Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 28th day of October— Wednesday

Yesterday right here at “The Message” we saw how Saul was transformed from being a persecutor to preacher, we saw how he was converted to Christianity after his personal encounter with our Lord. From this incident in the life of Saul we learned:

GET UP AND GO AND YOU WILL BE TOLD

I WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE

Before we look at what happened after his conversion— why don’t you go ahead and start a watch party if you will— and then open your Bible to ACTS 9:19-31— once you get there type, “let’s see what happens after his conversion”

When reading in advance, whenever you’re studying God’s Word— look for words that defines that CHARACTER of God, COMMANDS to obey, PROMISES to claim, good EXAMPLES to follow and bad examples to avoid, ENCOURAGEMENTS & CHALLENGES to keep you going, reasons to be THANK GOD for, PRAYERS to pray

READ ACTS 9:19-31

BOOK

Acts 9:19–31 NIV

19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

WHAT: Immediately after Saul’s conversion— he began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God

WHERE: Damascus and then he escaped to Jerusalem [SHOW MAP]

WHEN: During the early church, after Saul’s conversion to Christianity

WHO: Saul, disciples, Jews living in Damascus, Baranabas, Hellenistic Jews in Jerusalem

WHY: As soon as he was converted and started preaching, he was persecuted and they even tried to kill him— the persecutor is not the persecuted— this section shows the suddenness and genuineness of Saul’s conversion and begins to fulfill the promise of Jesus about how he will use him

LOOK

AT ONCE HE BEGAN TO PREACH

Saul was radically transformed! At once Saul began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God

He then used his extensive training [Taught by Gamaliel ACTS 22:3] and zeal to build and defend the gospel rather than to attack it— they were astonished and started asking one another— isn’t he the man who persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem?— hasn’t he come here to take the believers as prisoners and bring them back to the chief priest in Jerusalem

They’re right! Saul’s plan was to arrest Christians and bring them back as prisoners in Jerusalem— this is a powerful testimony of the Scriptures— Humans plans in their hearts, but God will direct their steps— PROVERBS 16:9, 19:21, 20:24

Saul grew more and more powerful— the Jews in Damascus was baffled [bewildered] and after many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him

Take notice of the phrase, “many days”— i’d like to point out to you that after escaping from Damascus, he did not go directly to Jerusalem, instead he went to Arabia first— GALATIANS 1:17-18

WHEN HE CAME TO JERUSALEM, HE TRIED TO JOIN THE DISCIPLES

But there were all afraid of him— they did not believe that he really was a disciple— But Barnabas [a well known and respected disciple] had testified for Saul— Barnabas told them Saul had ...

PREACHED FEARLESSLY IN THE NAME OF JESUS

It was only then that the apostles welcomed Saul— he was able to move freely in Jerusalem speaking boldly in the name of our Lord Jesus

In the course of his preachings— he had encounters with the Hellenistic Jews [Greek speaking & cultured Jews]— and again, they tried to kill him— and when the believers learned about this plot to kill Saul...

THEY TOOK HIM DOWN TO CAESAREA AND SENT HIM OFF TO TARSUS

Caesarea as you already know, is a coastal city— from the port of Caesarea, Saul sailed back to Tarsus where he was born as you saw earlier when we read ACTS 22:3

After his departure, the churches in Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and they gained strength!

LIVING IN FEAR OF THE LORD AND ENCOURAGED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Increased their number— fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding— PROVERBS 9:10

Two things resonated to me out of our devotional study for today— 1. We plan in our hearts, but it is always the Lord’s purpose that prevails and 2. Fear of the Lord and encouragement from the Holy Spirit will grow the population of our church

TOOK

I SHALL MAKE PLANS, BUT I MUST ALWAYS YIELD TO GOD’S PURPOSE

FEAR OF THE LORD AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GROW OUR CHURCH

SING

Anton Aquino— Pastors’ Appreciation Song