Acts 9:1-19a (Acts: "...to the ends of the earth.")

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Main Idea of Acts:

MAIN IDEA of Acts: Jesus continues to work through his Holy Spirit, in the life of his Apostles, and in the Church, to glorify God through the increasing advance of the gospel.

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MAIN IDEA of this passage: Jesus has total authority to use whomever he so chooses in order to advance his kingdom.

MAIN IDEA of this passage: Jesus has total authority to use whomever he so chooses - even the unexpected and the reluctant - in order to advance his kingdom.

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NEXT SLIDE: MAIN REASON this passage exists: To show that Jesus can use whomever he wants to use. Whether you have permission from earthly authorities to persecute the “disciples of the Lord” (), or you yourself are one of the targets of that persecution (ie Ananias, ), Jesus is able to act in any way he so chooses in order to bring about the expansion of his kingdom.

MAIN REASON this passage exists: To show that Jesus can use whomever he wants to use. Whether you have permission from earthly authorities to persecute the “disciples of the Lord” (), or you yourself are one of the targets of that persecution (ie Ananias, ), Jesus is able to act in any way he so chooses in order to bring about the expansion of his kingdom.

MAIN REASON this passage exists: To show that Jesus can use whomever he wants to use. Whether you have permission from earthly authorities to persecute the “disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1-2), or you yourself are one of the targets of that persecution (ie Ananias, Acts 9:10), Jesus is able to act in any way he so chooses in order to bring about the expansion of his kingdom.

MAIN REASON this passage exists: To show that Jesus can use whomever he wants to use. Whether you have permission from earthly authorities to persecute the “disciples of the Lord” (), or you yourself are one of the targets of that persecution (ie Ananias, ), Jesus is able to act in any way he so chooses in order to bring about the expansion of his kingdom.

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NEXT SLIDE: This passage also exists to contrast the response of Saul to Jesus’ instructions vs. the response of Ananias to Jesus’ instructions.

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This passage also exists to contrast the response of Saul to Jesus’ instructions vs. the response of Ananias to Jesus’ instructions.

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SUMMARY OUTLINE:

The Persecutor’s Authorized Mission ()

The Persecutor’s Authorized Mission (Acts 9:1-2)

The Persecutor’s Authorized Mission ()

The Highest Authority’s Intervention & Instructions ()

The Highest Authority’s Intervention & Instructions (Acts 9:3-9)

The Persecutor’s Target / The Highest Authority’s Minister ()

The Persecutor’s Target / The Highest Authority’s Minister (Acts 9:10-12)

The Persecutor’s Target / The Highest Authority’s Minister ()

The Target’s Response to his Authority’s Instructions: A Contrast (Acts 9:13-14)

The Target’s Response to his Authority’s Instructions: A Contrast ()

The Highest Authority’s Command & Commission ()

The Highest Authority’s Command & Commission (Acts 9:15-16)

The Highest Authority’s Command & Commission ()

The Target’s Faithful Response and the Results ()

The Target’s Faithful Response and the Results (Acts 9:17-19a)

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NEXT SLIDE: I. The Persecutor’s Authorized Mission ()

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I. The Persecutor’s Authorized Mission ()

I. The Persecutor’s Authorized Mission (Acts 9:1-2)

I. The Persecutor’s Authorized Mission ()

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Acts 9:1–2 ESV

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.

NEXT SLIDE: I. The Persecutor’s Authorized Mission ()

I. The Persecutor’s Authorized Mission ()

1. Saul, in vv. 1-2, goes - with authority - to arrest Christians.

a. Little does he know that there will be a higher authority who stops him in his tracks and gives him a new commission.

I. Take note of Saul’s purpose, here: he wanted to take people to Jerusalem

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NEXT SLIDE: I. A. The Highest Authority’s Intervention & Instructions ()

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I. A. The Highest Authority’s Intervention & Instructions ()

I. A. The Highest Authority’s Intervention & Instructions (Acts 9:3-9)

I. A. The Highest Authority’s Intervention & Instructions ()

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Acts 9:3–9 ESV

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.

