Jesus Can Turn Things Around
Saul Went From Hunting Christians to Being a Hunted Christian
After many days pictures Saul dutifully preaching Jesus as Messiah for long enough to become the uppermost enemy of unbelieving Jews in Damascus. He had come to help their struggle against the growing Christian movement, but now he had become the chief cause of its growth.
The Holy Spirit intervenes again and again to protect Saul
Saul Went From Hunting Christians to Being a Hunted Christian
Saul Went From Being a Potential Spy to Being a Revered Apostle
Barnabas fulfilled his mediating role, securing Paul’s acceptance in the apostolic circle. Paul was now “with them” (v. 28).
Saul Went From Being a Potential Spy to Being a Revered Apostle
Saul Replaced The Preacher He Helped to Execute
He assumes the role of Stephen in debating with Hellenistic Jews, who then plot to kill him (9:29; cf. 6:9–11).
plotted to kill him. Enemies of the gospel cannot defeat it by free and open debate, so they often resort to force, falsehood, murder, and governmental suppression
Saul Replaced The Preacher He Helped to Execute
Saul’s Conversion Transitioned Persecution to Peace
whole world (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 5:25). Peace came to the church after the conversion of its prime persecutor
Saul’s Conversion Transitioned Persecution to Peace
The remainder of the Pauline conversion narrative illustrates the fulfillment of 9:16. Paul the persecuted became Paul the sufferer, first in Damascus (vv. 23–25) and then in Jerusalem (vv. 26–30). The Jerusalem section also legitimizes the ministry of Paul because he was then accepted by the circle of apostles. A summary statement (v. 31) caps off the whole of 9:1–30.