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Please pick up a handout from the table in the back of the auditorium for class this morning. Lesson 13 : The Conversion & Early Preaching of Saul and More Miracles of Peter (9:1-43). I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study.
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Please pick up a handout from the table in the back of the auditorium for class this morning. Lesson 13:The Conversion & Early Preaching of Saul and More Miracles of Peter (9:1-43)
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Continually persecuting the disciples, Saul headed to Damascus to arrest more (9:1-9). • Saul heard the Word of God, received his sight and was baptized into Christ (9:10-19).
II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • “The Way” was a common designation for N.T. Christians (9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). • Christ and the church are inseparably and intimately tied together! • Prayer does not save an alien sinner from his sins! • Baptism is a “must” for salvation! • Saul of Tarsus was NOT converted to Christ and saved on the road to Damascus!
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Saul immediately began to preach the gospel and was persecuted as a result (9:20-30). • Saul continuously preached the deity of Jesus, a message he once persecuted (9:20). • The Jews in Damascus plotted to kill him, so disciples helped him escape (9:23-25). • It had been 3 years since he left Jerusalem (Gal. 1:18), but he was still feared (9:26). • Barnabas intervened, taking him to Peter & James (Jesus’ half-bro) (9:27; Gal. 1:19). • Saul remained in Jerusalem with Peter for 15 days (9:28; Gal. 1:18). • Hellenists in Jerusalem tried to kill Saul, so the disciples helped him escape (9:29-30). • Saul went to his home in Syria and Cilicia (Tarsus was capital of Cilicia) (Gal. 1:21-22).
II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • Strong, direct and hard-hitting preaching is often needed and expected by the Lord. • Saul heralded continually (9:20); then logically argued, providing evidence (9:22); preached boldly, telling it like it is (9:27, 29); and even disputing/debating (9:29). • The response of those who did not like his message is also indicative of its force.
I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Persecution against the church subsided for a while and it kept on multiplying (9:31). • To prepare readers for chapter 10, two miracles of Peter were highlighted (9:32-43). • In Lydda, Peter healed Aeneas, a paralytic who “arose immediately” (9:32-35). • In Joppa, Peter raised Tabitha from the dead (9:36-42). • In Joppa, Peter stayed with Simon a tanner, which seems significant (9:43).
II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • The conversions in Acts 9 each used a different word to describe when they were saved. • The people of Joppa “believed on the Lord” (9:42); the people of Lydda “turned to the Lord” (9:35); Saul of Tarsus “arose and was baptized” (9:18). • Using synecdoche, each conversion mentions a part of what they did to represent the whole of what they did. Complete obedience was required in each case.
III. Practical Points of Application for Our Lives • May those who are “of the Way” so live that we can be recognized as “of the Way”! • Let us realize that if Saul of Tarsus could be converted then anyone can be converted! • As Saul preached immediately, may we preach the gospel message we obeyed ourselves! • May we be like Barnabas and bring brethren together rather than driving wedges! • When we “walk in the fear of the Lord,” we can “enjoy peace” and be “built up” (9:31)! • May we, like Tabitha, busy ourselves with an abundance of good works and kind deeds!
