Knowing Him. Lessons from Paul s Life and Ministry. Lesson 1. Acts 8:1 4; 9:1 31. Saul Persecutes the Church

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1 Knowing Christ For my determined purpose is that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly. Philippians 3:10a AMP When God has a story to tell, He chooses a man or woman to live it. When God chose Saul of Tarsus, the history of the Christian church began to unfold. Unlike the original twelve apostles who remained closer to their home in Jerusalem, Saul went out to blaze a trail for the Lord that covered thousands of miles and impacted countless lives for the kingdom of God. Unequalled in his passion and unrelenting in his efforts, Paul s proclamation of the Gospel message inspired and challenged everyone from the lowliest of slaves, to kings and queens in palaces and heads of state in positions of great power. But for all that he would accomplish, the true success of this incomparable Christian was evident in the fact that Paul was certain he was nothing and that Christ was everything! Through the next twenty-three week lesson series, we will accompany Paul, starting with his conversion encounter with Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road; retracing his steps to some of the early churches he helped establish. And with the Holy Spirit as our guide and constant companion, we will look closely at those early beginnings and come to understand the pattern of sound doctrine and conduct for Christians and clergy that are still in existence to this day. If we examine these timeless truths with spiritual ears to hear and hearts to obey, God will use us as He did Paul to turn our world upside down for Christ! Paul was a native of Tarsus; born around the time of Jesus. He was brought up in a strict Jewish home and educated in the finest elementary schools. At age thirteen he traveled to Jerusalem to study under the well-known rabbi Gamaliel, receiving training in both the Hebrew and Greek language and culture. Became a Pharisee and a citizen of Rome; adopting his father s trade of tentmaking to remain self-supporting as he traveled and ministered. Called as God s apostle to the Gentiles, he trekked and sailed the globe to complete three missionary journeys; taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth and leading the way for many to come to Christ. Persecuted, beaten and imprisoned repeatedly, he remained tireless in the cause of Christ. Imprisoned in Rome (67 A.D.) during the reign of Emperor Nero. Died in prison in 68 A.D.

2 Knowing Him Lessons from Paul s Life and Ministry Lesson 1 Acts 8:1 4; 9:1 31 Read Acts 8:1 4 Saul Persecutes the Church In Philippians 3:6, Paul the Apostle (earlier known as Saul of Tarsus) states that during his life before Christ, he was so fervent in his religious beliefs that he persecuted the church of God. One example of this was his supervision of Stephen s execution. (Read through the account in Acts 6:8 7:60.) The word consent in verse 1 isn t strong enough to adequately convey Saul s heart attitude about persecuting Christians; the Greek translation of the word literally means to approve or to be pleased with. In other words, Saul actually took personal pleasure in hunting down believers. Stephen s martyrdom was only the beginning of a great persecution against the early church. The abruptness of his death and end to his ministry seemed a failure to the cause; but as a result, the church was forced to do what it had so far been reluctant to do, which was get the gospel out to the surrounding regions. What were Jesus instructions to His followers in Acts 1:8? How can persecution open our eyes to the will of God? There were devout men Jews who carried Stephen to his burial, and lamented over him. Since Jewish law prohibited public mourning for an executed person, this may suggest that these men were not only sorrowful over what had taken place, but were perhaps also repentant towards God over their involvement in this horrific deed. 1. Saul, on the other hand, was not the least sorrowful or repentant; what did Saul do? v. 3 (Note: The term made havoc is a strong one in the Greek that can refer to an entire army out to destroy a city or a vicious wild animal tearing apart its prey.) 2. How do the following references in Acts add to your understanding of what Saul did? Summarize them in your own words: Acts 9:1; 22:4; and 26:10. 2

3 3. Not only did Saul imprison both men and women, he did not stop until he had secured their death sentences! What does this tell you about him? 4. As Saul continued his relentless pursuit of Christians, what happened when many of the believers left Jerusalem? v. 4 In Acts 9 of our study, we will see how God was able to turn Saul s terrible threats into great blessings; and in the midst of continuing persecution, how the early churches grew in number and strength, enjoying peace. Memory Verse: So the church... enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. Acts 9:31 NASB Meditate for a moment on the memory verse and then write it out in the space provided. Review it each day this week to commit it to memory. Learn to view your circumstances through the lens of God s truth rather than looking at God s truth through the eyes of your circumstances. Practice this with the In focus word search below and then with an Up close & personal look. In focus: Write a definition for the following words, using the resources you have on hand (i.e., additional Bible translations, dictionary, Bible dictionary, concordance, etc.). persecution (Acts 8:1) preach (9:20, 27) Up close & personal: Select one of the words to apply to your situation today (family, home, work, etc.); how would God have you view your circumstances from His perspective? The bridge of surrender takes you across the river of doubt from your sinful pride to the eternal perspective of God Almighty. (Catherine Martin) 3

4 Acts 9:1 9 Saul is Converted To be in the audience that day and hear Stephen s powerful preaching; to witness him intently gazing upward into heaven at the glory of the Father and Son; to listen to his prayer of forgiveness for his murderers, was no doubt too much for Saul. All of it served to intensify Saul s attempts to destroy the church. Saul had become so grounded in his Jewish beliefs that he initiated a campaign of persecution against all who believed in Christ and became followers of the Way meaning, the way of the Lord or the way of salvation. Christ had earlier claimed that He was, the Way (John 14:6); further proof for Saul that he was justified in persecuting Christians. 1. What does Paul say about himself elsewhere in his letters? a. Before Christ (Philippians 3:4 6; Galatians 1:13): b. After Christ (1 Timothy 1:12 13): Armed with letters of permission that he would easily have obtained from the religious leaders in Jerusalem, Saul took his murderous mission on a six day journey to Damascus, traveling approximately 150 miles. As he approached, an unforgettable moment in time began to unfold. There are two places in Acts that record the event: Acts 9:3 7 and Acts 26: Read both accounts to answer the questions that follow. 2. According to Acts 26:13 18, what did Paul see first-hand? What time of day did this extraordinary event take place? a. For what purpose does Jesus say He appeared to Saul? v. 16 v. 18 b. What promise did the Lord make to Saul personally? v What affect did this appearance of Jesus have upon Saul? See Acts 9:4 6. a. Saul thought he was serving God by attacking Christians. By both accounts, who does Saul discover that he has been fighting against all along? b. Personal: Place yourself in Saul s sandals; how would you feel in that instant when you realize it is God you have been persecuting? Please explain. 4

