New Testament Bible Dictionary Project: Acts / Saul/Paul (conversion) / Damascus

In accordance with Hindson and Towns the authorship of The Book of Acts is the Disciple Luke due to similarity being Luke part one of the Gospel and Acts part two. The location is unknown, but suspected in Rome during Paul’s jail sentence and recipients to be Theophilus, AD 60-62 timeframe. With Luke and Acts being so similar it is easy to confuse the theological aspect of the two but theologically they stand apart. While Luke expected his works in Acts to circulate some suggest he was confronting false testimony, but no factual evidence supporting that theory. Being characterized as a multiplicity of themes it can be interpreted as the churches missions with God having direct control over them is the strongest theologically. The Holy Spirit takes part with the emphasis being God’s providence. Acts does not only show the Jewish rejection of Gospel and exclusion of the people but the inclusion of the Gentiles as well. The two parts of Acts is tied together by the faithful witness. Acts, the triumphantly story that it is, shows early Christians power of the Spirit with salvation. The story shows there were no easy challenges lying ahead. There were obstacles, assumptions challenged, opinions being revised, and prejudices of inclusive people of God. The church of Jerusalem’s mission and Paul’s mission is how Acts can be divided up with these even allowing for further subdivisions: Treats earliest church in Jerusalem and outreach beyond Jerusalem and three major journeys of Paul and Paul defending his ministry. The high light I like is what took place in Damascus, Saul’s conversion to Paul.
On Saul’s journey to Damascus in pursuit to murder disciples it has been said that Saul’s horse sensed a spirit, stopped, and resulted with Saul being thrown figuratively speaking. When Saul was on the ground a bright light shown down upon him and he heard the voice of God “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). Saul was unsure of who was talking to him and Jesus said it was He that Saul was persecuting. Now that Saul is blinded and the Lord told him to continue on his journey to the city that he would be told what to do when he arrived at Damascus. Saul’s men stood speechless hearing a voice but seeing no one. So Saul stood up and his people led him into the city. It was then that the Lord spoke to a man named Ananias to seek the praying Saul and put his hands on him so Saul could receive sight again and be baptized. In theory it appears one could say that at the baptism it was Saul that went under the water and Paul that came up out of the water. Much speculation can be made why the name Paul was chosen. Maybe because Paul is Latin for stop or pause and Saul is Hebrew for inquire? Maybe we can say that the Saul to Paul name change occurred to get away from the past of his recognized Hebrew name and on to a Roman name to better reach out and win the Gentiles? What is unique about Paul is being servant to all becoming them to win them (1Cor 9:19-22).
Damascus is the capital of modern day Syria and was main Aramean city in 10th-8th centuries BC. Before the incorporation into the Assyrian empire in 732 BC, the kingdom was the rival and ally of Israel. The city resides on the Abana river, now called the Barada river, and has the protection of mountains on the west side and desert on the east side. Mesopotamia to Egypt trade depended a lot on the river for it was the major trade route between the two and flowed year around. Damascus still remains a major center for trade in the region and could be the oldest city known. In archaeological respects not much can be contributed due to continued existence of city hindering excavation attempts. There are some explorations indicating 3000 BC or earlier for settlement. In biblical moments of Damascus. It’s the city where Ananias baptized Saul and the conversion to Paul took place. Abraham’s journey to recover Lot by chasing invading kings north of Damascus. Damascus soldiers trying to help King Hadadezer against David which did not work. The Syrian officer Naaman seeking Elisha’s help with his skin issue, but decided the rivers of Damascus offered better help than the Jordan. The city of Damascus was by far not an uneventful city.