ROAD SCHOLAR

INTRODUCTION

Acts 9:1–9 TPT

1 During those days, Saul, full of angry threats and rage, wanted to murder the disciples of the Lord Jesus. So he went to ask the high priest 2 and requested a letter of authorization he could take to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, requesting their cooperation in finding and arresting any who were followers of the Way. Saul wanted to capture all of the believers he found, both men and women, and drag them as prisoners back to Jerusalem. 3 So he obtained the authorization and left for Damascus. Just outside the city, a brilliant light flashing from heaven suddenly exploded all around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a booming voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 The men accompanying Saul were stunned and speechless, for they heard a heavenly voice but could see no one. Saul replied, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, the Victorious, the one you are persecuting. Now, get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you are to do.” 8 Saul stood to his feet, and even though his eyes were open he could see nothing—he was blind. So the men had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. 9 For three days he didn’t eat or drink and couldn’t see a thing.

“Persecuting me” AND

“whom you are persecuting”

Acts 9:10–22 TPT

10 Living in Damascus was a believer named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling his name. “Ananias.” “Yes, Lord,” Ananias answered. 11 The Lord said, “Go at once to the street called Abundance and look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. You will find him at Judah’s house. While he was praying, he saw in a supernatural vision a man named Ananias coming to lay hands upon him to restore his sight.” 13 “But Lord,” Ananias replied, “many have told me about his terrible persecution of those in Jerusalem who are devoted to you. 14 In fact, the high priest has authorized him to seize and imprison all those in Damascus who call on your name.” 15 The Lord Yahweh answered him, “Arise and go! I have chosen this man to be my special messenger. He will be brought before kings, before many nations, and before the Jewish people to give them the revelation of who I am. 16 And I will show him how much he is destined to suffer because of his passion for me.” 17 Ananias left and found the house where Saul was staying. He went inside and laid hands on him, saying, “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me to pray for you so that you might see again and be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.” 18 All at once, the crusty substance that was over Saul’s eyes disappeared and he could see perfectly. Immediately, he got up and was baptized. 19 After eating a meal, his strength returned. 20 Within the hour he was in the synagogues, preaching about Jesus and proclaiming, “Jesus is the Son of God!” 21 Those who heard him were astonished, saying among themselves, “Isn’t this the Saul who furiously persecuted those in Jerusalem who called on the name of Jesus? Didn’t he come here with permission from the high priest to drag them off and take them as prisoners?” 22 Saul’s power increased greatly as he became more and more proficient in proving that Jesus was the anointed Messiah. Saul remained there for several days with the disciples, even though it agitated the Jews of Damascus.

Saul got “saved”. I really don’t like that term; “saved”.

A more accurate statement would be that Saul was “converted”.

BTW, God didn’t rename Saul to Paul.

They are simply two derivatives of the same name in the Greek

Saul

The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names Saul

Saul (sawl) = Asked for; demanded; (root = to ask; to request; to inquire of). Required.

Paul

The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names Paul

Paul (pawl) = Little.

Joseph who was called Barnabas, Thomas who was called Didymus, Simeon who was called Niger, etc.

Romans 12:2 AMP

2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

When God wanted spiritual children, He created man. He could not have children with Angels, as they were not created purely in His image. It is an immutable law of the universe that all things can only produce after their own kind.

You will never plant an orange seed and get an apple. If you’re wife is pregnant, she won’t have a rhino; that’s good news for both of you!

Satsumas

PICTURE ONE

PICTURE TWO

Romans 12:2 TPT

2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

The purpose of Christ’s death, was to break the curse of sin and the law off of His children, to create a second Adam (see 2 Corinthians 15:45

1 Corinthians 15:21–22 NLT

21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

1 Corinthians 15:44–49 NLT

44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. 45 The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. 46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. 47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. 49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.

Acts 19:2 NLT

2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”