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EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT * 08.09.2020 180Acts 9:1-19 SAUL’S CONVERSION NEAR DAMASCUS :1-19 :34–39 (ESV) influences the . 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of , take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice …

GAMALIEL a respected and leading authority of the law in the first century. Grandson of the great Jewish teacher , founder of the House of Hillel school of tannaim. Gamaliel was recognized as a Pharisee doctor of (Jewish law). In the he bears the title of (prince) and Rabban (our master), he held a senior position in the highest court in . Reputed to be the greatest teacher in the annals of . “Since Rabban the Elder died, there has been no more reverence for the law, and purity and piety died out at the same time.” (Sotah 9:15) Acts 5:34–39 (ESV) Gamaliel influences the Sanhedrin. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Gamaliel’sIsrael, take care what Principle: you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred,The joined long-term him. He was killed, course and all who offollowed future him were events dispersed and is came strictly to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people aftercorrelated him. He too perished, with and all the who followed truth him quality were scattered. of the antecedent 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if itevent. is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You mightThe even truth be found about opposing God!” So they dependstook his advice … on consequent events that transpire in the future. GAMALIELIn a respected modern rabbi and leadinglanguage authority of the what law in the isfirst century.truthful Grandson today of the great Jewish teacher Hillel the Elder, founder of the House of Hillel school of tannaim. Gamaliel was recognized as a Pharisee doctor of Halakha (Jewishwill law).be In theproven Talmud he bears in the the title of future; Nasi (prince) and Rabban (our master), he held a senior position in the highest court in Jerusalem. Reputed to be the greatest teacher in the annals of Judaism. “Since Rabban the Elder died, there has been no more reverence for weigh one’sthe optionslaw, and purity in responding a and piety diedcertain out at the same way time.” (Sotahnow. 9:15) brings Paul to Antioch to preach :22-26

Antioch

Acts 9:3-25 Gal 1:17 2 Cor 11:32-33

3 years Paul taught by Jesus in Galilee desert Acts 9:30 Gal 1:10-18

150 miles 4 days walk

Stephen martyred., believers scattered Acts 9:1-2, 29-29: Gal 1:18-20 :1-4 ACTS 9:1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. TWO BIGGEST QUESTIONS BY SAUL? Paul’s testimony in Caesarea Luke’s narrative about Paul’s Paul’s speech before the crowd Agrippa and Festus conversion at Jerusalem Acts 9 26:12 In this connection, 3 Now as he went on his I journeyed to Damascus with way, he approached the authority Damascus, and suddenly a and commission light of the chief priests. from heaven shone around 13 At midday, O king, 22:6 As I was on my way and him. I saw on the way a light from 4 drew near to Damascus, about And falling to the ground, heaven, brighter than the he heard a voice saying to noon a great light from heaven shown around me. sun, that shone around me him, “Saul, Saul, why are 7 And I fell to the ground and and those who journeyed you persecuting me?” heard a voice with me. saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ Paul’s testimony in Caesarea Luke’s narrative about Paul’s Paul’s speech before the crowd Agrippa and Festus conversion at Jerusalem Acts 22 Acts 26 Acts 9 26:12 In this connection, 3 Now as he went on his I journeyed to Damascus with way, he approached the authority Damascus, and suddenly a and commission light of the chief priests. from heaven shone around 13 At midday, O king, 22:6 As I was on my way and him. I saw on the way a light from 4 drew near to Damascus, about And falling to the ground, heaven, brighter than the he heard a voice saying to “Saul,noon a great light Saul,from heaven shown around me. sun, that shone around me him, “Saul, Saul, why are 7 And I fell to the ground and and those who journeyed youwhy persecuting are me?” you persecutingheard a voice withme?” me. saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ HERETICS: Polytheists (Jesus is God; Jehovah is God) (:11-13) Q: WHY DID PAUL DECEIVERS: Jesus’ Body was stolen not raised (Matt 28:11) PERSECUTE THE Miracle power came from CHRISTIAN- RESCUER: Considered himself an OT “Phineas” (Num.25:1-9) Saving Judaism from the Jesus’ virus. (Deut.4:3-4) SO INTENSELY? DEFENDER: “The Way” blasphemed the Law

