Acts 9:11 And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul… I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LED PAUL TO PRAY. His understanding was convinced, his will was subdued, his heart was converted, and his soul was saved. II. THE CHARACTER OF PAUL'S PRAYERS. What was there in them which rendered them acceptable? 1. The prayers of a sinner thus humbled, we may feel assured, were offered up in humility. From the proud and self-sufficient Pharisee he is transformed into the humble and self-denying penitent, "striking on his breast and saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." 2. And not only were his prayers offered up in humility, but we cannot doubt of their earnestness also. Convinced of sin, and deeply anxious for the salvation of his soul, he "utters strong cries" in the hope that they may enter into the ears of the Lord of Hosts, and meet with an answer of pardon and peace. 3. We may naturally conclude that Paul also prayed in faith, after the recent wonderful revelation made to him. Our Lord Himself, indeed, acknowledged and accepted his prayer, when He said, "Behold, he prayeth!" Then did that new light break in upon his soul, which "shone more and more unto the perfect day," and which so wonderfully displayed itself in his arduous work of the ministry. III. THE LIGHT IN WHICH GOD REGARDED THE PRAYERS OF PAUL, and in which He regards the prayers of all who offer them up in the same spirit that he did. God regarded them as a mark of his real conversion, and as such approved of and accepted them. (J. L. F. Russell, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, |
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