Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 9:6

"but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." — Acts 9:6 (ASV)

And he trembling. Alarmed at what he saw and heard, and at the consciousness of his own evil course. It is not remarkable that a sinner trembles when he sees his guilt and danger.

And astonished. At what he saw.

Lord, what will you have me to do? This indicates a subdued soul, a humbled spirit. Just before, he had sought only to do his own will; now he inquired what was the will of the Saviour. Just before, he was acting under a commission from the Sanhedrin; now he renounced their supreme authority and asked what the Lord Jesus would have him to do.

Just before, he had been engaged in a career of opposition to the Lord Jesus; now he sought at once to do His will. This indicates the usual change in the sinner. The great controversy between the sinner and God is, whose will shall be followed. The sinner follows his own; the first act of the Christian is to surrender his own will to that of God and to resolve to do what He requires.

We may further remark here that this indicates the true nature of conversion. It is decided, prompt, immediate. Paul did not debate the matter (Galatians 1:16); he did not inquire what the scribes and Pharisees would say; he did not consult his own reputation; he did not ask what the world would think.

With characteristic promptness—with a readiness that showed what he would yet be—he gave himself up at once and entirely to the Lord Jesus, evidently with a purpose to do His will alone. This was also the case with the jailer at Philippi (Acts 16:30). Nor can there be real conversion where the heart and will are not given to the Lord Jesus, to be directed and molded by Him at His pleasure. We may then test our conversion by the example of the apostle Paul. If our hearts have been given up as his was, we are true friends of Christ.

Go into the city. Damascus. They were near it (Acts 9:3).

And it shall be told you. It is remarkable that he was directed this way. But we may learn from it:

1. That even in the most striking and remarkable cases of conversion, there is not at once a clear view of duty. What course of life should be followed, what should be done, and even what should be believed, is not at once apparent.
2. The aid of others, especially ministers and experienced Christians, is often very desirable to help even those who are converted in the most remarkable manner. Saul was converted by a miracle: the Saviour appeared to him in His glory; of the truth of His Messiahship he had no doubt; yet he was still dependent on a humble disciple in Damascus to be instructed in what he should do.
3. Those who are converted, no matter how strikingly, should be willing to seek the counsel of those who are in the church and in the ministry before them. The most striking evidence of their conversion will not prevent them from deriving important direction and benefit from the aged, experienced, and wise in the Christian church.
4. Such remarkable conversions are suited to induce the subjects of the change to seek counsel and direction. They produce humility, a deep sense of sin and unworthiness, and a willingness to be taught and directed by anyone who can point out the way of duty and of life.