Monday, May 22

“His disciples”

Scripture: Acts 9

Acts 9:25 But his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall by lowering him in a basket.

Observation

I never noticed this before. Paul, a new convert, is rescued by “his disciples” who lower him over the city wall in a basket at night. I believe this is the only place where “disciples” are referred to as “his,” as belonging to someone other than Jesus. The reading in Greek in disputed, and because it is unique, some scholars have tried to explain it away, saying it should read “the disciples took him.” But others believe that Luke deliberately used this phrase to show that Paul’s efforts in Damascus were successful—the new disciple made disciples…right from the get go. 

Luke is not implying that these were followers of Paul rather than Jesus. He is simply saying that Paul, a new follower of Jesus, immediately shared the gospel with others and made new followers of Jesus. They were “his disciples” in the sense that he led them to Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 for another spin on this.)

Application

I am impressed that the first thing new-disciple-Paul did was make disciples. 

I shouldn’t be surprised. That’s what I did as well. Shortly after I met Jesus, I began sharing Jesus with others at my middle school, and inviting them to church, youth group and revival meetings!

It’s often said that the best evangelists are new Christians not only because of their spiritual fire, but also because they are still connected to many of their lost family and friends. 

Paul never lost that fire to share Jesus with others, to make disciples. The Great Commission—to make disciples—applies to all believers, new or old. 

So…how do I recapture that fire, that desire to share Jesus with everyone around me? Who are “my disciples”—people I’ve led to Christ and who are looking to me to show them how to follow Jesus? That’s my prayer and focus today.

 

Prayer: Lord, I love You. Renew my fire for You, my love for the lost, my desire to share Jesus with anyone and everyone. Help me to make disciples!