The Point Jesus can transform even the most hostile opponent into a faithful believer. The Passage Acts 26:9-20 The Bible Meets Life Hatred can be an all-consuming passion. People can be so strong in their love for a person or belief that they develop a hatred for anything that goes against the object of their love. Christ sets us free from all that. He calls and empowers His followers to a lifestyle of love instead. The Setting Paul had been taken into Roman custody for being at the center of a riot in the Jerusalem temple complex (Acts 21:26 22:29). For his own safety, he was taken to Caesarea (23:1133), where he remained in the custody of the Roman governor Felix for two years (24:27). After two years, the new governor Festus examined Paul s case and sought to send Paul to Jerusalem to be tried before the Jewish leaders. However, Paul appealed to Caesar (25:9-12). While Paul waited to be taken to Rome, Festus was visited by the Jewish king Agrippa II. Festus brought Paul s case before Agrippa, who was interested to hear Paul speak (25:13 26:3). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 135
What does the Bible say? Acts 26:9-20 (HCSB) Chief Priests (v. 10) The chief priests were composed of the current high priest, former high priests, leaders of the 24 orders of priests serving in the Jerusalem temple, the captain of the temple police, the priest in charge of the finances of the temple treasury, and other high-ranking priests. Goads (v. 14) A goad was a rod, about 8 feet in length and pointed on one end, used to direct and control oxen. Sanctified (v. 18) To be sanctified means to be made holy or set apart. At the moment of salvation, the believer is set apart (from sin, self, and the world) to God. 9 In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them. I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them. 12 I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 15 Then I said, Who are You, Lord? And the Lord replied: I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and of what I will reveal to you. 17 I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them 18 to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified. 19 Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. 136 SESSION 6
THE POINT Jesus can transform even the most hostile opponent into a faithful believer. GET INTO THE STUDY DISCUSS: Invite your group members to discuss Question 1 on page 107 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG): Why are some teams so fun to hate? Allow time for each person to respond. RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 108): Sports fans can take it hard when someone changes sides. The classic rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees was fueled when Boston sold Babe Ruth to New York. The Babe had switched sides. Wayne Gretzky was a national treasure in Canada, and his countrymen were outraged when he went to play for the Los Angeles Kings. The greatest hockey player in history changed sides. Cleveland Cavalier fans loved LeBron James, but there was great outrage when he abandoned them for Miami. (Of course, all was forgiven when he came back four years later.) 10 minutes Notes TIP: The article, It s All About New Life (noted on page 84) explores the new identities we re given in Christ. Have time? Send a note with a link to the article to your group members this week to reinforce the truths found in this session. SAY: Switching sides. That s how many Jews viewed Paul s conversion to faith in Christ. Originally called Saul, he was a rising star in the ranks of Judaism. He was making quite a name for himself as an aggressive defender of the Jewish faith against the new movement of people who claimed the resurrected Jesus was the Messiah. But then Paul changed sides. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): To reinforce the idea of switching sides and experiencing change, invite your group members to stand and choose a new seat for today s session, preferably far away from their original one with a new viewpoint. GUIDE: Call the group s attention to The Point on page 108 of the PSG: Jesus can transform even the most hostile opponent into a faithful believer. PRAY: Transition into your Bible study time with prayer. As you wrap up this 6-week study, pray for a greater understanding of God s redemption to lead to a deeper faith. Thank God for His desire to redeem all areas of our lives for His purposes. Cut apart Pack Item #10 and have it ready to distribute to your group. PLAYLIST PICK: At Your Feet (Surrender) by Dan Bremnes BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 137
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 26:9-11 Notes 9 In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them. I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them. SUMMARIZE: At one time, Saul of Tarsus was one of those who opposed Christ and His followers. In fact, he had been a ringleader in seeking their destruction. When he encountered God on the Damascus road, God changed his name to Paul. At one point in Paul s ministry, he was taken into custody (Acts 21:33-36). He spent more than two years in custody, and during that time, he was able to present his case before King Agrippa (26:1-3). Paul first confessed he formerly had supported the Jewish animosity toward Christ. He had been consumed with hatred and rage toward the followers of Jesus Christ. He openly admitted to casting believers into prison and seeking their deaths. By acting on the authority of the Jewish chief priests, Paul believed he was doing the will of God. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Acts 26:9-11. ALTERNATE QUESTION: How have you handled situations where your faith was questioned or criticized? DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 110 of the PSG: What makes the gospel offensive to some people in today s world? TRANSITION: Paul was passionate in his hatred for Christians. Only God could completely transform his heart. 138 SESSION 6
