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This Morning’s Text Acts 9:1-19

I. Saul’s Condition (9:1) Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord… “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws Him; and I will raise Him up on the last day” (John 6:44).

II. Saul’s Cruelty (9:1-2) 1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief…(1 Timothy 1:12-13).

III. Saul’s Consequences (9:3-5) 3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting… 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief…(1 Timothy 1:12-13).

Insight “In this passage we have the most famous conversion story in all history. . . . We will see that this is not a sudden conversion; but it is surrender. Something about Stephen lingered in Paul’s mind and would not be banished. How could a bad man die like that? In order to still this insistent doubt Paul plunged into the most violent action possible. . . . He redoubles his efforts and drives himself all the harder to convince himself that he is right and to silence the doubts.” -William Barclay

IV. Saul’s Confusion (9:5-7) 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God (John 16:2).

Acts 22:1-4 1 Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you. 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said, 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons…”

IV. Saul’s Conversion (9:8-11) 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying…

Consideration Saul did not “decide for Christ” but rather it was rather Christ who decided for him and intervened in his life. …and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:14).

Insight “Divine grace does not trample on human personality. Rather the reverse, for it enables human beings to be truly human. It is sin which imprisons; it is grace which liberates. The grace of God so frees us from the bondage of our pride, prejudice and self-centeredness, as to enable us to repent and believe.” -John Stott

IV. Saul’s Companion (9:10-19) 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29).

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