Verse 18. “Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, and he received sight forthwith;” not only bodily, but spiritual sight; he emerged as it were into a new world; he saw, and felt too, things unutterable: he felt a union of soul with GOD; he received the spirit of adoption; he could now, with a full assurance of faith, cry, “Abba, Father.” Now was he filled with the Holy Ghost; and had the love of GOD shed abroad in his heart; now were the days of his mourning ended; now was CHRIST formed in his soul; now he could give men and devils the challenge, knowing that CHRIST had justified him; now he saw the excellencies of CHRIST, and esteemed him the fairest among ten thousand. You only know how to sympathize with the apostle in his joy, who, after a long night of bondage, have been set free by the Spirit, and have received joy in the Holy Ghost. May all that are now mourning, as _Saul_ was, be comforted in like manner!
The scales are now removed from the eyes of _Saul_’s mind; _Ananias_ has done that for him, under GOD: he must now do another office, baptize him, and so receive him into the visible church of CHRIST; a good proof to me of the necessity of baptism where it may be had: for I find here, as well as elsewhere, that baptism is administered even to those who had received the Holy Ghost; _Saul_ was convinced of this, and therefore arose and was baptized; and now it is time for him to recruit the outward man, which, by three days abstinence and spiritual conflicts, had been much impaired: we are therefore told, (verse 19.) “when he had received meat, he was strengthened.”
But O, with what comfort did the apostle now eat his food! I am sure it was with singleness, I am persuaded also with gladness of heart; and why? he knew that he was reconciled to GOD; and, for my own part, did I not know how blind and flinty our hearts are by nature, I should wonder how any one could eat even his common food with any satisfaction, who has not some well-grounded hope of his being reconciled to GOD. Our LORD intimates thus much to us: for in his glorious prayer, after he has taught us to pray for our daily bread, immediately adds that petition, “Forgive us our trespasses;” as though our daily bread would do us no service, unless we were sensible of having the forgiveness of our sins.
To proceed: _Saul_ hath received meat, and is strengthened; and whither will he go now? to see the brethren; “then was _Saul_ certain days with the disciples that were at _Damascus_.” If we know and love CHRIST, we shall also love and desire to be acquainted with the brethren of CHRIST: we may generally know a man by his company. And though all are not saints that associate with saints, (for tares will be always springing up amongst the wheat till the time of harvest) yet, if we never keep company, but are shy and ashamed of the despised children of GOD, it is a certain sign we have not yet experimentally learned JESUS, or received him into our hearts. My dear friends, be not deceived; if we are friends to the Bridegroom, we shall be friends to the children of the Bridegroom. _Saul_, as soon as he was filled with the Holy Ghost, “was certain days with the disciples that were at _Damascus_.”
But who can tell what joy these disciples felt when _Saul_ came amongst them! I suppose holy _Ananias_ introduced him. Methinks I see the once persecuting zealot, when they came to salute him with a holy kiss, throwing himself upon each of their necks, weeping over them with floods of tears, and saying, “O my brother, O my sister, Can you forgive me? Can you give such a wretch as I the right-hand of fellowship, who intended to drag you behind me bound unto _Jerusalem_!” Thus, I say, we may suppose _Saul_ addressed himself to his fellow-disciples; and I doubt not but they were as ready to forgive and forget as _Ananias_ was, and saluted him with the endearing title of “brother _Saul_.” Lovely was this meeting; so lovely, that it seemed _Saul_ continued certain days with them, to communicate experiences, and to learn the way of GOD more perfectly; to pray for a blessing on his future ministry, and to praise CHRIST JESUS for what he had done for their souls. _Saul_, perhaps, had sat certain years at the feet of _Gamaliel_, but undoubtedly learned more these certain days, than he had learned before in all his life. It pleases me to think how this great scholar is transformed by the renewing of his mind: What a mighty change was here! That so great a man as _Saul_ was, both as to his station in life, and internal qualifications, and such a bitter enemy to the christians; for him, I say, to go and be certain days with the people of _this mad way_, and to sit quietly, and be taught of illiterate men, as many of these disciples we may be sure were; what a substantial proof was this of the reality of his conversion!