New Testament Survey s2

NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY THE BOOK OF ACTS LECTURE 8 ACTS 9

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. It seems that Saul was the main leader in these Christian persecutions. He was full of hatred for the Christians. The Catholics had done this widespread for over 1000 years (and still do it today). Today we could have government officials with ‘arrest warrants’ come to our church buildings and arrest us. It probably will start with the more extreme types (militant, right wing, fundamentalists).

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 3. The light was probably from Jesus Christ’s glory; it blinded Paul. These persecutions had come to an end; Jesus Christ was going to totally change directions here. You never know how suddenly a wicked soul can be changed to be a devout follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. 4. It must have been an incredible amount of light to cause him to fall. When you are persecuted dear Christian, Jesus Christ feels it; for it is an attack directly upon Him. The anti-Christians real attack is on Jesus Christ. Why do people persecute Christians? Hatred for Jesus Christ. 5. He didn’t know who it was?! He knew enough that He was deserving of great respect (Lord). What are pricks? Ox goads. Saul was surely having a hard life (internally) because of this. Saul was fighting against the Lord’s correction and reproof. Jesus had been ‘after’ Saul for some time now. God prepares the heart to be saved. 6. This fearless Christian persecuter is suddenly a scared repentant gentleman. Lost people need to have this type of heart: trembling and what wilt thou have me to do?! But most are fairly casual and ‘a matter-of-fact’ about it all. God wants to use His churches to do His work, this is why He told him to go to ‘the city’. Jesus could have easily have told Paul all he needed to know about salvation and church membership right then and there…but didn’t. God may have wanted to see if Paul would obey Him. Well, He left him blind, so Paul was in no position to go against what He had told him. Nothing is said here of Paul’s conversion. Do you think he got saved here? Look at Acts 22:16.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 7. Did they actually hear the words? I assume so. no one there saw anybody, including Saul. 8. Only he was blinded by this event. His eyes were shut because it was so bright and he was so afraid. He was made blind in order to keep him humbled and willing to follow the Lord. I wonder how these other soldiers were reacting to their leaders changed heart. They were all for arresting and killing Christians; now they are taking Saul to get help from them… 9. Saul wasn’t sure if he would ever see again. It is wise to fast when you are in a significant predicament. No matter how proud, raging, evil, etc., a man might be, if you take away his sight (or something significant like that), he will be a humble, crying, little baby. They all have their breaking point.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 10. He was most likely a member of the church there in Damascus; and some say that he was a pastor there.

1 11. He was told to go on ‘visitation’; you never know who you might be sent to on ‘visitation’ night. Saul was busy praying a whole bunch for he wanted his sight back and wanted to obey the Lord. Saul wanted to know the truth, so God sent him someone that would tell him. This rationale would be the same for people in ‘deepest, darkest, Africa’. 12. Was Saul’s main desire here to get his sight back or to obey the Lord? Probably both…

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 13. What would you do if the head of the ACLU came into your church services? Saul was well known as a Christian hater/persecutor. 14. Could it happen here in America that all who pray to Jesus Christ, who go to a Christian church, to be bound and put in jail?! Yes! There are many in this country that would approve a law as such. Who would be first on their list?.... 15. Do we tend to ‘write off’ someone as just too evil, liberal, foolish, in order to be saved and greatly used of God? A Missionary might be called of God to ‘bear my name before the’ _____ . 16. How would you like to have some ‘prophet’ say this of your life?!... You definitely reap what you sow. God often works with eery irony. Paul indeed suffered greatly for the cause of Christ.