AUTHORITY: Given by Chief Priests and Council (Acts 9:2)

PENTATEUCH: Anyone hung on a tree is cursed. (Deut. 21:23)

CONTENTION: The CROSS (1 Cor 1:23) Acts 9 Acts 22 Acts 26 Luke Narrative Jerusalem Caesarea 5 And he said, 8. And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ 26:14 And when we had all fallen to the And he said to me, ground, “Who are you, ‘I am Jesus of , whom you are I heard a voice saying to me in the Lord?” persecuting. , 9 Now those who were with me saw the ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting And he said, light but did not understand the voice me? It is hard for you to kick against “I am Jesus, whom of the one the goads. who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord? you are persecuting. 10. And I said, And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom 6 But rise and enter ‘What shall I do, Lord? you are persecuting. And the Lord said to me, the city, and 16 But rise and stand upon ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, your feet, for I have appeared to you you will be told and there you will be told for this purpose what you are to do.” all that is appointed for you to do.’ TWO BIGGEST QUESTIONS BY SAUL?

Acts 9:5 . . . “Who are you, Lord?”

Jesus is ALIVE !!!! Gamaliel’s Principle applies Saul must reverse his thoughts, allegiance, commitment What got your attention about the way God got Paul’s attention?

Everyone in the travel group fell to the ground.

All in the group saw the light. In the middle of the day?

A light “shown from heaven” “great light from heaven” “brighter than the sun” that could knock people to the ground?

A voice that spoke in Hebrew. All heard the voice, no one but Saul understood the words. Acts 9 Acts 22 Acts 26 Luke Narrative Jerusalem Caesarea

7 The men who were traveling 11 And since To appoint you as a servant with him stood speechless, I could not see and witness to the things hearing the voice because of the brightness in which you have seen me but seeing no one. and to those in which of that light, I will appear to you, 8 Saul rose from the ground, I was led by the hand 17 delivering you and although his eyes by those from your people were opened, he saw nothing. who were with me. and from the --- So they led him to whom I am sending you by the hand and brought him 18 to open their eyes into Damascus. Blinded and a place among those 9 And for three days who are sanctified he was without sight, and by faith in me. neither ate nor drank. by the LIGHT Acts 9 Acts 22 Acts 26 Luke Narrative Jerusalem Caesarea

10 Now there was a 12 And one Ananias, at Damascus a devout man according named Ananias. to the law, The Lord said to him well spoken of by all the Jews in a vision, “Ananias.” who lived there, 13 And he said, came to me and standing “Here I am, Lord.” beside me said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. The And at that very hour Defense I received my sight and saw him. Rests Acts 9 Acts 22 Acts 26 Luke Narrative Jerusalem Caesarea

11 And the Lord said to 14 And he said the God of our him, “Rise and go to the fathers appointed you to know his street called Straight, and will, to see at the house of Judas the Righteous One and to hear look for a man of Tarsus from his mouth; 15 named Saul, for behold, for you will be a witness of him to everyone of what you have he is praying, seen and heard. 12 and he has seen in a 16. And now why do you wait? vision a man named Rise and be baptized and Ananias wash away your sins, Finally come in and lay his calling on his name. hands on him so that he at Last: might regain his sight.” TO ROME Acts 9 Acts 22 Acts 26 Luke Narrative Jerusalem Caesarea

13 But Ananias 17 When I returned to Jerusalem answered, and was praying in the temple . . . Prison “Lord, I have heard from many Letters about this man, () how much evil he has done to your to write saints at Jerusalem. PRAYING 14 And here he has authority from the not chief priests to bind all who call preying on your name.” Acts 9 Acts 22 Acts 26 Luke Narrative Jerusalem Caesarea

