Date: April 18, 2010
Week 7: Saul Meets Jesus Near Damascus (Acts 9:1-20)
Bible Study: God answers when we pray . . . Jesus changes our life
Week 7: Saul Meets Jesus Near Damascus (Acts 9:1-20)
Bible Study: God answers when we pray . . . Jesus changes our life
Acts 7
· Saul oversees and approves of Stephen’s stoning.
Acts 8
· “the Church” at Jerusalem was persecuted and it was scattered throughout Judea and Samaria
· Philip, Simon, Peter, John (and others) preached the Gospel.
Acts 9
The Damascus Road: Saul Converted
1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.[a] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.[a] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
· a Syrian proverb, expressing an attempt that brings nothing but pain.
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
· God often teaches and shows man the way through other men
· Saul submitted without hesitation . . with all of our earthly desires, would we hesitate ??
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
· Blinded for three days
· Saul had three days to ponder whom he had been .. his sins, etc.
Ananias Baptizes Saul
10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
· How natural it is for us to reason against God
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,[b] who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
· Ananias did not tell Saul everything the Jesus told him about Saul … Saul would not have been ready to hear all that!
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
· Receiving the Holy Spirit takes away the “scales” of ignorance and pride
· then the sinner becomes a new creature
· and begins to talk about Jesus to his former companions
Saul Preaches Christ
· Saul preaches that Jesus is the Son of God . . not just “the Messiah” .. but He is at the right hand of the Father
REFERENCE NOTES:
· Saul had not known Jesus on earth
Ÿ The road that brought you to a relationship with Jesus does not matter . . What’s important is whether or not you are making the most of your journey with Him.
Background Damascus
At the time of Saul’s traveling to Damascus, it was a thriving city with much economic prosperity—part of the Decapolis—one of the “ten cities.” It was a city at the crossroads of many trade routes, and as it was in a province of the Romans, it was granted many privileges and liberties. Many Jews lived in the city, as well—roughly 10,000. Saul traveled to this city to catch those Christians who had fled Jerusalem, and return them to Jerusalem for proper trial. Saul was trying to stop the spread of Christianity, which he believed to be offensive to God. What he discovered on the road to Damascus was the complete opposite!
At the time of Saul’s traveling to Damascus, it was a thriving city with much economic prosperity—part of the Decapolis—one of the “ten cities.” It was a city at the crossroads of many trade routes, and as it was in a province of the Romans, it was granted many privileges and liberties. Many Jews lived in the city, as well—roughly 10,000. Saul traveled to this city to catch those Christians who had fled Jerusalem, and return them to Jerusalem for proper trial. Saul was trying to stop the spread of Christianity, which he believed to be offensive to God. What he discovered on the road to Damascus was the complete opposite!
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