Paul, the early years
Notes
Transcript
On a journey
On a journey
Life is a journey. . .
Paul’s life memorable?
Persecutor of Church
Blinded by the light
His missionary trips
Writer of many of the books of the New Testament.
What do we know about the early years of his ministry prior to his first missionary trip?
(Transition) The early years of 36AD (conversion) and his first missionary trip 45AD we can still learn some things about the life of an apostle from the scripture, what he was doing.
We finished with his conversion last time
16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
From conversion, Damascus and Arabia (36-39AD)
From conversion, Damascus and Arabia (36-39AD)
Immediately started preaching (Act9:17-20)
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
Your journey, you have a testimony of how the Lord impacted your life and converted you. How you can say Jesus is the Son of God, and then learn to go to the scripture to prove it.
His conversion, preaching, amazed people (Act9:21-22)
21 All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Paul did not stay in Damascus (Gal1:15-17)
15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
Arabia was located Southeast of Damascus, how long there, presumed 3-years (Gal1:18)
18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.
Add to the Damascus information (Gal1:11-12)
11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Time of training by Jesus directly during this time
He returned to Damascus and escaped from there too (Gal1:17; Act9:23-25)
23 When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
Preaching and persecution started in Damascus (Act26:19-20)
19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.
What did Paul preach? Jesus is Lord, repent and turn to God and do deeds appropriate to repentance.
Journey to Jerusalem
Journey to Jerusalem
His skeptical reception (Act9:26-30)
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
Paul journeyed, Barnabas vouched for him, Paul preached, the apostles protected and the Spirit warned him (Act22:17-21)
17 “It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, 18 and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ 19 “And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20 ‘And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’ 21 “And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
(Transition): Recently we looked at someone from an enemy to a friend, in Paul’s case now friends become enemies and are against him. People could not make sense of such a drastic change (expand on this, drastic change in your continued walk with Christ)
Time in Syria and Cilicia
Time in Syria and Cilicia
He returns home to Tarsus (ref: Act22:3)
He sets us his hub in areas of Syria and Cilicia (Gal1:21-24)
21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they were glorifying God because of me.
People may have not seen Paul, but they heard about him and people were glorifying God
This would seem to the the time when some churches were being established (Act15:23)
23 and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.
Persecution continued (2Cor11:24-26)
24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
It is believed this is a time of a heavenly vision, experience too (2Cor12:1-4)
1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
Paul was sought out in the growing region to further the gospel message (Act11:19-24)
19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
(Transition) - I know lots of scripture, but looking at history books is how we learn things right? So we are looking at the history, the life of an apostle in this series so of course lot’s of scripture. From here Barnabas and Paul come to Antioch
A Year in Antioch
A Year in Antioch
The journey, and the work continues (Act11:19-26, of which we just read a part, but let me add in the last verses.
25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
The Gospel message by the work of the people including Barnabas, Paul and others continued to go forth, a great many people were taught and people were first called Christians in Antioch.
Journeymen from Jersualem come (Act11:17-30)
17 “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” 19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. 25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
Prophets, Agabus with his prophesy, a decision to send relief to Judea came to be now and it would be sent by the hands of Paul and Barnabas.
Relief trip, 2nd time to Jerusalem
Relief trip, 2nd time to Jerusalem
Paul, Barnabas deliver relief to the saints in Jerusalem.
Now, John Mark rejoins Paul (Act12:25)
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.
Mark traveled and left first missionary trip (Act13:5-13)
Now became useful to Paul (2Tim4:11)
11 Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
From here there is the return to Antioch of Syria in preparation for the Holy Spirit sending Him out on his first missionary trip (Act13:1-4)
1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Faithful
Faithful
Paul was a faithful Jew
Now a faithful Christian
Set a pattern which we will continue to see
Preaching and persecution
Establishing churches and edifying churches
Having a heart for the needy Christians and helping to not be a burden, but to raise support for the needy.
Faithful, are you a person of faith, are you faithful to the name Christian? (invitation) (song) (Prayer) (Exit)