Acts 9:10-30 The Persecutor Becomes the Persecuted Review: If you are born again you have a testimony Last week we witnessed the beginning the Apostle Paul s testimony. (conversion story) Paul was his Roman name, Saul his Hebrew name He went from being the greatest adversary of the Christian church to its greatest ally! Saul frequently arrested Christians and had them imprisoned and even put to death On his way to hunt down Christians in Damascus Jesus appeared to him on the road READ V:3-9 & PRAY V:10-12 We don t know anything about Ananias except for these few verses. No one famous Nothing before these verses, or after these verses He was just a certain disciple (V:10) Ananias was an ordinary man not an apostle, a prophet, a pastor, an evangelist, an elder, or a deacon. Yet God used him because he was an ordinary man. Again we see that God uses the non-professional, Christian. But also notice he was a disciple A CERTAIN disciple J Disciple = A student of and follower of Jesus BE a CERTAIN DISCIPLE of Jesus and watch Him use you too! Page 1 of 6
In theory, it wasn t necessary for God to use Ananias at all (God doesn t need help) After all, Saul had an encounter with Jesus Jesus could have done everything right there God chooses to use people! It s HIS PLAN! i.e. The Gospel He could write it in the sky or But scripture tells us For the Scripture says, Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things! Rom 10:11-15 We talked about this on the radio Friday. An important part of the armor of God for every Christian is a readiness to share the good news and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:15, NKJV. Remember the reason you come to church And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:11, 12, NKJV. You are ALL in the ministry! Page 2 of 6
Notice that Jesus spoke to Ananias in a completely different way than Saul (Vision vs blinding light) Saul s encounter with Jesus was radical, almost violent and most certainly incapacitating God knows how to reach each person He knows what it takes to get your attention V:13-14 Ever argue with God? Obviously Saul was notorious and the Christians of Damascus knew he was coming Saul s reputation instilled fear on the church But the Lord V:15-16 FIRST notice God often has to repeat His commands. GO (V:15) cp. V:11 Arise and go For this I am thankful SECOND notice that in spite of Saul s track record he was a chosen vessel it pleased God, who separated me from my mother s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles Gal 1:15-16 Ananias was also a chosen vessel but with a different calling If you are a Christian, you also are a chosen vessel. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10, NKJV. Page 3 of 6
Question is, what is God s specific calling for you? Saul s specific mission is stated in V:15 So true! But don t miss V:16 NOW Ananias is willing! V:17-19 WHEN was Saul actually BORN AGAIN? My guess is when he encountered the risen Christ! NOT when he was filled with the Holy Spirit V:17b Believers are often filled and empowered after conversion (remember the upon experience) NOT when he was baptized doesn t save you Why was Saul baptized? Either Ananias explained baptism to Saul or Jesus did In either case it was an act of obedience and demonstration of dying to self and raising to new life. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20, NKJV. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4, NKJV. Saul spent time with the disciples in Damascus (V:19) Page 4 of 6
There are NO super saints! We all NEED fellowship and accountability! And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24, 25, NKJV. V:20 IMMEDIATELY! Fitting Saul s personality, he went right to work Notice what Saul preached Christ / Jesus! (V:20a) And that He IS The Son of God! (V:20b) = Deity of Christ! ( Son of God - Ps 2:12; Prov 30:4; Dan 3:25) Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of GOD which HE PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD. Acts 20:28, NKJV. V:21-22 Now this radical Jew has a radical conversion to Christ and preaches Christ to the Jews NOTICE last line in V:22b confounded the Jews PROVING that this Jesus is the Christ (OT) V:23-25 Many days = 3 YEARS In Galatians 1:13-18, Paul explained more about what happened during these many days. He described how he went to Arabia for a period of time, and then returned to Damascus. After his return to Damascus, he went to Jerusalem. Paul spent a total of 3 years in Damascus & Arabia (Gal 1:18); accurately many days. Page 5 of 6
Over this time the persecutor became the persecuted! V:25 Was the first of many escapes for Saul / Paul But he didn t always escape. V:16 was very true Much Later speaking of his tribulation Paul wrote Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty- nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:24-28 NLT) V:26-30 For quite some time the believers were afraid of Saul They thought he was under cover FACT - sometimes terrorists and evil doers do infiltrate the church for wicked purposes It s good that there are people like Barnabas We all need a Barnabas We should all become a Barnabas to others We should all be like Ananias END / PRAYER: Lord help us to learn from our origins May we be changes by your Spirit as the early church was Page 6 of 6