The Mission: Studies In The Book Of Acts

#11: Faith Stories

November 29, 2006

                                                                                          

1. Saul Of Tarsus ...

 

■          Two Week Study ... Conversion Of Saul ... Early Ministry of Paul

A. Before we look at conversion ... useful to reflect on character of Saul ... preconversion

                        1. Understand the “ apostle of grace” ... understand darkness he was rescued from


               B. “Meanwhile ...” refers us back to the beginning of chapter 8 ...

                        1. Part of death of Stephen ... moving through Jerusalem ... ravaging church ... prison

                        2. As the believers escaped ... approval and authority to give chase ... Damascus

 

■          Saul Of Tarsus ... A Citizen Of Three Worlds ... All Used To Shape Saul ... Eventual Ministry

               A. Judaism ... Philippians 3:4-6 ... right family ... best education ... promising career

                        1. Pharisee ... deep knowledge Jewish scriptures (law) ... high moral code

                        2. Zealous for the traditions of the faith ... and in his persecution of the church


               B. Citizen of Roman Empire ... Acts 21-22 ... a citizen of Tarsus ... Cilicia ... Southern Turkey

                        1. Citizenship inherited ... bestowed through political office ... military ... other service

                        2. Though not a Roman ... educated in the laws and culture of Rome


               C. Heavily influenced by Greek culture and thought ... language of the world

                        1. Paul’s writings ... use of rhetoric and argument ... Hellenistic way of thinking


 

■          A Man Who Hated The Church ... “Violent In Persecuting ... Goal To Destroy”

               A. At least two reasons ... arrive at without too much speculation ...

                        1. Crucified messiah as a contradiction in terms ... not possible

                        2. Stephen’s teachings had pushed the Jesus movement too far ... blasphemy



2. An Encounter With Christ ... Endnote

 

■          v9:3 ... As Saul Was Going Along ... 150 Miles From Jerusalem To Damascus ... A Week

A. Acts 9 ... A sudden encounter ... leading to an equally sudden conversion

                        1. Acts 26 ... Paul’s own recollection ... evidence of God at work prior to encounter ...


               B. What were “the goads” at work on Saul?

                        1. His own doubts ... inability to actually live up to the law

                        2. The life, teaching and death of Jesus

                        3. Stephen’s sermon ... and the fearlessness and graciousness of his death

                        4. Perhaps the courage and grace of the Christians he was persecuting

 

■          Suddenly ... A Light From Heaven ... An Encounter With The Living Christ ... Observations

A. God’s fingerprints all over this story ... shaping of Saul’s life ... beyond the “goads” ...


               B. Objective appearance of the risen Lord ... not a vision or a dream

                        1. Saul saw him ... and heard him speak ... Jesus had indeed risen

                        2. Conversion as complete surrender ... surrender leading to complete transformation

                        3. A surrender to both the Lordship of Christ ... and the mercy of God

                        4. Not just a conversion ... but a conversion into a commission ... Acts 26:16


               C. Statement of the obvious ... shall we reflect on who was converted ... and commissioned?

                        1. Apostle of hope & second chances

                        2. Reminder that we are not the Holy Spirit


 



3. Ananias Of Damascus...

 

■          Title ... “Faith Stories” ... Not Just Saul ... Story Of Ananias Of Damascus

               A. We know next to nothing about him ... Damascus ... devout/well spoken of

                        1. Receives a divine interruption ... assignment ... simultaneous visions

                        2. Take a second ... imagine what’s going on in Ananais’ head


 

■          Look Also At The Ministry of Ananias ... Not Just Used To Heal Saul’s Eyes ...

               A. Hands of healing ... also the first hand of fellowship extended to Saul

                        1. Think of Saul’s position ... from position of power and fear ...

                        2. Converted into a commission ... also into community of faith


 

■          Uses Ananias To Help Saul Understand His Commission ... What Jesus Was Asking Of Him

               A. Christ’s instrument ... bring Christ to the Gentiles ... to people of Israel ... he would suffer

                        1. Paul speaks of this again later in Acts (Acts 22:12ff)

                        2. Link in long tapestry of story of God’s faithfulness to purpose

                        3. Lesson ... the body of Christ ... some called to be Paul ... some to minister to Paul


 

■          Finally ... Get First Glimpse At The Beginning Stages Of Saul’s New Life ...

A. v17 ... filled with the Holy Spirit ... v18 ... then was baptized

                        1. Beginning of new life ... a life that will be transformed by the Holy Spirit