Stuty 21. Acts 9:1-31

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6. Why is it important for us to think about the early Christians’ willingness to suffer for Jesus’ name (see 5:40-42; 7:59-60; 9:15-16,23-30)?
5:40-42  "they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" They rejoiced. 
7:59-60  "stoning...he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them" -They forgave
9:15-16 "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." The saw the necessity of testimony, acceptance 
9:23-30 "the Jews plotted to kill him... took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall" They helped one another. They escaped

Suffering is normative. Jesus suffered to leave us an example 
Their message was true. Their suffering authenticated their message

We suffer because of persecution, active and passive
We suffer because because of our own sin
We suffer because of God’s good purposes (Heb 5:3. We grow in Christlikenews 
We suffer because if God’s discipline 
(Rom 5:, James 1)
We suffer so we can help others(2 Cor 1:3)


For Thought and Discussion: 
a. What was ironic about the way Saul entered Damascus (see 9:6,8)?  "But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do" Saul had intended to enter Damascus for his purposes, but Christ had His own purposes for Saul to do so. He was blind, dependent, humbled.
How had he intended to enter the city (see 9:2)?  WIth personal purposes, with an entourage
b. What lesson does this example offer us? God can powerfully stop us in our sinful ways and use them for His own good purposes.

Optional Application: Has committing yourself to Christ changed your outlook and way of life as radically as Saul’s were changed (see Philippians 3:2-11)? 
If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
 
Paul's understanding was not that his qualifications were useless or irrelevant. He said they were 'loss'. They had obscured his view of Jesus and caused him to rely on his own race, upbringing, family, education and religious performance for righteousness.
"everything as loss" extends the picture to all things compared to knowing Christ. It makes losing his old life meaningful so that he can gain more of Christ.
"that I may attain the resurrection" does not express uncertainty, but determination.
 
Why or why not? What would your life be like if you took Saul’s attitude?
We would not value earthly things above heavenly things.
Our priorities and concerns would be different
 
Optional Application:
 a. How would you  have felt in Ananias’s place (see 9:10-16)? 
Ananias was concerned, perhaps fearful. But he knew the voice of Jesus, and he was ultimately obedient to Jesus's repeated command to 'go', with insight into God's purposes.
 
Would you have been comfortable calling Saul “Brother Saul” (9:17)? 
 “Brother” speaks of new family.
What kind of people do we call 'brother', and what kind should we not call 'brother'?
  
"But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one." (1 Cor 5:11)
 
If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.  (2 Th 3:14-15)
 
What does this show about Ananias? 
Obedient, open-hearted  (N.B. the people who influenced Saul last week, each had their own gifts and roles to play)

b. In your opinion, were the Jerusalem disciples’ feelings understandable (see 9:26)? Why or why not? 
 "And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple."
Yes, without a personal acccreditation. They were not actively seeking martyrdom. There is a place to be martyred, and a place to escape.
 
 Consider the 19 martyrs of 9-11. Their sacrifice differed from Christian martydom in that Christians do not seek to kill, although they may be killed, Their death was part of a holy war in which 'innocents' are not spared.
 
What does 9:27 show about Barnabas (compare 4:36)? 
Encouraging - giving the weak support, confidence, hope. Helping to raise people to better things, greater efforts. The encourager turns people God-ward. We are to encourage one another (Heb 10:25)
Trusting. Ready to speak up for someone disadvantaged at personal cost, taking responsibiity for them
 
For Thought and Discussion: 
a. How do modern Christians suffer for Jesus’ name? 
 There are still deaths, systemic discrimination

Open Doors, an organization that serves persecuted Christians, estimates that 5,621 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons in 2023. They also estimate that 5,898 Christians were killed in 2022 and 4,761 in 2021. Open Doors estimates that 1 in 7 Christians are persecuted worldwide, including 1 in 5 in Africa and 1 in 7 in Asia. Persecution of Christians is particularly severe in certain regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, where countries like Nigeria, DRC, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Niger see high rates of persecution. 
 
b. How else is 9:1-31 relevant to Christians today?
 Saul's conversion is an indication that God's electing grace can reach anyone
It is an illustration of God's purposes in calling Christians. 
It shows the beauty and worth of Jesus as well as the natural movement to testifying about Him
It encourages us to receive difficult and potentially dangerous individuals into the Church in obedience to Christ's command
 
 
Note:
The "saints" (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. 20:32; 26:18) is a common term in Paul’s writings and describes Christians as people who have been set apart for God’s service and must show an appropriate character. Those who call upon your name echoes 2:21 (Joel 2:32) and recurs in 22:16 in a command to Paul himself to be baptized (see further 1 Cor. 1:2). (Marshall)
 

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