NEXT SLIDE: I. A. The Highest Authority’s Intervention & Instructions ()

I. A. The Highest Authority’s Intervention & Instructions ()

1. Re: v.5 - Saul spoke. His traveling companions did not.

1. - Saul spoke. His traveling companions did not.

a. Even when noticing who it was that spoke and responded, we can see that there is a selective focus on Paul.

I. Not all people are empowered by God to respond to him.

2. - More importantly, Jesus gives instructions, knowing the future, and knowing what he himself is going to do in order to bring it about

2. Re: v.6 - More importantly, Jesus gives instructions, knowing the future, and knowing what he himself is going to do in order to bring it about

2. - More importantly, Jesus gives instructions, knowing the future, and knowing what he himself is going to do in order to bring it about

3. - Saul set out with the purpose to take Christians - bound - to Jerusalem.

3. Re: v.8 - Saul set out with the purpose to take Christians - bound - to Jerusalem.

a. Instead, he is struck blind when he hears the Lord Jesus ask him why he (Saul) is persecuting him (Jesus, that is The Church).

b. And so the one who set off (with the authority he needed) to take Christians to prison, is himself stopped by a higher authority and now must be led to Damascus since he cannot get himself there.

c. Jesus said, “rise and enter the city” (v. 6)

I. Saul “rose from the ground” and “they led him by the hand” (v.8)

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NEXT SLIDE: II. The Persecutor’s Target / The Highest Authority’s Minister ()

II. The Persecutor’s Target / The Highest Authority’s Minister ()

II. The Persecutor’s Target / The Highest Authority’s Minister (Acts 9:10-12)

II. The Persecutor’s Target / The Highest Authority’s Minister ()

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Acts 9:10–12 ESV

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.”

NEXT SLIDE: II. The Persecutor’s Target / The Highest Authority’s Minister ()

II. The Persecutor’s Target / The Highest Authority’s Minister ()

1. Jesus is now bringing about the fulfillment of those instructions he gave Saul back in v. 6.

a. Jesus tells Ananias to “Rise and go” to Saul (v. 11)

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NEXT SLIDE: II. A. The Target’s Response to his Authority’s Instructions: A Contrast ()

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II. A. The Target’s Response to his Authority’s Instructions: A Contrast ()

II. A. The Target’s Response to his Authority’s Instructions: A Contrast (Acts 9:13-14)

II. A. The Target’s Response to his Authority’s Instructions: A Contrast ()

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Acts 9:13–14 ESV

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.”

NEXT SLIDE: II. A. The Target’s Response to his Authority’s Instructions: A Contrast ()

II. A. The Target’s Response to his Authority’s Instructions: A Contrast ()

1. BUT, Ananias questions Jesus (vv. 13-14)

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NEXT SLIDE: III. The Highest Authority’s Command & Commission ()

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Acts

III. The Highest Authority’s Command & Commission ()

III. The Highest Authority’s Command & Commission (Acts 9:15-16)

III. The Highest Authority’s Command & Commission ()

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Acts 9:15–16 ESV

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.”

NEXT SLIDE: III. The Highest Authority’s Command & Commission ()

III. The Highest Authority’s Command & Commission ()

1. Jesus specifies the reason why Saul has been chosen and set apart for a specific commission

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NEXT SLIDE: III. A. The Target’s Faithful Response and the Results ()

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III. A. The Target’s Faithful Response and the Results (Acts 9:17-19a)

III. A. The Target’s Faithful Response and the Results ()

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Acts 9:17–19a ESV

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. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

NEXT SLIDE: III. A. The Target’s Faithful Response and the Results ()

III. A. The Target’s Faithful Response and the Results ()

1. Ananias finally obeys (v. 17)

2. Saul can see, is “filled with the Holy Spirit”, then “he rose and was baptized;” (v. 18)