Jesus appears in a bright light which causes Saul to fall to the ground. After going down to the ground and receiving the message from Christ, verse 8 says; "Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one." Here is a picture of the death of the old Saul, and the resurrection of the new Saul. He goes down to the ground, and then arises from the ground again, a new creation. He is blind, but now he sees.
Almost immediately we see the effect of Saul's repentance, or turning around. He was the persecutor, but now he becomes the persecuted. Even while still in Damascus, plots arise to kill him, and note it is not the disciples who plot to kill him. Acts 9:23; "Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him."
Prior to Saul's conversion, he was persecuting and terrorizing Christ's people. He was only doing harm.
Another major event in Acts is the healing of the paralytic Aeneas, bedridden for 8 years. Aeneas at this point is not directly harming anyone, but also is not able to be very helpful. Peter speaks to him that Jesus the Christ heals him and says, "Arise and make your bed." Here is another resurrection picture.
And at the end of the chapter is the account of Dorcas, a helpful disciple doing many good works and well-loved by the saints. She becomes ill and dies. The other disciples "When they had washed her, laid her in an upper room."
(In another essay, I will talk about this washing of the dead).
Peter is brought, he comes into the room where she has been laid, prays, and then says; "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up.
Here is a third resurrection in this chapter. God is the author of life; Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
DR
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