THE POINT Jesus can transform even the most hostile opponent into a faithful believer. Acts 26:9-11 Commentary Hatred for Jesus and His followers consumes some people. Verse 9: Two years earlier the apostle Paul had been taken into Roman custody after being at the center of a riot in the temple complex in Jerusalem (Acts 21:26 22:29). At that time he was able to address the entire Jewish Sanhedrin (22:30-23:10). When a plot against Paul s life was discovered, he was moved to Caesarea on the coast (23:11-35). There he gave his testimony to the Roman governor Felix, who delayed his verdict on Paul s case for two years (24:1-27). After Paul had spent two years in prison in Caesarea, the Jewish king Agrippa II visited the new Roman governor Festus and requested to hear Paul speak (25:1-22). Agrippa was the grandson of Herod the great and the last king of the Herodian Dynasty. He ruled part of the region of Galilee around the Sea of Galilee, as well as territories to the north and east. He was well versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament and in Jewish customs; therefore it was believed he could be the better judge as to the controversy about Jesus being the Messiah (26:3). In addressing Agrippa, Paul moved quickly to the main issue the Jewish messianic hope, which was fulfilled in Christ and confirmed by His resurrection. Paul followed with his personal conversion testimony. In his address before the Jewish king Agrippa II, Paul referenced his pre-christian life as a persecutor of the church. In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. He did not describe for Agrippa these many things, but the Book of Acts details some of the specifics. In Acts 7, Paul was first mentioned during the stoning of Stephen, where he appeared to be a minor player in the anti-christian movement as he guarded the robes of those who were stoning Stephen (7:58). Later in Acts 8 9, Paul was an aggressive leader of the movement, personally persecuting believers. When Paul thought it was his duty to do all he could against the name of Christ, he did it with all his heart (see Galatians 1:13). Verse 10: Paul detailed for Agrippa that he made it his duty to seek out and imprison the Christians who were residing in Jerusalem. As a zealous and devout Jew, he saw Christians as heretics and blasphemers. He received authority for that from the chief priests. The religious leaders (the Sanhedrin) gave Paul full authority to persecute Christians. Verse 11: Before his conversion, Paul was a very angry man, greatly enraged at followers of Christ. He sought to expose Christians who were in the Jewish synagogues, seeking to have them punished for their beliefs. But Paul went even further, attempting to make Christians blaspheme. In this context, to blaspheme means to curse Christ and/or disown the Christian faith. So great was Paul s passion to destroy what he saw as an aberration within Judaism he even pursued them to foreign cities. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 139
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 26:12-18 Notes 12 I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 15 Then I said, Who are You, Lord? And the Lord replied: I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and of what I will reveal to you. 17 I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them 18 to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Acts 26:12-18. SUMMARIZE: In these verses, Paul described the unmistakable nature of his encounter with Jesus. While traveling on a road to Damascus, he reported seeing a bright light, and hearing a clear voice and a simple question and all three had come from Jesus. The Lord told Paul that when he was persecuting Christians, he was persecuting Him. Next, the Lord gave Paul a mission: to be a witness to both Jews and Gentiles of what He had done and what He would reveal to Paul. Paul s purpose would be simple: to open the eyes of unbelievers so that they may turn from a life of darkness to light, from death in sin to life in Christ. ALTERNATE QUESTION: When did you first realize you needed Jesus? DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 111 of the PSG: What s your first impression of the mission Jesus gave to Saul? DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 112 of the PSG: When have you ever kicked against God s direction in your life? 140 SESSION 6 TRANSITION: The next verses reveal Paul s response to his encounter with Jesus.
THE POINT Jesus can transform even the most hostile opponent into a faithful believer. Acts 26:12-18 Commentary Jesus calls even those who oppose Him to become His disciples. Verse 12: It was during one of these journeys seeking out Christians in the city of Damascus that Paul encountered the risen Christ. Paul began by describing how he was traveling on the road to the city of Damascus. With the authority and a commission from the chief priests, he was going there so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem (Acts 9:2). Verses 13-14: Paul saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun that shone around him and his traveling companions. Overwhelmed by the experience, they all fell to the ground. Paul then heard a voice speaking to him in his own language. Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? Although Paul did not yet know it, this was the Lord Jesus Christ speaking to him. With His question, the Lord was saying to Paul that when he was persecuting Christians, he was in fact persecuting Jesus Himself. Jesus said after His question, It is hard for you to kick against the goads. This saying appears to have been a common proverb among first-century Greeks and Romans. In Greek literature, the saying was used in the contexts of someone fighting against his destiny or fighting against a god or gods. Verse 15: Paul inquired of the voice speaking to him, Who are You, Lord? The word lord, while being used as a title of Jesus Christ, could also be used an expression of respect, much like our term sir. The voice replied, I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. Paul identified the One responding to him as the Lord ( the Lord replied ), identifying the One who was speaking with him as the glorified and risen Savior, seated in heaven with all power and authority. Verses 16-17: Christ commanded Paul, But get up and stand on your feet. In persecuting Christians, Paul had been fighting against God s purpose for his life. The reason the Lord had appeared to Paul was to appoint him as a servant and witness. Jesus announced to Paul that He was sending him to both his own people (the Jews) and the Gentiles. The Gentiles included all people who were not Jews. Jesus promised to rescue Paul from both groups. This promise of protection did not mean that Paul would not suffer, but rather that Paul would be divinely protected so that he would be able to complete the tasks God had given to him. Verse 18: Paul s purpose in going to both Jews and Gentiles was to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Unbelievers are blinded to spiritual truth by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Bible often uses the imagery of darkness and light to contrast two ways of life those who live in the darkness of their sin and those who live in the light of God, who are alive in Christ (John 1). God would use the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul preached to overcome the blindness of unbelievers, to bring people from darkness to light. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 141
