1. Acts 9 Acts 22 & 26

2. Convert; Converted

3. Cain - “ But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” Gen. 4:5a “ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, …” Heb. 11:4a Matt. 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

4.  His father was a Pharisee.  He was a Jew and a Pharisee.  Born in Tarsus.  Tribe of Benjamin.

5.  Trained under Gamaliel.  Learned the craft of tent making.  Was Zealous  Persecuted the Church  Honest and Sincere

6. Before His Conversion

7. His Conversion - Acts 9:1-19 On the way to Damascus to persecute Christians Light from heaven Fell to the earth

8. On the Road to Damascus

11. His Conversion - Acts 9:1-19 On the way to Damascus to persecute Christians Light from heaven Fell to the earth “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” “Who are you Lord?” “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” “Lord, what do You want me to do?“ “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

12. He was Blind Led by others into Damascus 3 days without eating or drinking

13. God tells Ananias to go speak to Saul Ananias hesitant He went to Saul Acts 9:17 Acts 9:18 “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”

14. Saul’s Conversion Jesus Sent a Preacher Ananias Told Saul what to do Later Paul related his conversion “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16

15. Lessons from Paul’s Conversion “New Birth” John 3:3-5 “Except a man be born again” 1 Pet. 1:22-23 “Being born again,…” Paul changed from a persecutor to the persecuted

16. Lessons from Paul’s Conversion Many make excuses I’m just as good as… Some Christian did me wrong When I have…. I’m too bad Paul obeyed when he learned what to do !

17. Lessons from Paul’s Conversion “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:18 “Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” II Timothy 4:2

18. Lessons from Paul’s Conversion “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:” Acts 26:19 Paul could have chosen to ignore the heavenly calling. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” Josh.24:15 Freedom to choose doe not mean we make the best choices. Acts 26:18 Agrippa “Almost”

19. Lessons from Paul’s Conversion Paul told others: Acts 22:1-22 Acts 26: 9-29 1 Tim. 1:12-16 This will help others learn what to do

21. Acts 9:20 “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” ESV “And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying “He is the Son of God.”  He had gone to Damascus to punish Christians  He is now preaching Jesus from the synagogues.

22. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” 1 Cor. 1:23

23. 1 Cor. 2:1-2 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Preaching must be so we can understand Eph.3:4

24. “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Gal. 1:10 Many preach today to please men !

26. Paul was one of the greatest servants of Christ Paul is an example or model for us to follow We learn that….  When we learn the gospel we should obey it  After conversion tell others the good news  Be steadfast and faithful

27. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening August 12, 2012