Acts 9:19 - 31

Acts 9:19–20 NASB95

19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

What a switch

actions matched his confession of faith

preaching Jesus in the same synagogues that he was planning to arrest Christians in

do your actions match your profession of faith?

Acts 9:21 NASB95

21 All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?”

people are amazed

Acts 9:22 NASB95

22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

proving using the Old Testament

Jews believed the Old Testament, so they had common starting point

good to find a common starting point if you can when witnessing

Acts 9:23–25 NASB95

23 When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

First death threat came fast

Paul in Arabia Timeline

Galatians 1:11–19 NASB95

11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

Acts 9:26 NASB95

26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

time before coming from Damascus to Jerusalem

spent time in Arabia

disciples in Jerusalem thought he was trying to trick him

Acts 9:27 NASB95

27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

Barnabas - guy who gave money from all that land, well respected, vouches for him

often in the church you need someone to vouch for you. Often you should ask if someone vouches for you

preaching license, ordination

don’t let people off the street preach

Acts 9:28–30 NASB95

28 And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

gets into some debaters with Hellenistic Jews and they try to kill him

Acts 9:31 NASB95

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

results of Stephens death?

maybe the start of the greatest apostle?

church increases in Judeah, Galilee, and Samaria

Prayer Time

two mass shootings

May 14, Buffalo, New York, Supermarket, 10 killed, 3 injured - all black, racially motivated

May 24, Uvalde, Texas, Elementary School, 19 children, 2 Teachers killed

Here to pray for families, country

Not here to discuss various solutions: gun control, more security measures, teachers with guns

I do want to mention THE PROBLEM - REJECTION OF GOD

no morals - no set right or wrong, justify anything you want to do, gotten rid of guilt and shame, instead be blatant about your sin

less people go to church - don’t need or have time for a connection with God and his people, don’t need spiritual guidance from Bible, just make up my own spiritual rules

of those who do to church, many are just “religious”, their hearts are far from God, Christianity never applies to their “life life” just to their church life

official religion of schools is atheism - no God created heaven and earth, people are special because we are made in his image, just a big explosion and evolution, all of us are accidents, no different from animals

When you reject God, you reject his benefits

protection

His voice restraining people

Proverbs 29:18 NASB95

18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.

NIV - no revelation

NLT - do not accept divine guidance, they run wild

ESV - no prophetic vision

THE ANSWER - Return to God

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 1900

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

humble - we (our country) ARE that bad/evil, instead of we are so great

pray - Lord have mercy

seek my face - what would you have us to do

turn - start doing right