JESUS IN SAUL’S CONVERSION

Acts 9, Acts 22, Acts 26

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   When we seek to convert someone, we must present Jesus unto them (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.

 

B.   In the book of Acts, when the gospel was being taken to the world by the prophets, they preached Christ.

1.    Peter preached Jesus on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22)

2.    Philip preached Christ to the Samaritans (Acts 8:5).

3.    Philip also preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch from the writings of the prophet Isaiah (Acts 8:35).

 

C.   In Saul’s conversion, we find Jesus therein from start to finish. 

1.    Saul’s conversion is mentioned three times in the book of Acts, Acts 9, 22, and 26.

2.    The title of our lesson is simply:  “Jesus in Saul’s Conversion.”

 

I.             THE PERSECUTION OF JESUS

 

A.   Acts 9:1 opens with Saul’s persecution of the disciples of Christ.

 

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord…

 

B.   Saul’s persecution was constant and intense and purposeful.

1.    “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church” (Phil. 3:6).

2.    “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious” (1 Tim. 1:13).

3.    “…how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it” (Gal. 1:13).

 

C.   Saul was not aware of it, but his persecution of Christians was really a persecution of the Christ.

1.    Jesus’ words to Saul on the road to Damascus

a.    Acts 9:4

 

…and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

 

b.    Acts 9:5

 

…I am Jesus whom thou persecutest…

 

2.    The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23).  Thus, whatever is done to the body of Christ is done to Jesus Christ.

a.    Speak evil of the church, and one speaks evil of Christ.

b.    Reject the church, and one rejects the Christ.

c.    Persecute the church, and one persecutes the Christ.

d.    Love the church, and love the Christ.

e.    Serve the church, and serve the Christ.

f.     Protect the church, and protect the Christ.

 

II.           THE MANIFESTATION OF JESUS

 

A.   Saul had gone to the high priest authorizing him to arrest Christians found in the city of Damascus and bring them bound to Jerusalem.

 

B.   Jesus manifested himself to Saul as he neared the city (Acts 9:3-5).

 

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:  and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why pesecutest thou me?  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.

 

1.    This was the real, living, resurrected Jesus who appeared to Saul.

2.    1 Corinthians 15:8

 

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

 

C.   IMPORTANT NOTE:  This appearance of Jesus to Saul was not intended to save him.  It’s sole purpose was to qualify Saul to become an apostle of Jesus Christ. To be an apostle, one had to have been an eyewitness of the resurrection (See Acts 1:22).

 

D.   It is interesting that his becoming an apostle was conditioned upon whether he would hear and heed the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

III.         THE INSTRUCTION OF JESUS

 

A.   Saul was now convinced that Jesus is the Son of God.

1.    The lie of the Jews that Jesus’ body had been stolen was dispelled.

2.    The unbelief regarding Jesus as the Messiah was obliterated.

3.    The fact that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God was imprinted upon the heart of Saul.

 

B.   He had a question for Jesus (Acts 9:6a).

 

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

 

1.    He was shaken:  trembling and astonished

2.    He was submissive:  Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

 

C.   The instruction of the Lord was very simple (Acts 9:6b).

 

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

 

1.    What the Lord told him:  arise, go into Damascus, wait for someone to come to teach you.

2.    What the Lord did not say to him.

a.    There is nothing you need to do.  You are already saved.

b.    Accept me into you heart, and you will be saved.

c.    Return to Jersualem and one of the apostles will instruct you.

 

D.   Saul was obedient to the word of the Lord (Acts 9:8; 26:19).

 

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.

 

IV.         THE MINISTRATION OF JESUS

 

A.   Jesus did not say that He would tell Saul what to do.  He said:  “It shall be told thee what thou must do.”  NOTE:  Jesus has never been the immediate contact of the sinner directing him about what to do to be saved following the Lord’s ascension.

 

B.   Men are saved by what the Bible calls “the ministration of righteousness” (2 Cor. 3:9).  It is a ministry wherein the gospel of Christ is preached to those in sin.

1.    “…and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:15).

2.    “…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21).

3.    “”But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching…” (Tit. 1:3).

 

C.   The Lord commissioned a man by the name of Ananias to take the gospel to Saul (Acts 9:10-11).

 

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision.  Ananias…Arise, and to into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus…”

 

1.    He was hesitant at first (Acts 9:13-14).

2.    He was convinced (Acts 9:15-16).

3.    He was obedient (Acts 9:17).

 

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house…

 

D.   What do we know about Ananias?

1.    He was in the city of Damascus.

2.    He was a Christian.

3.    He was willing to be used as an evangelist.

 

V.           THE SALVATION OF JESUS

 

A.   When Ananias found Saul, he did three major things.

1.    Healed Saul of his blindness (Acts 9:17-18).

2.    Informed him of the role he was to play an apostle of Christ (Acts 22:14-15; 26:16-18).

3.    Told him what he needed to do to receive the forgiveness of his sins.

a.    Acts 22:16

 

And now why tarriest thou?  arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

 

b.    Acts 9:18b

 

…and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

 

B.   For Saul, this was the most important moment in his life.  It was then that he put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).

 

For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

C.   From that point onward Paul was totally committed to living for Christ (Phil. 1:21).

 

For to me to live is Christ…

 

VI.         THE PROCLAMATION OF JESUS

 

A.   Acts 9:20 is a soul-stirring verse.

 

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

 

B.   Paul took his commission as an apostle of Christ seriously.  He immediately began to preach Jesus to the Jews in Damascus.

 

C.   He would take 3 missionary journeys preaching to Jews and Gentiles.

 

D.   What caused Paul to be so diligent in his service to the Lord?  The answer is found in Romans 1:14-15.

 

I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

 

VII.       THE AFFLICTION FOR JESUS

 

A.   Remember this chapter opened with Saul persecuting Christians.

 

B.   Now, he becomes the persecuted (Acts 9:23).

 

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him.

 

C.   This would be something Paul would experience throughout his entire ministry.  Paul would be able to write:  “…for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal. 6:17).

 

D.   One of the interesting things about Paul was his desire to partake in the sufferings of Christ (Phil. 3:10).

 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable tohis death.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Jesus Christ is the center of all things in the religious world.

 

B.   Paul’s conversion is one evidence of this truth.

 

C.   One of the lessons that is present, but one that has not been stated yet is this:  We are either a disciple of Christ or a despiser of Christ.

1.    Paul was a despiser who persecuted disciples.

2.    Once he was converted, he became the disciple who was persecuted by despisers.

 

D.   Into which camp do you fall? There is no in between (Matt. 6:24)