The Beginning

I. Introduction

A. Acts 9:1-31

B. The conversion of Saul is one of the more significant occurrences, out side of the Gospels, of the New Testament. Saul had a major impacted on the foundation of the Church. He ended up writing the second most words of the NT, but is possibly the most quoted. He had the one characteristic that all the apostles had, outside of Judas, and that was the willingness to follow Christ to the death.

II. Act 9:3 “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” Who is this Saul?

A. First seen in Acts 7:58 as the young man who stood by and watched in affirmation

B. Luke in Acts 22:3 give us who Saul was, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. “ Gamaliel a man held in great esteem by all Jews and the authority on the law

C. Saul had no political aspirations, he was more like Daniel or Elijah, he wanted to take on those that were against God, even if it meant killing them

D. The Way was what the Christian Church was first called, and Saul felt it was a contradiction otoGod’s will

III. Acts 9: 4-9 “Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

A. I would like each of us to place ourselves in Saul’s shoes at this point. We cannot know exactly what he was thinking because the scriptures do not tell us, but we can speculate what it was based off his character and the situation.

1. As he was traveling, it is possible he was mentally focused on the Word of God, and likely praying about being able to recognize those that are with the WAY

2. The light - it scared him enough to cause him to fall to the ground

3. Jesus speaks, and I think it would be a voice of stern authority. He identifies that Saul is fighting against God, and Jesus does not tell him to stop, rather He knows that Saul will respond positively and just tells him what to do next.

B. Saul is rendered blind for three days, why three days?

1. There is significance in the three days. Biblical numerology tell us that the number three is significant for completion. Jona was in the whale for three days before he was able to understand that he can not avoid God’s command, Peter denied Christ three times before he was confronted with his belief and then Christ asked three time if Peter loved Him, Christ was in the earth three days before taking His throne, and the most important the Trinity

2. But what was Saul thinking during that time?

a. In pure speculation, this had to have rocked Saul’s world. He was faced with two religions, Judaism and Christianity. But how could this happen, why would God change everything when He was, as Malachi 3:6 For I the Lord do not change. So this is the mental battle, why would God change from Judaism to Christianity.

b. The answer is He would not and Saul knew Scripture well enough that he could determine the answer.

i. As we search the old testament, it's meaning is not different from what Christ has brought to us through Christianity. The entire old testament leads to the new testament. Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

ii. The one thing that brings this together is the realization that Jesus was the Messiah. He fulfilled the prophesies of the old testament to bring salvation to man.

iii. As we look to the names of the Old and New testaments, these are a construct of man, the Bible is 66 books written over about 1500 years, The naming of the books, the chapters and verses and the delineation of old and new testament are those constructs. Judaism and Christianity are not separate, Christianity is the Messiah's, the Word becoming flesh and the revelation of Judaism at that time extending into salvation being available to all men.

IV. So, what did change was Saul – after an encounter with Jesus, it was not surprising he changed

IV. Acts 9:10-18 “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.”

A. Ananias had an expected response. “do you not know who he is, this is the man that is persecuting, sometimes to death. your children”.

B. Jesus’ response is ‘he is the one I chose.” Romans 11:34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” this is a good example that we need to follow Jesus without understanding. Jesus spoke to Saul without explanation, although He gives Ananias some explanation.

C. The first and foremost thing that Saul does, baptism.

1. We saw last week in the verses Bradley preached about teaching the Eunuch and the first thing, upon understanding, he asked to be baptized , Peter’s sermon, Act 2:41 - “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

2. Baptism is important to salvation, it is the first act of obedience.

a. John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

b. Jesus was baptized Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

3. Peter during his sermon was ask what should we do to be saved, Acts: 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is when we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

V. Acts 9:19-22 “For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”

A. Saul spent “some days” with the disciples in damascus, Saul was being discipled by the other Christian disciples

B. He spoke in the Synagogues the Jewish tradition was Services were often led by a rabbi, ordained Jewish religious leader who is trained in interpreting and applying the sacred scriptures to contemporary issues and circumstances. Saul “went to work” at doing the will of God, proving that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.

VI. Acts 9:23-25 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

A. Saul must have been successful, the Jews wanted him gone

B. His disciples, not only did Saul engage in discipleship of himself, he also had disciples of his own

VII. Acts 9:26-30 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

A. Saul first interaction with the Apostles and disciples in jerusalem was as to be expected, they did not trust him. Ater hearing his testimony, he was accepted and began to do the work of God, boldly .

B. As before he must have been successful, they wanted him killed

VII . As we finish up, Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

A. God blessed the Churches work, because they boldly preached Christ

B. Saul was changed by Jesus as we are when we choose to follow Christ. We are baptized, then follow Christ in our lives, spiritual, home and work. All aspects if life changes, because we are new creatures in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.