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 26:19-20 Notes 19 Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Acts 26:19-20. SUMMARIZE: Paul was radically transformed. The man who previously opposed Jesus was now obeying Jesus. He became the most influential Christian in the history of the faith. In fact, he wrote nearly half of the New Testament. Paul described himself to the Philippians this way: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless (Philippians 3:5-6). His Hebrew pedigree was second to none. Jesus sent Paul to the Gentiles so that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance (v. 20). For the Jews, this was the most scandalous element of Paul s testimony. Not only did Christianity s greatest enemy become its greatest evangelist, but the gospel compelled a Jew to reach out to Gentiles. DO: Divide your members into subgroups of three or four people each. Within each subgroup, direct members to complete the activity on page 112 of the PSG. Before & After What goals and motivations defined your life before you encountered God? What goals and motivations define your life since you ve encountered God? ALTERNATE QUESTION: In what ways are you different today than when you first met Jesus? DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 113 of the PSG: How would you describe the mission Jesus has given you? ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Ahead of time, enlist a mature Christian group member to share his or her testimony. Ask this person to share about the inner and outward changes God has made in his or her life. 142 SESSION 6
THE POINT Jesus can transform even the most hostile opponent into a faithful believer. Acts 26:19-20 Commentary Surrender to the truth of Jesus leads to radical transformation. Verses 19-20: Paul described to King Agrippa the new period in his life which resulted from his vision of the risen Lord. The first thing he stressed was his obedience, though he couched it in negative form. I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. That Paul was not disobedient is meant simply to underline that he whole-heartedly accepted the message of the gospel and committed himself to carrying out his calling from God to preach the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul embraced both his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and his commission to preach the gospel of salvation. Having received his instructions, Paul had applied himself to acting in accordance with Jesus command. He described his progress, that he preached first in Damascus (Acts 9:19-25), then Jerusalem (vv. 26-29), then throughout Judea, and finally he took the gospel to the Gentiles (chs. 13 20). Paul also described the message he preached, and in doing so he preached to King Agrippa and the rest of his audience. They should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. Repentance refers to a change of mind. It can also refer to the feelings of remorse or regret for actions committed prior to the change of mind. In the case of the gospel of Jesus Christ, repentance involves agreeing with God that failing to live in obedience to His commands and will is wrong (what we also call sin). However, repentance involves more than just a turning away from sin. The individual who repents turns away from sin and self and turns toward God. Christianity is not just negative. It is not just do not sin or abandon your current lifestyle. Christianity is positive. It means finding love, forgiveness, righteousness, and a new life in Christ. It is a life lived with God through the power and presence of His indwelling Spirit. It is easy for people to say that they repent, but they must demonstrate their repentance is real by what they do. Paul made this point, stating that those who repent and turn to God should do works worthy of repentance. The good works we do don t save us; we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone, but they are evidence that our repentance and belief are real. That is the proof when we begin to follow after Jesus Christ and obey Him. Previous Biblical Illustrator articles Agrippa II (Winter 2014-2015), Saul the Persecutor: Paul the Persecuted (Winter 2009-2010), Damascus in Paul s Day (Summer 2008), On the Road to Damascus (Fall 1995), and Saul in Damascus (Spring 1993) relate to this lesson and can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator. Look for Bible Studies for Life. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 143
5 minutes LIVE IT OUT SAY: In His unmatched power, God gives new life to those who follow Him. GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 114 of the PSG. Ask God to reveal any negative attitude that you may have against any specific groups of people. Ask God to help you see each person as He does. Memorize Acts 26:17b-18 as a reminder of God s mission for His people. Post this verse by your mirror or someplace you will see it often. Identify one person whom you know is opposed to faith in Christ. Make it a priority to pray for this person daily, asking God to open an opportunity for this person to come to faith in Christ. Be ready to share your own story of redemption and how God has saved you. ENHANCEMENT: Distribute Pack Item #10, Acts 26:17b-18 Memory Verse Cards and encourage group members to commit this to memory. Wrap It Up SAY: God calls us to make a major shift and He s done everything necessary to make that happen. Jesus died for our our sins so that we can move from death in sin to life in Christ. This week, walk boldly in the life Christ offers and be ready to tell others about His power to transform. Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). 144 SESSION 6