From Hound to Hunted

So begins a new pattern of life for Saul

In a few verses, he went from hunting heretics (from the perspective of the Pharisees) to being a heretic in those same eyes; from the predator to the prey

The time between v. 22 and v. 22 was likely about 4 years; this from 2. Cor and Gal.

Don’t let it get in the way with understanding this text; the author didn’t see it necessary to include it here…we need no get sidetracked by it

Eccl. 3 gives us a time to be born, die; plant, reap; kill, heal…other pairings…running is not given there

As we watch Saul’s life through the book of Acts, we’ll see that his life often followed the pattern of proclaiming the Gospel, and fleeing for his life…or something along those lines

A bit of related history: What is a synagogue? Now that the scene has shifted from Jerusalem and the Temple it becomes important

The word underlying it means assembly—and it what we are as a church meets that definition; James 2:2 “For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,”

When we see the word synagogue throughout the Gospels and Acts, it means a gathering place for Jewish liturgical worship, reading of the OT scrolls, teaching and prayer

Concept of the synagogue most likely appeared in the Babylonian captivity—though may have been around earlier—to keep the Faith alive in the absence of the Temple

Saul Proclaimed to the Jews

Critical note: He was with the disciples @ Damascus

Note “immediately,” he didn’t waste any time getting started

Working from a base of now-believing Jews—and a few Gentile converts (??) he began the pattern of going into the synagogue to reach first the chosen people of God

This the pattern of Christ Himself: Matt 4 23

Matthew 4:23 ESV

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

We discussed proclamation (kyrusso) and it’s related term (kyregma)—what was being proclaimed…the message of Christ …in a previous message

Here we see he was proclaiming that Jesus was was the Son of God

As he first reached out to the Jews—those who were actively seeking the Messiah—their long awaited Messiah had come!

With that comes the rest of the package of the Good News! That the Son came into the world to redeem the world—to pay the penalty for the sins of the world

Saul Amazed the Jews

Being amazed by the truth of the Gospel is nothing new in the history of the Gospel

We find, in Matt 12 23, the same word used often related to the crowds’ reaction to Jesus

Matthew 12:23 ESV

And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

The underlying word (existemi) has as its root the word meaning to stand still

Imagine it as being stopped in your tracks by something happening—that’s the word picture I produce—the Jews were stopped in their tracks by this teaching of Saul

Part of the amazement was the transformation of the man who had been making havoc on the church was now greatest proponent of the church and its savior

The word underlying havoc is the word to destroy—and used only two other places, both in Gal. 1, where Paul is discussing his life of trying to destroy the church

Saul Confounded the Jews

His confounding them was that he gave them information that they just couldn’t wrap their heads around the facts

He was proving that Jesus was the Christ; putting the information out there in an irrefutable way

The Jewish understanding was that there would come a Messiah—the anointed one—they just had the wrong idea about what He would do and how He would do it

They expected a military ruler, a king like David or Solomon, who would restore Israel to a majestic kingdom

Instead, they got a meek teacher, healer and deliverer, who brought the Kingdom of God to Earth…but not the way in which they had been expecting

Jesus dealt with the evils of sin—not the evils of Roman rule

…and Saul, in his teaching proved that this was exactly how the prophets had portrayed Him and His coming

Saul Escaped from the Jews

Almost anticlimactic

Note comment in the background information, up to 3 years....

At some point, he travelled to Arabia and then returned, then the plot and his escape

There was a plot, it was discovered, and he slipped away…with a little help from his friends

Lest you think that a grown man being lowered in a basket—like Moses in a basket—is a bit far-fetched, the word used is more indicative of a rope basket…like ships use to move cargo,

…and yes, there were often windows in the city walls that led to houses built right into the wall—look back to Rahab at Jericho

At least one writer reads Paul’s account of this event in 2nd Corinthians as something of a regret, …almost embarrassment, that people he had been plotting against had ultimately saved his hide...though we see nothing of that nature here

How Do We Apply This?

Get to Work

There was no time wasted: Saul was saved, baptized, nourished…and set to work, along with the disciples at Damascus

It appears from vv. 6-16 that Ananias gave him his *marching orders* to “carry the name of Jesus to the Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel”

English Standard Version Chapter 9

carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel

I’d suggest that, initially, he worked with the disciples as a way of gaining “street cred” giving him better access to the synagogues

Without their presence, gaining an audience may have been a problem…his reputation had preceded him, as Sean mentioned

Whatever job God has for you just get at it

It Might Start Small

We note that Saul increased in strength—he didn’t start out full bore

He did his job, gave the message

Our Goals Should Be the Same

…make disciples of all nations...

We can all play a part in this

It might not be the part of a preacher, teacher, evangelist…might not be a deacon, trustee or other church officer

It might not be a highly visible part at all…but all of us play a part

We might even have a bad day here and there—Saul had to get spirited out of the city under cover of darkness—nothing glamorous about that

But he kept at it

He got started, he did the job and he kept at the job—growing all the way along the way

Wherever you are in your Christian walk...

Get Started!