Conversion of Saul/Paul pt. 2

Read Acts 9:10-19

6. What did Jesus tell Ananias to do? Go see Saul and heal him of his blindness.

7. What was Ananias’ response? Fear. Saul’s notoriety had spread to the believers in Damascus. Lord, don’t you know who this guy is? He’s a murderer of your followers. He’ll have me arrested and placed in chains.

8. What did Jesus say to Ananias concerning Saul? What do you make of Jesus’ statement concerning Saul in verse 16? 1) I haven chosen Saul to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles and Jews. 2) The suffering that Saul will experience in the service of Christ will be beyond belief.

9. How did Ananias greet Saul? As a brother in the faith.

10. What happened to Saul? He regained his sight and was baptized. Saul was now a Christian. I wonder … just as Saul bore witness to the death of Stephen and took joy in it if Stephen bore witness to the conversion of Saul and took joy in it.

Read Acts 9:19-22

11. After becoming a Christian, what did Saul begin to do? Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Jewish synagogues in Damascus.

12. What was the reaction of the people to Saul’s activities? Shock. Amazement. Isn’t this the man who was suppose to be arresting people doing the very thing he is doing – proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God?

13. How do you think Saul proved that Jesus was the Christ/Messiah to the Jews in Damascus? Through Old Testament Scripture and his training as a teacher of the Law.

Background: Between verse 22 and verse 23, Saul travelled to Arabia for a period of time and returned to Damascus (Galatians 3:17). Why he went to Arabia no one knows. Events in verse 23 takes place three years after Saul’s return to Damascus from Arabia.

Read Acts 9:23-30

14. What happened to Saul in Damascus? The Jews plotted to kill Saul. Saul was forced to flee Damascus with the help of his disciples. They placed Saul in a large basket and lowered down the wall of the city.

15. Where did Saul go after leaving Damascus? Jerusalem.

16. Who did Saul try to contact in Jerusalem? The disciples/apostles. What reception did Saul receive? The disciples/apostles refused to meet Saul. They were afraid of him. Despite being a Christian for three or more years, Saul still had a reputation for being a killer of Christians. He was still remembered as the one who had the beloved Stephen killed. The disciples/apostles probably believed Saul was attempting to deceive them. He was pretending to be a Christian in order to capture the leaders of the Christian movement.

17. How did Saul gain acceptance by the apostles? A Christian named Barnabas whose name meant “Son of Encouragement” brought Saul to the apostles. Barnabas was someone greatly respected by the apostles. He spoke on Saul’s behalf. He acted as Saul’s advocate. What did Barnabas say to the apostles concerning Saul? His conversion experience on the road to Damascus … Saul’s boldness in proclaiming the Gospel in Damascus. Barnabas’ words and I’m sure intervention by the Holy Spirit convinced the apostles to accept Saul as an authentic believer. What might have happened had Barnabas chose not to speak on Saul’s behalf?

Background: Saul spent 15 days in Peter’s home. He had a meeting with James, the brother of Jesus, who was the leader of the Jerusalem church. Saul’s meeting with both men went a long way to winning the acceptance of the believers.

18. In verses 28 and 29 what was Saul doing? Saul was walking around Jerusalem with the apostles preaching the Gospel. He also debated with Hellenistic Jews – Jews who adopted Greek culture. They were into Greek philosophy – Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, etc. Hellenistic Jews were a faction in Jewish society that believed man’s salvation rested within himself (knowledge, logic) not in God. They were secular humanists who rejected the supernatural. They pursued knowledge through constant questioning and debate. Saul was able to hold his own in debates with the Hellenistic Jews. He used their methods (question & debate) to counter their philosophical arguments … methods Saul probably learned as a student of Gamaliel. Saul was so successful in his debates with the Hellenistic Jews that they wanted him dead. He now had made enemies of religious Jews and secular Jews. Observation – No one (secular Jews or deeply religious Jews) could out argue Saul when it came to proving the authenticity of the Gospel. Saul was more equipped to proclaim Christ to this group than the other apostles because of his educational background.

19. Where did Saul go after leaving Jerusalem? He returned to his hometown of Tarsus.