Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Anger
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Fear
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Analytical
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Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Tone of specific sentences
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Today, we'll hear the story of Saul's conversion.
But 1st, what is conversion?
A Sunday School teacher once asked his class that question.
Little Billy piped up, "It's the extra point after a touchdown."
<sigh> Not that kind.
We all have a story about how we converted to Christianity.
Was it fear that converted us?
Saul felt dizzy & went to urgent care.
"You have 6 months to live."
So, Saul decided to buy a really nice shirt for his funeral.
"Give me a size 14." Clerk: "You need an18.
Not 14." Saul insisted.
"I've always worn a 14.
Give me a 14." Clerk: "OK, but it'll make you dizzy."
He bought an 18. Fear converted him.
NT Saul had an even more dramatic conversion.
He too was afraid.
But I don't think fear converted him.
Background helps see what did.
In Acts 7:58-8:1, crowds stoned Stephen to death.
Saul watched over their belongings.
He approved.
Let's imagine we asked Saul.
Why are you so anti-Christian?
"We executed a blasphemer.
That crucified nobody can't be Messiah.
Dt 21:23, The Law, says He's cursed because He was crucified.
Curse proves it.
He's not the Messiah.
Being cursed, He can't be.
Besides-we know the Messiah will be from Bethlehem.
That fake was from Nazareth.
Those who claim He's Messiah?
That He's still alive?
Doing miracles through them?
All liars.
That Nazarene isn't doing miracles through anyone.
Those "miracle-workers" are tricking people.
Their power for anything close to a miracle comes from Satan.
Not God.
That sect is dangerous.
We need to wipe it out to protect good Jews from their blasphemy."
We're ready for Acts 9:1-6.
Ever since Stephen, 1aSaul has been breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples.
(The ultimate case of bad breath.)
His threat isn't empty.
In Acts 8:3, he's making good on it.
3Saul began to destroy the church.
Going from house to house, he dragged people off & put them in prison.
The baby Christian church is in trouble.
Christians fled Jerusalem.
No wonder!
Many even left for nearby countries.
History explains what follows.
Starting in 142 BC, Rome granted Israel the right of extradition from their neighbors.
They could haul people back.
Rome also required nearby countries to honor that right!
Almost 100 years later, in 47 BC Julius Caesar reconfirmed it.
He named Israel's high priest as one who could extradite people!
Saul knows.
So, 1bhe went to the high priest 2afor extradition letters to the Damascus synagogues.
2aIf he found anyone from Jerusalem who belonged to the Way, he could extradite them back to Jerusalem.
Locked & loaded, Saul sets out for Damascus, in Syria.
From Jerusalem, it's a 150-mile trek headed NE.
For most of a week, he journeys.
Saul thinks he's going to hunt varmints.
Christians.
But there's something he doesn't know.
Jesus is also hunting Him!
Acts 22:6 says it's 6about noon as he finally comes near Damascus.
Back in our verses, that's when it happened.
3bSuddenly a light from heaven flashes around him.
Remember when Jesus was transfigured?
Once, men saw His glory.
On that mountain top, Jesus started flashing like lightning.
His face, through His clothes.
Brighter than the sun.
That's what blinds him.
Not the noon-day sun! Saul is stunned & 4afalls to the ground.
Afraid for his life.
That'd be enough!
Then, it gets even more amazing.
He 4bhears a voice.
"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Did you ever hear the Lord speak?
Were you sure who spoke?
Neither is Saul.
He's never heard the Lord.
No one he knows has heard the Lord speak.
Not for 400 years.
Not since Micah, the last prophet.
Still, every Jew in his day knows that any voice from heaven has to be God.
But how can he be sure?
He'll address God, & tentatively ask.
5a"Who are you, Lord?" Lord.
Κύριος.
In Greek culture, it could've been the equivalent of "your lordship", or "master."
But in the NT, Κύριος is always God or Jesus.
And God was Saul's master long before he became a Christian.
Saul knows it's God, but the answer stuns him.
5b"I'm Jesus, whom you're persecuting."
We can't know how shocked he is.
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