I’ve decided to continue our evaluation of what we know about the Apostle Paul.
The church in Jerusalem grew very rapidly, once the disciples had been spiritually empowered. Included in the many converts were hundreds of handicapped people, along with widows and orphans. And the Apostles just didn’t have the time or energy to care for all the physical needs of those people. So seven godly men were selected and ordained to be deacons – servants of the church. Their ministries were primarily secular, although they were already great men of God. This enabled the Apostles to give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. One of those seven deacons was a man named “Stephen.” Not only did he carry out his servant duties, but he was diligent witness for Christ. In the city of Jerusalem were hundreds of Jews who hated the idea that Jesus was the Messiah. Stephen was so persistent in his witness that he was seized by an angry mob and summarily executed.
The man who took the responsibility for Stephen’s murder/execution was named “Saul.”
Was the episode with Stephen the beginning of Saul’s attack upon the Christians? “Saul of Tarsus” – later known as “Paul,” is introduced to us as a persecutor of God’s saints. He tasted the blood of Stephen, and like a sheep-killing dog, he became obsessed with killing more. But was it really his hatred of the Christians that impelled him? In I Corinthians 15:9 he said, “I am the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the church of God.” No wonder he later called himself “the chiefest of sinners.” In Galatians 1:13, he called himself a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. Did Paul ever try to pass the blame on to the Sanhedrin, or the lynch mob who took Stephen? The fact is that Saul confessed himself to be the arch enemy of Christ’s people, the chief persecutor. He apparently believed that the successful destruction of Christianity was balanced on Saul’s shoulders. By his life, Paul reminds us never to give up on the salvation of any individual. If Saul can be saved, then anyone can. It needs to be remembered that the Jews did not possess the legal grounds for capital punishment. This says volumes about fervency and hatred that Saul must have had towards the followers of Jesus. He was willing to risk jail and perhaps death for what he believed. In his letter to the Romans he commented about the zeal that the Jews possessed. He could have cited himself as an able example of that.
And that included his persecution of the saints in Judea and later in Damascus, Syria. Was it the idea of the Jewish leadership to send Saul to Damascus? What was his intention in going to Damascus?…….arrest men and women. Did he plan to show any mercy? What are the two words which describe his persecution of the saints? …………… threatening and slaughter
What do you know about the city of Damascus?
How often is Damascus mentioned in the Bible (25 times; 35 times; 45 times; 55 times)?……….55 scriptures. Only 15 references to Damascus are found in the New Testament and the all relate to Saul or Paul. But what is the first reference to Damascus in the Bible? ………………. Abraham’s battle with the 5 kings. Who is the most famous person from Damascus? ……………. Eliezer Abraham’s servant. That reference perhaps points to the fact that it is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.
How far is Damascus from northern Israel? ……………. 60 miles from Sea of Galilee. How far is Sandpoint from Post Falls? …………. less than 60 miles. But in Saul’s day that trip may have taken about a week to travel all the way from Jerusalem. Can you imagine the talk between Saul and his companions about all his plans and eventual glory?
Damascus was a thriving community on the edge of the desert, and thus it was an important transportation city. For that reason too, it was filled with Jews.
Now on to Paul’s conversion.
As he neared the great walled city what fell upon him? … light from heaven. What time of day was this? ………………………………………………………….Noon (Acts 22). So this light was brighter than the sunshine that day. What did Saul do when the light hit him? ……………………. Fell to the ground. What do we know about the beast that Paul was riding – his donkey? … nothing.
It needs to be remembered that Saul was not seeking the Lord, but the Lord was “seeking” Saul. Furthermore, the Lord knew all about him and all his activities. Yet despite his wickedness the Lord save him. Did Saul see Christ Jesus or did he just hear a voice? … Acts 26:16. What did the Lord say to Saul? …Saul, Saul, Why persecutest thou me? Was Saul persecuting the Lord Jesus? ……………………………… How? ………………………..How did Paul answer the Lord’s question? ……………………………. He didn’t; He didn’t have an answer. While the Lord spoke to Saul, did his traveling companions hear all this? ……………….. not the details.
Logically, there are only three possible explanations to what happened that day. Either Saul invented this story in order to explain his change in attitude toward Jesus. Or he wrongly interpreted some natural phenomenon, or everything transpired exactly as he described them.
I believe that it was during this conversation with the Lord that Paul’s conversion took place.. He acknowledged Jesus as “Lord,” and no man can call Him Lord but by the Holy Ghost (I Cor. 12:3). I believe that his use of “Adoni” – “Lord” meant far more than merely a formal “Yes, Sir!” And appropriately at that time, he became willing to do whatever the Lord commanded. He was submissive, and obedient. Can you imagine the complete reversal of his entire life in just a matter of moments? Minutes before he could have logically disputed Christianity and Judaism with anyone, but now it became impossible. And notice that he wasn’t concerned with minor or external issues – What was Paul’s only question? ………………………………………….. “Who art thou Lord?” Christ refers to Saul’s kicking against the “goad” – what was that? … conviction.
What physically happened to Saul during this episode. And what was the source of this blindness? At that point his companions helped him into the city. And where did Paul go once in the city? … Street called Straight (spell it). Who was the man with whom Saul lodged that day? ………………………….. Judas.
What do you suppose would have happened to Christianity if Saul had not been converted?
Who was the man that initially helped the new convert Saul of Tarsus?
What position did this man have among the Christians in Damascus?………………… certain disciple. How did he know where to find Saul? Was he happy to hear about Saul’s visit and conversion? He had already heard that the great persecutor was coming to town. Could some sly persecutor have tried to use something like this to infiltrate the Christians in the city? Would you have been concerned or cautious? How quickly would Saul have been invited to become a member of our church?
What did the Lord say that encouraged Annanias? … Saul is a chosen vessel. Annanias was told that Saul would be a witness unto the hated Gentiles. Apparently Annanias wasn’t as prejudiced as many of this countrymen. How do we know that Annanias immediately received Paul as a Christian? … Brother, v.17. Saul was then healed of his blindness. What light does this shed on the question of whether or not Paul had bad eyes later in life?
And he was baptized. What are the four necessary ingredients for scriptural baptism? Were these met in Paul’s Baptism?
At this point he is ready to grow in Christ and eventually to minister in Christ’s name.