16 For I will show 21 And he said to me, him how much ‘Go, for I will APOSTLE he must suffer send you far away to the Gentiles.” for the sake to the of my name.” GENTILES 2 Corinthians 11:23–27 (ESV)

23 Are they servants of ? I am a better one —I am talking like a madman— with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, Beatings and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less Shipwrecked one. In Danger 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, Without Rest danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, Hungry & Thirsty danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; Cold & Exposed 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in coldSUFFERING and exposure. FOR HIS NAME Acts 9 Acts 22 Acts 26 Luke Narrative Jerusalem Caesarea

17 So Ananias departed 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, and entered the house. well spoken of by all the Jews And laying his hands who lived there, on him he said, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ the Lord Jesus who And at that very hour appeared to you on the I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, road by which you came The God of our fathers appointed you has sent me so that to do his will, you may regain your to see the Righteous One and hear from his mouth; sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9 Acts 22 Acts 26 Luke Narrative Jerusalem Caesarea

18 And immediately 22:15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone something like of what you have seen and heard. scales fell from his 16 And now why do you wait? eyes, and he 17 Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, regained calling on his name. his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles . . . and kings . . . and the children of Israel.

Gov. Felix Rom 11:13; Acts 9:20; 13:5, 14; 14:1; 17:2, 10, 17; 24:1-23 Gal 2:2, 7, 8; 18:4, 19; 19:8; 26:17-20; Gov Porcius Festus 24:27- 25:12 Eph 3:8 Rom 1:16 King II 5:13- 26:32 Emperor 25:11 disciples 9:1, 10, 19, 25-26, 36, 38; “of the way” 9:2; brethren 9:17, 20 “all who called on God’s name” 9:14, 21; first called saints (hagios) 9:13

Acts 9:10 . . . A disciple named Ananias.

11 . . . A man of Tarsus named Saul . . .

12 . . . Seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in . . .

14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.

15 But the Lord said to him, ”Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name. WHAT IS IN A NAME? 16 . . . How much he must suffer for the sake of my name. What is YOUR “Take Home” Message?

• PLAN (POINT: the persons, the process, the people,)

• PURPOSE (the difference between “election” and “selection”)

• PAUSE (time to think about his work)

• PREPARATION (the Spirit is always involved)

• PROVISION (“the way”)

• PATTERN (who he is? what did he do? what does he want?) In Acts, when was Saul’s name changed to Paul?

13:9 “But Saul, who was also called Paul . . .”

13:13 “Now Paul and his companions set sail . . “ TWO BIGGEST QUESTIONS OF SAUL

Acts 9:5 . . . “Who are you, Lord?”

“What shall I do, Lord?” Acts 22:10 EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT * 08.09.2020 180Acts 9:1-19 SAUL’S CONVERSION NEAR DAMASCUS

If you are interested in getting a copy of these slides . . . email requests to: [email protected] Sources and Resources

Boice, James Montgomery Acts: An Expositional Commentary Cedar Rapids, MI: Baker Books (1997)

Dallas Theological Seminary Zuck, Roy B. and John F. Walvoord Editors The Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures Dallas, TX: Victor Books (1983)

Moody Bible Institute The New Unger’s Bible Handbook Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers (1966, 1984, 1998, 2005)

Omanson, Roger A Textual Guide to the Greek Stutgart, Germany: German Bible Society (2006)

Roberson, Archibald Thomas Word Pictures in the New Testament Nashville, TN: Broadman Press (1930-33)

Schaff, Phillip and John Chrysostom A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers 1.1: Homilies in the New York, NY: Christina Literature Company (1889)

Stott, John The Message of Acts: to the Ends of the Earth Downers, Grove, IL: IVP (1990)

Utley, Bob Luke the Historian: The Book of Acts Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International (2003)