Study 20. Acts 9:1-31,

 1. The episode on the Damascus road was a profound learning experience for Saul. What did he learn about … 

who Jesus is (see 9:4-5,20,22; 22:14)? 

9:4-5, "Lord", the one he was persecuting

9:20,22 "Son of God"

22:14 "the Righteous One" ((cf. Is 53:11)

 

'threats'. He had been going about saying what he would do to the Christians if they did not cease their activities, namely that he would murder them (although the legality of this is uncertain)

 

what his own mission was going to be (see 9:15-16,20-30; 22:14-16; 26:16-18)?

9:15-16 a chosen instrument of God's to carry His name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. will suffer much for the name of Christ. There would be witness, at personal cost. He who had once caused Christians to suffer would himself suffer.

9:20-30; proclaimed Jesus, confounding the jews and proving Jesus was the Christ, disputing against the Hellenists.

22:14-16 To know God's will, see and hear Jesus and to be a witness

26:16-18 be a servant and a witness to things seen and to appearances yet to come, to open the eyes of Jews and Gentiles, to turn from darkness to light and from Satan's power to God, to receive forgiveness of sin and saving faith.

2. How else did his encounter with Jesus affect Saul? 

9:8-9  Physically blinded, dependent on others for 3 days, not eating or drinking

9:1-2,20-30 from 'breathing threats and murder against Christians, taking the extra step of persecuting the church outside Israel to capture Christians, to testifying to Jesus.

His new-found faith put him at risk of death physically.

 

 

Thus the effect of the vision was to indicate to Saul that in persecuting the Christians he was persecuting Jesus (Luke 10:16), but above all that in persecuting Jesus he was persecuting One who had now attained to a heavenly status and was thus shown to be vindicated and upheld by God. Paul’s zeal for the cause of God had turned into an attack on the God who raised Jesus from the dead (Marshall)

 

3. Saul later emphasized that he saw Jesus Himself not just a vision of Him (see Acts 9:27; 22:14-15; 26:16; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:7-10). What did this mean for him (see 1 Corinthians 9:1)? 

Acts 9:27; also 9:17.

Acts 22:14-15; 

Acts 26:16; 

1 Corinthians 9:1; 

1 Corinthians15:7-10

 This was not a vision or a dream. The resurrected Christ appeared physically to Saul. As a witness to the Resurrection he was qualified to be an apostle.

 

4. What roles did Stephen, Ananias, and Barnabas have in Saul’s reconciliation with God and His people? 

All were filled with the Spirit.

Stephen (see Acts 7:60–8:1) An example of depth of Scripture knowledge, insight and faithful testimony to death.

Ananias (see 9:10-17) An example of trust and obdeience in God's leading despite personal danger, and acceptance of a potentially dangerous new convert. He was a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there (22:12)

Barnabas (see 9:26-27) An example of trust in Saul's testimony and actions.:?

 

5. How do these men’s examples apply to us? 

 We too, in different ways, can be examples to other Christians by our speech, actions and life.

 

...he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, ¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; ¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. ²⁰ (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) ²¹ Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.(Gal 1:15-24)

Immediately after Paul’scalling he went to Damascus, and then, after a visit to Arabia, returned to Damascus.