The Conversion of Saul

Intro

Churches seem to debate over all manner of controversial topics:

Style of worship music, alcohol, women in leadership, Pepsi or Coke?

One example can be an ongoing dispute over the nature of salvation: Is it a moment/event, or a process?

There are advocates for both sides:

In his latest single, singer Mac Powell declares that he was saved on April 21, 1991 (song called 1991)

On the other hand, famous Christian author C.S. Lewis was a devout atheist who attributed years of time that led to an eventual realization of a change of mind:

Atheism -> Theism (1929) -> Christianity (1931)

“When we set out,” Lewis wrote, “I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; and when we reached the zoo, I did.”

The answer! Both, of course!

God is constantly at work (process) and often specific moments (events) become milestones of transformation

Perhaps there is no greater example of this than in the life of Saul

Prologue: Saul as Religious Zealot

We first met Saul at the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7.

He approved of this execution, and continued his vendetta against the church of Jesus Christ

Acts 8 describes that he specifically persecuted the church in Jerusalem, entering houses of known Christian leaders and throwing them in prison

Why would Saul do such a thing? Because he was a religious zealot

He was trained as a Pharisee (under the tutelage of Gamiliel, a famous teacher)

He was likely a member of the Sanhedrin (ruling Jewish council)

Evidence shows that he “cast a vote” against Christians; oversaw Stephen’s execution, etc.

He truly believed that Jewish Christians were heretics that needed to be eradicated

It is easy to demonize Saul’s behaviour, but important to note that he was doing what he believed was right; he was guarding the truth!

The crux of the matter was Jesus Himself

Christians believed He was the Messiah and the Son of God

Saul believed He was a false teacher and His followers were heretics

The only way to change Saul’s heart and mind would be to change His belief about Jesus… and that is exactly what happens

Story: The Conversion of Saul

Not satisfied with persecuting the church in Jerusalem, Saul goes to the High Priest (Caiphas) and requests letters with authority to attack the Jewish Christians in Damascus

Damascus was in the Roman province of Syria; part of the Decapolis; a group of self-governing cities

Damascus had a large Jewish population, and this was the only segment of people Saul would have any authority over

Under Roman rule; different province; self-governing city; only the Romans could use capital punishment (which is why the Jews brought Jesus to Pilate)

So Saul’s plan is to use the authority of the High Priest as clout in the synagogues to out Christian leaders and bring them back to Jerusalem

Maybe he can even incite a mob like with Stephen and put some people to death

As Saul and his entourage get close to the gates of Damascus, everything changes

A light from heaven flashes around Saul

Light = like lightning; incredibly bright

Saul falls to the ground and hears a voice speak to him saying

Read Acts 9:4-6.

His fellow travellers are confused; they could hear the voice but see no one (only Saul could see)

To cap it all off, when Saul gets back up… he is blind

The others lead him by the hand into the city, where Saul was blind for 3 days, eating and drinking nothing

The scene shifts to Ananias, a disciple of Jesus in Damascus

God appears to him in a vision and says:

Read Acts 9:10-12.

You can see God orchestrating events (2 visions like Peter and Cornelius)

Saul has certinly been chosen by God (the reason will become clear later)

While Ananias is at first open and obedient (Here I am = Samuel), he has heard of the notorious Saul and hesitates to obey

Read Acts 9:13-14.

Don’t be too hard on him! He has every reason to be skeptical

But God insists, and reveals to Ananias the calling of Saul’s life

Read Acts 9:15-16.

Saul will go the Gentiles and kings, and children of Israel

We will outline these missionary journeys, which include synagogues (Israel), places of debate for the Greeks (gentiles) and Roman leaders (kings)

Saul will also suffer for the sake of Christ

His journeys include many hardships such as stoning, imprisonment and being shipwrecked and marooned

Ananias is convinced and obeys God’s command

Read Acts 9:17.

The actions of Ananias:

He calls Saul “brother,” which is incredibly inclusive

He helps him regain his physical sight (scales fall from his eyes)

He baptizes Saul and helps usher in the Holy Spirit

Saul is a new creation

So What?: How Saul’s Story Matters Today

Jesus transforms lives

This is one of the more drastic changes any story can tell

Persecuting Jesus -> preaching the Good News of Jesus

In a way; Saul died that day, and was reborn Paul

Saul was struck blind for 3 days… coincidence?

This mirrors the death of Jesus, and regaining his sight mirrors a spiritual resurrection

Cf. Romans 6:3-4.

The old is done; crucified with Christ; there is newness of life

This miracle of transformation is only found in Jesus; has He made you new?

Another way of putting this is that Jesus makes the blind to see

Don’t miss the huge implications of blindness/sight in this story

Saul sees Jesus in a form of glory -> loses physical sight

Stays blind for 3 days (covered this) until Ananias prays for him and HE RECEIVES THE HS.

In other words, Saul had been blind to the truth about Jesus (symbolized by losing his sight) and the Holy Spirit opened his eyes (symbolized by regaining sight)

Scripture has a number of stories of spiritual blindness and God opening eyes

Balaam and his donkey in Numbers 22 (where the donkey sees the angel until God “opened the eyes” of Balaam)

Elisha and his servant when surrounded by an enemy army in 2 Kings 6 (servants “eyes were opened” to see a supernatural army of horses and chariots of fire)

Jesus declares Himself to be the “light of the world” in John 9 before healing a man born blind

In what ways are we spiritually blind?

Blindess of disbelief (like Paul); busyness; religion/legalism; skepticism (make faith your own); comfort and luxury

We can all approach Jesus and ask for Him to open our eyes

To the truth of who He is; to look at others the way He does; to trust that there is more going on around us than meets the eye

Saul certainly had a crazy Jesus experience

Backstory is compelling; transformation undeniable; being struck blind by Jesus

Makes for a great “elevator testimony:” My name is Saul, and I used to be legalistic and angry, but then I met Jesus (understatement), and now I am saved by grace and full of peace.

We can almost idolize these “rock bottom” testimonies

Talk about prepping my story for tour at Prov

But here is the thing: Your story matters

It’s not all about how far away from God you got first; it can be about God’s faithfulness; the lessons you learned; the bumps in the journey; the way Jesus proves Himself to be true… it’s your story and it’s undeniable

Have you written your story down?

Give a moment for people to write down their “elevator testimonies”

Have you shared your story with others?

Paul would go on to share his testimony in Scripture at least 3 more times; his story mattered, and yours does too

Epilogue: Saul Prepares to Embark

It takes years before Saul is fully embraced into the Christian community and ready to be a missionary

Proclaims Jesus in synagogues in Damascus -> Escaped to Arabia -> Back to Damascus -> Finally to Jerusalem

Galatians 1 tells us this took at least 3 years.

Next week we will begin to trace Paul through his journeys… see you then