`When the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto

them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy

Ghost' (Acts 8:14,15).

It will be remembered that later, when Peter was called in question by the church at Jerusalem for going to

Cornelius, this same feature was mentioned as one of overwhelming importance (Acts 11:15-17).

However complicated this section may appear, and however difficult to perceive the adjustment of every detail,

the general trend of the passage is clear. It indicates a further movement away from the exclusively Jewish centre,

and prepares the way for the ministry of the chosen vessel to the Gentiles, Paul. We therefore submit the following

structure, which, ignoring the mass of detail, focuses attention upon the main movement.

A 8:1-40. DIASPEIRO.

STEPHEN. Burial.

SCATTERED ABROAD.

SAUL.

JUDÆA AND SAMARIA.  PHILIP.  Samaria and Ethiopia.

B 9:1 to 11:18. HELLENISTES

SAUL. `A chosen vessel'.

GRECIANS.

PETER. `A certain vessel'.

A 11:19.  DIASPEIRO.

SCATTERED ABROAD.

STEPHEN, dead yet speaking.

PHENICE, CYPRUS,

ANTIOCH .

B 11:20-30. HELLENISTES (11:20).

BARNABAS. The grace of

GRECIANS.

SAUL. Sought and brought

(The chosen vessel).

We must now decide whether we shall best serve the interests of our readers by ploughing through the details of

these chapters, discussing the question of the laying on of hands, the record of the sorcerer Simon, the place, in the

narrative, of the Ethiopian, the doings of Peter at Lydda in connection with Aeneas, and at Joppa with Tabitha; or by

keeping directly to the prime object of understanding the place and ministry of Paul as set forth in the Acts, thus

regarding the pursuit of that subject as of sufficient importance in this present volume to justify silence as to

subsidiary matters. We believe that we shall be fulfilling the object of this witness if we press on to the things that

belong to Paul and his mission. Consequently, yet with some reluctance, we pass over much that is of interest in this

section, and again take up the thread in Acts 9 where Saul of Tarsus becomes, by grace, the chosen vessel to bear the

name of the Lord before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. Accordingly the ninth chapter of the Acts will

now occupy our attention, and the record that concerns Paul is found in the first thirty-one verses. We observe that

the fact that Saul had authority to bind all that called on the name of the Lord, is mentioned in this chapter three

times. Once as a statement that introduces the narrative (Acts 9:1,2); once in the objection of Ananias (Acts

9:13,14); and once in the exclamation of surprise of the believers at Damascus (Acts 9:21). The following is an

outline of the section that is before us:

A1 9:1,2.

Saul threatening. Letters authorizing him to bring bound to Jerusalem any of this way.

B1 9:3-9.

The conversion of Saul. Blind and fasting.

C1 9:10-12. The call of Ananias to go to Saul that he might receive his sight.

A2 9:13,14. Ananias' remonstrance. Reference to Saul's authority to bind all that call on the Name.

B2 9:15,16. The choice of Saul. His ministry of suffering.