to the city of Tarsus where he was born a place where he should be safe and a new and fresh place to minister and bring the gospel to people who may not have heard of Christ. We do not learn of Saul work in his own hometown it may have been as Jesus had said of His own experience in Nazareth Luke 4:24 I tell you the truth, he continued No prophet is accepted in his hometown.  Jerusalem was Sauls hometown for all of his adult life since the age of fourteen.

     31 The church enjoyed a great time of peace and was strengthed and encouraged by the Holy Spirit and grew in numbers living in the fear of the Lord. Sauls visit and departure had a strong effect on all who were in Jerusalem and was a powerful test for all who had known of him. They faced a trial of forgineness and trusting God for their own personal safety and the security of the entire church and now they would enjoy the rewards of faith and trust in God. With the romoval of Saul as a problem Christians in many cities could now openly and boldly preach the word of God and God would bless their work as many new believers were added to the church not by debate but by the work of the Holy Spirit who would lead the disciples and display the power of God to the lives of those who would believe.        

      32  Peter travels and now is in Lydda this is the first time we hear of him alone without John with him. 33 Peter meets a man named Aeneas who has been bedridden  and paralyzed for eight years. 34 Peter speaks to him, Jesus Christ heals you. Aeneas picks up his mat and gets up. While Saul did not heal anyone we are told of in Damascus or Jerusalem Peter has healed a man unknown to him and will soon raise a woman from the dead.

     All the people of Lydda and Sharon who see this man well will believe in the Lord. Why do we doubt the Lord today as we do not believe God will heal a person who will help to win souls to be saved and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Several times we see people healed for no other reason but to display Gods power and love to lead us to Him.

      36 In Joppa a woman Dorcas has died we are told about her life, she has helped the poor, doing good for many. She has made clothes for many of the women in Joppa. About Aeneas we do not learn about him and Dorcas we are told of her service to others. Has God rewarded Dorcas for her service and choosen Aeneas for future  service or were these the people in the right place at the right time as Peter traveled.

     The work of the Lord is more important than random choice as God has choosen each person who was healed and each person who will bring the gospel of our Lord to those who will hear the story of Christ salvation and believe. You are today just as loved by God as those who witnessed the great miracles of the Bible. God will act today just as in the past for those who serve Him and for those waiting to believe.

     37 Dorcas dies and is placed in a room for mourners to pay their last respects where many of the women of the city come. 38 Two men from Lydda are sent to Joppa twelve miles away and ask Peter to come back with them to Lydda. 39 All the widows of the city show the clothes that Dorcas had made for them and tell stories of all the different ways Dorcas has helped them and was a true demonstration of the help and love of Christ.

     40 Peter ask that he be alone with Dorcas and he kneels down to pray and says Tabitha get up, she opens her eyes and sees Peter and gets up. There was not a bringing back to life for Stephen nor would there be one for James who will soon be killed by Herod. This woman loved by her neighbors has returned to life was this a event to strenghten Peters faith and return a loved servant. Can we understand Gods mercy Romans 9:15 tells us I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and will have compassion on whom I have compassion. No reason or explanation offered for this is a act of God who will act in the best possible judgement and enjoy His own acts of mercy and compassion. Maybe Jesus tells us something of how Gods mercy acts in our lives Matthew 12:7 If you had known what these words mean, I desire mercy not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. Dorcas was among the innocent and was full of mercy for the women she ministered to. God saw  the mercy of Dorcas and the sacrifice she made with her work and was rewarded with Gods mercy.  Just as with Saul a man that God could have justified Himself if He had struck and killed Saul for all the harm he had done to the church. The pain and suffering was so bad Jesus said Why are you percuteing Me. But instead God has choosen to have mercy on Saul and change his life and the lives of all that still read his books hear his testimony and learn of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

      What can be the fruits of our acts of mercy in the life of someone we know who may be causeing problems in our life someone we would like to see punished but God is waiting for us to show mercy to so they might believe in Christ. Ananias was fortunate in that Jesus spoke and told him that his enemy would soon lead many to believe we often do not know what a person we may witness to will accomplish for the Lord. 41 Peter takes her hand and helps her to her feet. He calls the people back and they see her again alive.  42 Dorcas would continue her work and now have a new ministry as many who had known her and some who will hear her story will believe in Jesus because of her testimony. 

      43 Peter remains in Joppa as there are now many new believers that must be taught and organized into a new church. In this city filled with Jews Christians Romans and Greeks and many other people Peter is only ministering to the Jews in the city. Although he has left Jerusalem and is spreading the gospel in new places he is still not speaking to any Gentiles even though he has heard about Saul having a ministry to the Gentiles as he was told how the Lord had said to Ananias This man is My choosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles. Did Peter think this was a job only for someone else. He would soon learn the whole truth as he will be the one to introduce the gospel to the Gentiles.

CHRIST LOVES YOU. AMEN. COME LORD JESUS