Subject: Discipleship - Year of the Disciple 2011 - #15 Title: If they fall, the one will lift up his fellow (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10a) Text: Acts 8:25-40 Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Introduction When would the quote, no man is an island, be used today? No man is an island, entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of my friends or of thine own were; any man s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. - John Donne, Meditation XVII (English clergyman and poet - 1572-1631). It comes from John Donne. It refers to the human condition, we as humans need interaction with others. Trying to live alone, without association with other people is debilitating and self defeating. Whether we like others is not the point, we cannot do without them. It applies today as much as it ever did, in fact in the modern society even more so. Everyone has come here today looking for three things: 1) Something to believe in - the truth. 2) Something to encourage them - hope. 3) Someone to love and accept them for who they are - no strings attached. The Bible uses the term fellowship or in the Greek, koinonia. Outline for Acts 9:1-31 I. Saul Wages War on the Disciples (1-2) II. Saul Thrown to the Ground and Blinded (3-9) III. Ananias Brings Healing and the Filling of the Holy Ghost to Saul (10-17) IV. Saul is Converted, Baptized and Preaches Christ (18-22) V. The Jews at Damascus Plot to Kill Saul (23-25) VI. Saul Joins the Disciples at Jerusalem (26-29) VII. The Conversion of Saul Brings Rest to the Church (30-31) I. Saul Wages War on the Disciples (1-2) Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 1
9:1 Saul was introduced in Acts 7:58; 8:1,3. He is called Paul in Acts 13:9. He becomes the primary character in the book of Acts in Chapter 13. 9:2 desired of him letters - Saul is looking for letters of recommendation from the high priest to give Saul access to Jews suspected of betraying the faith. Damascus is about 100 miles from Jerusalem. Paul is dragging suspects back to Jerusalem to stand trial for abandoning the faith of the fathers. Talk about militant and fanatical! Saul was a one man wrecking crew! this way - Acts 16:17; 18:25, 26; 19:9; 19:23; 22:4; 24:22 John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. II. Saul Is Thrown to the Ground and Blinded (3-9) Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 9:3 suddenly there shined - The conversion of Saul is recorded also in Acts 22:4ff and Acts 26:12ff. a light from heaven - light comes from heaven! 9:4 he fell to the earth - He was knocked off his high horse. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 29:23 A man s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. 2
Note that Christ says that the persecution of the disciples was a direct attack on Him, why persecutest me? (Jesus, v.5). 9:5 Who art thou Lord? - good question. Who is the Lord? kick against the pricks - the image is an animal fighting the prodding or goading of his master. 9:6 Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? - again a good question! What does He want you to do? 9:8 when his eyes were opened, he saw no man - He was blind. Saul was a humbled and broken man - knocked off of his horse, blinded, led by the hand, three days without food or water. He was in shock! III. Ananias Brings Healing and the Filling of the Holy Ghost to Saul (10-17) Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name s sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 9:10 Ananias - second person with this name in the book of Acts - see Acts 5:1. I am here, Lord - Ananias is available. 9:11,12 Saul...hath seen a vision - Ananias, Saul is expecting you. 9:13,14 Lord, I have heard by many of this man - Ananias balks, Lord, just in case you are uninformed, this dude has a pretty bad reputation. Are you sure you want me to do this? 9:15 The answer - he is a chosen vessel unto me 3
- to bear my name before 1) the Gentiles 2) kings 3) and the children of Israel (28:17) 9:16 he must suffer - Paul s suffering may have been in direct proportion to his own persecutions! 9:17 Brother Saul - indicating that Saul was already saved? I am a messenger sent to heal you and fill you with the Holy Ghost. IV. Saul Is Converted, Baptized and Preaches Christ (18-22) 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. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 9:18 received his sight...arose, and was baptized - Once again Acts is a transitional book and you cannot prove that there is one mechanical method or order of events by which people become Christians from Acts. At which verse in the text was Paul born again - 6, 17, 18? 9:19 the disciples which were at Damascus - There were already disciples at Damascus 130 miles from downtown Jerusalem! 9:20 straightway he preached - immediately his mouth became the Lord s! he preached Christ (see 8:35; 9:27, 29) he is the Son of God 9:21,22 Saul increased the more - Saul makes a 180 degree turnaround. He came to destroy the Christian and now he is proving that Jesus is the Christ! V. The Jews at Damascus Plot to Kill Saul (23-25) 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 4
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 9:23 Jews took counsel to kill him - Saul s conversion was duly noted by the Jews. Just as Saul made a 180, the Jews lost their love for their favorite son. 9:25 the disciples took him - The disciples provide assistance and cover for Paul. Even the greatest Christian ever to walk the face of the Earth needed the help of other Christians. In fact, note in the next several verses those who came to Paul s aid: - he assayed to join himself to the disciples (26) - Barnabas took him (27) - brought him to the apostles (27) - he was with them coming in and going out... (28) - they brought him down to Caesarea (30) VI. Saul Joins the Disciples at Jerusalem (26-29) Acts 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 9:26 assayed to join himself to the disciples - attempted 9:27 Saul had seen the Lord in the way - spoken to him - preached boldly...in the name of Jesus boldly - Acts 4:13, 29, 31; 13:46; 14:3; 18:26 9:28 coming in and going out at Jerusalem - It appears that Paul was able to spend a significant amount of time with the Apostles. Remember the persecution of Acts 8:1 had scattered the young church except the Apostles. They remained in Jerusalem. See Acts 8:14. 9:29 disputed against the Grecians - The Greeks thought themselves to be the thinkers of their day and intellectually superior. They wanted to kill him also - to the Jew first and also the Greek! 5
VII. The Conversion of Saul Brings Rest to the Church (30, 31) Acts 9:30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 9:30 when the brethren knew - Christians knew that a brother was in trouble and they did not hesitate, they came to his rescue. They got Paul out of town and sent him home to Tarsus where he could relax. 9:31 Then had the churches rest - Acts 8:3 says that Saul made havock of the church. This was no exaggeration. Paul was a one man wrecking crew! Conclusion The conversion of Paul alone turned the heat down on the persecution, the churches had rest in Judaea and Galilee and Samaria. They were also edified and multiplied. The heat was temporarily turned down, and the churches walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, expanded. When it comes to sharing the Gospel of Christ with others, do not write anyone off! Who would have expected the complete turnaround that Paul experienced? Saul s question in 9:6, Lord what will you have me to do? marks the appropriate response of one who is truly born again. Ananias was spiritually sensitive and responsive to the degree that despite the obstacles, he came alongside Paul during his initial transition to meet his needs and encourage him (9:10-19). God s chosen instrument for the mission is your mouth! Every Christian is called and commissioned to be a mouth-piece. The body works together for the sake of the Gospel that the mouth may speak! The mission is the distribution of the message. He preached Christ (v.20). I am the chosen agent, my mouth is the chosen instrument, and the message is Jesus Christ. We do not preach: gifts, rewards, heaven, avoidance of eternal punishment, financial or physical life and prosperity, we preach Christ. Every Christian needs a compliment of like-minded believers to help him penetrate, integrate and amalgamate with the body of Christ. We need Ananias, Barnabas, and the other disciples to love us and encourage us as we grow in the Word of Truth. 6