Paul's First Prayer

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Acts 9:11

And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul…

Here was —

I. AN ANNOUNCEMENT. "Behold, he prayeth." It was the announcement of a fact which was —

1. Noticed in heaven. Saul had been led to cry for mercy, and the moment he began to pray God began to hear. See what attention God paid to Saul. He knew the street where he lived, the house where he resided; his name; the place where he came from, and that he had prayed. God may not regard battles, nor care for the pomp and pageantry of kings; but wherever there is a heart big with sorrow, the ear of Jehovah is wide open. Poor sinner, thy prayers are heard. Where was it — in a barn? At thy bedside, or in this hall? There is one thing which outstrips the telegraph. "Before they call I will answer, and while they are speaking I will hear."

2. Joyous to heaven.

(1) Our Saviour regarded it with joy. The Shepherd rejoices more over that lost sheep than over ninety and nine that went not astray.

(2) Angels rejoiced too. Why, when one of God's elect runs into sin, angels gaze with sorrow. Presently the man is brought under the sound of the gospel. The angels say, "Behold, he begins to hear." At last he cries from his inmost soul, "God have mercy upon me!" The angels say, "Behold, he prayeth." Then they set heaven's bells ringing; "there is joy among the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."(3) There are others that rejoice, besides the angels, our friends who have gone before us, and our ministers most of all.

3. Most astonishing to men. Ananias lifted up both his hands in amazement. Sometimes I look upon such-and-such individuals and say, "Well, they are very hopeful; I trust there is a work going on." Soon, perhaps, I miss them altogether; but instead thereof my good Master sends me one of whom I had no hope — an outcast. Then I am astonished, "I should have thought of anybody rather than you." There was an old sailor, one of the worst men in the village. He came into the chapel, however, when one was preaching from Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. And the poor man thought, "What! did Christ ever weep over such a wretch as I am?" He came to the minister, and said, "Sir, sixty years have I been sailing under the colours of the devil; it is time I should have a new owner; I want to scuttle the old ship; then I shall have a new one, and I shall sail under the colours of Immanuel." Ever since that moment that man has been a praying character. Yet he was the very last man you would have thought of. Somehow God does choose the last men. God is more wise than the chemist; He not only refines gold, but He transmutes base metals into precious jewels. The conversion of Saul was a strange thing; but was it not stranger that you and I should have been Christians?

4. A novelty to Saul himself. All he had ever done before went for nothing. I have heard of an old gentleman who was taught, when a child, to pray, "Pray God bless my father and mother," and he kept on praying the same thing for seventy years, when his parents were both dead. After that it pleased God to touch his heart, and he was led to see that, notwithstanding that he had often said his prayers, he had never prayed. So it was with Saul. Now comes a true petition, and it is said, "Behold, he prayeth." There is a man trying to obtain a hearing from His Maker. He speaks Latin; but God pays no attention. Then the man tries a different style; procures a book, and prays the best old prayer that could ever be put together; but the Most High disregards his empty formalities. At last the poor creature throws the book away, and says, "O Lord, hear, for Christ's sake." One hearty prayer is better than ten thousand forms.

II. AN ARGUMENT. "For, behold, he prayeth."

1. For Ananias' safety. Ananias was afraid to go to Saul; he thought it was very much like stepping into a lion's den. God says, "Behold, he prayeth." "Well," says Ananias, "that is enough." You may always trust a praying man. A master likes to have a praying servant, if he does not regard religion himself. He who communes with God in secret, may be trusted in public. Two gentlemen were travelling together in Switzerland. Presently they came into the forests; and you know the gloomy tales the people tell about the inns there. One of them, an infidel, said to the other, a Christian, "I don't like stopping here, it is dangerous." But they went into the house, and presently the landlord said, "Gentlemen, I always read and pray with my family before going to bed; will you allow me to do so tonight?" "Yes," they said, "with the greatest pleasure." When they went upstairs, the infidel said, "I am not at all afraid now." "Why?" said the Christian. "Because our host has prayed." "Oh!" said the other, "then it seems, after all, that you think something of religion; because a man prays you can go to sleep in his house."

2. For Paul's sincerity. Secret prayer is one of the best tests of sincere religion. If Jesus had said, "Behold, he preacheth," Ananias would have said, "that he may do, and yet be a deceiver." If He had said, "he has gone to a meeting of the church," Ananias would have said, "He may enter there as a wolf in sheep's clothing." But when He said, "Behold, he prayeth," that was argument enough. A young person comes and tells me about what he has felt and what he has been doing. At last I say, "kneel down and pray." Then I am a little more satisfied, and I say, "I did not mind all your talk, I wanted your prayers." But if I could see him pray alone then I should feel sure.

3. Of Saul's election, for you read directly afterwards, "Behold, he is a chosen vessel." Some say, "How can I discover whether I am God's elect?" Do you pray? If so, never be afraid of non-election.

III. AN APPLICATION.

1. To the children of God. The best mark of our being sons of God is to be found in our devotion, and as a natural consequence the more we are found in prayer the brighter will our evidences be. Perhaps you have lost your evidence, and I will tell you where, in your closet. Prayer is the ship which bringeth home the richest freight — the soil which yields the most abundant harvest.

2. To the ungodly. A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. I beseech you, as you love yourselves, contemplate what will become of you if you should at last die without prayer.

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