New Walk

Acts 9:3–17 KJV 1900

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And it Begins

Acts 9:3–4 KJV 1900

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Why would Jesus say this? Saul Saul why persecutest me?

Jesus was talking about all the Jews Saul was killing or executing in the name of the Sanhedrin court.

Something about Stephen lingered in Paul’s mind and would not be banished. How could a bad man die like that? it made him mad and became obsessed with the Christians and their faith

Every had a friend that just wouldn’t stop making fun of Christians, called them hypocrites, liers , deceivers. how would God transform them?

The Transformation

Acts 9:5–6 KJV 1900

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Why would God pick someone who seemed so evil and who seemed on torturing the Christians?

Jesus answers this in verse 11. to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake

Saul was so used to doing what he wanted, well not any more.

The Acts of the Apostles Surrender (Acts 9:1–9)

Up to this moment, Paul had been doing what he liked, what he thought best, what his will dictated. From this time forward, he would be told what to do. Christians are men and women who have ceased to do what they want to do and who have begun to do what Christ wants them to do

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The Acts of the Apostles Surrender (Acts 9:1–9)

Up to this moment, Paul had been doing what he liked, what he thought best, what his will dictated. From this time forward, he would be told what to do. Christians are men and women who have ceased to do what they want to do and who have begun to do what Christ wants them to do

Go by Faith not by sight

King James Version Chapter 9

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight

Why did Jesus leave him blind for 3 days?

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 9

Saul’s physical blindness may be the result of the intense glory of Jesus’ appearance, or it may be an outward manifestation of his own spiritual blindness that he (ironically) has just begun to see for the first time. It could also be Jesus’ way of humbling Saul.

Saul was so blinded by his anger and hatred he couldn't see the truth.

Foster kids are like this sometimes, they come with these ideas of how it will be or how it was that they can’t see whats is going on is usually for the better, but they instead become angry and detached and sometimes BLIND by anger! They just want it to be the same normal. isn't that how unbelievers are sometimes, they just want it like it always had been instead of allowing Jesus to show them the way.

Brotherly love

King James Version Chapter 9

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

How hard is it to come humbled even as a Christian?

The Acts of the Apostles A Christian Welcome (Acts 9:10–18)

Ananias, it must have sounded insane to him. He might well have approached Paul with suspicion, as one doing an unpleasant task; he might well have begun with recriminations; but no, his first words were: ‘Brother Saul.’

What a welcome! It is one of the most sublime examples of Christian love. That is what Christ can produce

Could you have done that someone who has persecuted your family for day, weeks, months, years. Could you accept them with open arms? what kind of impact you think Ananias had on Saul? He see’s Stephan killed like a saint and then his first sight is with a Christian who shows Brotherly love. Could you show someone who is a newly converted Christian that kind of love?