5 Jesus repeats the name, Saul-Saul twice (in Hebrew), evoking deep emotion toward him. How like the Lord the one being persecuted to think about the persecutor! Jesus then tells him, It is hard for you to kick against the goads. A goad was a farmer s tool used to prod livestock in the direction the farmer wanted them to go. Saul had been like a wild animal, fighting against the very one who wanted him to move in the right direction. It s as if Jesus was saying: Saul, why are you spending your time and effort in such a futile way? He responds with the two most critically important questions anyone can ask: Who are You, Lord? and What do You want me to do? He would spend the rest of his life in pursuit of the complete answer to those two questions. Have you ever humbly come to God in earnest prayer to find out that He is real? If you haven t, you can now; just bow your head and pray.... Lord Jesus, I know that I m a sinner in need of a Savior; please come inside my heart and forgive my sin. Be the Lord of my life; fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you for dying for me and making it possible for me to know you and your plan for my life. In Jesus name... Amen. If you just opened your heart to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, tell someone about your commitment and watch to see what He will do in your life this year! If you have already asked those two most important questions, then you are currently engaged in a life-long pursuit of discovering the answers. Take a moment now and record how the Lord has answered them for you so far... Who are You, Lord? Lord, what do You want me to do? Notice that Jesus only gives Saul the next immediate step in what he is to do (v. 6). The rest would be told to him later; for now, Saul was led into Damascus blind, and without food or water for three days. Verses 1 2 of chapter 9 reveal Saul without the light of Christ; verses 3 9 show us Saul confronted by the light of Christ. Saul came apart on the inside in order for God to transform him into a new man an instrument of His righteousness! Perhaps you ve had a dramatic experience like Saul; most people, however, do not. Like many others, you may have quietly responded to the inner conviction of the Spirit that led you into the light of truth where you confessed your sin, repented of it, and received God s cleansing forgiveness. The important thing is not the circumstance that led you to Christ, but the act of trusting your life to Him! 5

6 Read Acts 9:10 31 Saul the Persecutor Becomes Paul the Preacher One of the most interesting individuals in Paul s life story is the man God called to lay hands on him to receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. It would be nice to know more about God s servant, Ananias; but let s see if we can capture his character by what little is revealed about him in Scripture. Look up and briefly note what is revealed to you about this godly Jew who had received Christ. Use the following verses in Acts to give you a picture of him: 22:12 (What Paul later says of him): 9:13 14 (Ananias first response to the Lord s direction): 9:15 17a (Ananias obedient reaction): 9:17 (Ananias greeting to Saul): Saul had a lot to think about during those three days of darkness as the light of truth began to dawn upon his soul. While Saul fasted and waited, Ananias was dispatched. 1. After Saul had received his sight, describe what happened next? vv In your opinion, what do you think those days with the disciples would have meant to him? Think about the fellowship they would have enjoyed together. Please share your thoughts. 3. What did Saul immediately begin to do? vv a. What was the response of the people to his preaching? Why? b. What was he able to prove to them? True Christian behavior is not a means to an end. It is the expression of reality of who we really are and of who God is. (Peter Haile) 6

7 The change in Saul was dramatic and immediate; no one could doubt it was God! The believers were skeptical, but Saul s anointed preaching was very convincing. 4. What other act by the Jewish leaders convinced them that Saul s faith was genuine? vv The persecutor had now become the persecuted! What action did the believers take to help him? v Upon arriving at Jerusalem, what did Saul do? vv a. How did the believers there receive him? b. Who vouched for Saul before the apostles? What does the verse say that reveals he was accepted by them? c. What was the condition of the surrounding churches at this time? v. 31 Saul was a brilliant scholar and speaker, but it took more than mere words to convince believers. Now filled with the Holy Spirit, what made his preaching real to his listeners was the evidence of his transformed life. In Acts 13:9 he becomes known as Paul (the Greek equivalent of Saul). Galatians 1:17 18 tells us that between Saul s conversion and his trip to Jerusalem, he stayed for a period of three years in the desert of Arabia to spend time alone with God. This was no doubt God s school of obedience for him; his preparation for what was yet to come. Everything Saul had learned as a pupil and as a young man would now have to be re-viewed from the basis of truth that Jesus Christ was the long-awaited Messiah! It s not easy to take a big risk and reach out as Ananias did, but Jesus commands His followers in John 13:34 35, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples... Share a time when you were afraid to speak about your Christian faith with someone because you doubted their motives. Did you respond as a disciple of Jesus or turn away and later regret it? Please explain. 7

8 A Clear Perspective... It pleased God, who separated me from my mother s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me... Galatians 1:15 16a As God writes your story, use this page to let Him highlight and clarify what He revealed to you this week. Revisit the points that stood out to you and note your findings below. 1. How has His perspective become your perspective? 2. What word of truth came into sharper focus for you? 3. In what way have you grown closer to the Lord? 4. What relevance is there between this week s memory verse and your daily life? Memory Verse: Write out this week s verse from memory Janis J. Vance, All Rights Reserved. 8

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