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened… 17-18. Brother – some say that this proves that Saul was already saved, as via on the road to Damascus; some would say this just shows a brotherly greeting to a fellow Israelite. The order given here was: hands put on him; blindness healed; filled with the Holy Ghost; baptized. What might be in question is when he actually got saved. Ananias must have already explained to him baptism; he probably explained salvation, baptism, and the Holy Ghost in one sitting with Saul. I believe that God used a church member (Ananias) to win the soon to be evangelist Paul to the Lord. Review Acts 22:12-16. This appears to show Ananias arriving at the house where Saul was and first healing Saul, preached to him some about Jesus and how Saul would serve Him, invited Saul to be saved, and then invited him to be baptized. Were these scales actually present or was it just a symbolic effect of what happened? 19. He had fasted for 3 days.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 20. It is not necessary to go through a bunch of formal evangelism training before you go out preaching the gospel. He knew what happened to him and what he believed and that is what he straightway told his fellow countrymen. 21. The people that knew you before should be amazed at the dramatic change in you after you get saved. I wonder how many folks are actually truly saved who say they are saved but there was little or no change in their lives?! They should be ‘amazed’ at the change… 22. A soulwinner should increase the more in strength: more Bible knowledge; more discernment in how to confound and prove to the scoffers that Jesus is the Christ. Are you prepared to prove to the JW’s, the Mormans, the Jews, the Atheists, that this is very Christ?...

23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 23. I wonder if there are some taking counsel right now on how to do away with certain Christian groups. 2 24,25. How would you like to have a group of overzealous men laying in wait to kill you?! Watching your house day and night waiting for you to come out or in. We can 100% trust God for protection but we should use our wisdom to avoid peril. Ancient Baptists fled to the hills to avoid torture… Make sure to protect your ‘preacher’!

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 26. Does this imply that Paul was trying to simply have ‘fellowship’ with this church or was he trying to ‘join’ the membership there? Who might we be afraid of if they came to our church service and claimed that they were ‘born-again’? Pelosi, Clinton, an MSNBC commentator, an Islamic leader, etc..?? 27. Did he actually see Jesus, or just having an encounter with Him? There are some that come for membership that you wonder if they are truly ‘of you’. Preaching the gospel boldly could solve your doubts, for sure. 28. What were they coming in and going out to do? Church meetings-training-worship-prayer and out to evangelize and disciple.

29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 29. Paul, as a new Christian, wasn’t going to ‘grow into it gradually’; he stood out in all that he did. If you speak boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, you will eventually have a group out to get you… 30. Tarsus was Saul’s hometown; maybe they would treat him well there. 31. Saul wasn’t persecuting them anymore. It may be that Sual was the only one really persecuting then. These were the 3 regions of Israel. At this time, there were many churches in Israel. Churches need edification through the Word of God. Churches need to fear God (having government officials after you can increase your need for God). Churches need to rely on the Holy Ghost…comfort. Thus, here is how churches can multiply in member numbers and in number of churches: through being edified; having a healthy fear of God; and truly relying on the Holy Ghost.

32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. 33. Aeneas valley in the Tonasket area (Wa. state) was named after him… He was bedridden and had some neurological disorder involving his legs. 34. (Remember, it is very important to make your bed after getting up in the morning…) Did Aeneas get saved here? 35. God chose to heal certain ones that were long time in that condition so that it would all the more be irrefutable when they were healed. Apparently everyone in those two cities got saved!

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. 3 43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner. 36. Tabitha was involved with the ladies’ ministry of good works and almsdeeds. I never met a lady named ‘Dorcas’ before… 37. They kept the dead temporarily in their own home! There were no hospitals…no morgues.. 38. They called for the number one ‘faith healer’…Peter. 39. Widows must have by custom been assigned to weep for the dead back then. Is it wrong to mourn with great fanfare like this? 40. Peter had been with Jesus Christ earlier when He did something very similar. Peter wanted all the comotion around to stop so he could concentrate on the Lord. Spend some intense time in prayer before expecting God to do a great work. Where was her spirit when she was ‘dead’? 42. Lydda and Saron had all believed because of a lesser healing than this. But, these 3 cities had a huge number of believers now…all because of 2 healings. 43. Simon must have wanted Simon Peter to stay and learn all he could from him. There wasn’t a church there, but eventually one would be started…once they got a pastor, I assume. Maybe Simon would become the Pastor there.