1. A Basket Full Of Saul
Acts 9:20-31

2. Act 9: And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." (18) Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. (19) So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

3. Act 9:20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (21) Then all who heard were amazed, and said,
"Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests ?"
(22) But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Jesus
The Christ

4. v. 20 – Saul immediately proclaimed Christ
Greek Christ/Christos = the anointed
Hebrew - Messiah/Meshiach) = the anointed
The Jews were expecting the Anointed One who would usher in the restored kingdom.
 Psa 45:6-7 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. (7) You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
( This verse is quoted in Hebrews 1:8,9 in reference to Jesus as the fulfillment)

5. vV. 20 - Saul declared Christ was the Son of God
The Jews knew God spoke of a son (Is. 9:6-7)
Psa 2:7-12 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. (8) Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. (9) You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' " (10) Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. (11) Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. (12) Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (quote - Heb1:5)
Mat. 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Jesus is both the Christ and the Son of God

6. Act 9:20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (21) Then all who heard were amazed, and said,
"Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests ?"
(22) But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Jesus
The Christ

7. The Offense of The Cross and the Gospel
Act 9: Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. (24) But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. (25) Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. (
Act 9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. (28) So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. (Luke skips over three years between v. 25 and 26)

8. Paul’s Conversion Testimony In Galatians 1
Arabia
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (10) For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

9. (11) But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. (12) For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(13) For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. (14) And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers

10. . (15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, (16) to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
(17) nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. (18) Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. (19) But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

11. The Uniqueness of Saul/Paul
 There are two great elect peoples
Israel, the one Chosen Nation from all the rest
The Church, Election of Grace, a people/body/temple/bride for God’s Son
There are two unique great revelators in the bible
Moses was the Revelator of the Old Testament Law.
Paul is the Revelator of the New Testament mysteries of the Church

12. Paul was given his revelation directly from the Lord Jesus Christ himself ? Gal. 1:16, 17; Acts 26:16; II Cor. 12:7; Gal. 2:2
Paul wrote 13/14 books of the of the 27 books of the N.T.
Paul was the only apostle who was given the mystery, which was hid to others ? Eph. 1:9; Eph. 3:3, 4; Eph. 6:19.
Rom 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
2Pe 3:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

13. Paul is placed in the position of being a unique Apostle, separated from all the rest, “a chosen vessel,” recognized by the “Pillars” in the Church at Jerusalem as the particular recipient of “the gospel of the uncircumcision,”
Gal 2:7-8 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (8) (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles)

14. Paul was the first to speak of being in Christ and Christ in you - Col
Paul was the first to reveal that one was justified by the faith of Jesus Christ ? Gal. 2:16.
Paul was the only apostle that that was willing to be cursed by God if by his cursing Israel would be saved.
Rom 9:1-3 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, (2) that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. (3) For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

15. Paul was the first man in the NT to be raptured into heaven.
2Co 12:1.....I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: (2) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up (harpadzo) to the third heaven. (3) And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- (4) how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (5) Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. (6) For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

16. Trick or Treat?
Act 9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. (28) So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.

17. Barnabas Facts in Acts
Barnabas was a Jew from the island of Cyprus 4:36
Barnabas was generous - 4:32-37
Barnabas was a inspirer/encourager/Spirit filled :24-30
Barnabas was a mediator 9:26-29
Barnabas was a missionary apostle, teacher, prophet, and traveling companion with Paul 11:19-23; 13:1,2; 14:14; 15:36-40
Barnabas was uncompromising with the Gospel – 15:1,2

18. What’s Truth Got to do with it?
Act 9:29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. (Plotting to kill is different than Attempting to kill)
Act 9:30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. (31) Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.