1. Acts 9:1–19 (ESV)
  2. Structure and outline

Form and Structure

Acts 9:1–19 (ESV)

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

  • The main movements in the book of Acts are as follows:1

    • Prologue, foundations for the church and its mission (Acts 1:1–2:41)

    • The church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42–6:7)

    • The church expands to Samaria and elsewhere (Acts 6:8–9:31)

    • Peter and the first Gentiles convert (Acts 9:32–12:24)

    • Paul turns to the Gentiles (Acts 12:25–16:5)

    • Further penetration into the Gentile world (Acts 16:6–19:20)

    • On to Rome (Acts 19:21–28:31)

  • With the expansion of the church to Samaria and elsewhere, a further division can also be made:2

    • Blood of the martyrs, the seed of the church (Acts 6:8–8:1a)

    • The gospel comes to Samaria (Acts 8:1–25)

    • The gospel comes to an Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26–40)

    • The gospel comes to Saul (Acts 9:1–19a)

    • Saul, the servant of the Word of God (Acts 9:19–31)

  • The second major section of Acts relates the beginnings of the mission to the Gentiles (Acts 8:4–12:25) consisting of Philip’s mission to the Samaritans and his encounter with the Ethiopian official (Acts 8:4–40), Saul’s conversion and mission in Damascus and Jerusalem (Acts 9:1–30), Peter’s mission in Judea and Caesarea (Acts 9:31–11:18), the mission of Jerusalem believers in Antioch (Acts 11:19–30), and persecution initiated by newly appointed Jewish King Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:1–25). Thereafter the focus is on Paul’s outreach to Jews and Gentiles in Asia Minor (Acts 13:1–15:33), in Europe (Acts 15:35–18:22) and Ephesus (Acts 18:23–21:17) before concluding with a long section on Paul’s imprisonment in Jerusalem, Caesarea and Rome (Acts 21:18–28:31).3

  • The conversion of Saul demonstrates the power of the risen Jesus and the gospel as it moves from Jerusalem and Judea to the ends of the earth. This is highlighted in particular with the repeated mentions of Damascus. Damascus was the region where Abraham rescued Lot. It was conquered by David during his reign as King but lost in the reign of Solomon. The parameters of the Promised Land included Damascus and now with Saul’s conversion in the city we have confirmation that this territory is once again under the domain of the Lord. 4

  • Saul’s encounter with Jesus Christ results in a complete change in his life and of his mission.5 The importance of this event is highlighted by the fact that it is repeated on three occasions in the book of Acts (Ch. Acts 9:1–43; Acts 22:1–30; Acts 26:1–32).6