Acts Dig Site 6

ACTSACTSDig Site 6Dig Site 6

Acts 9:1-31Acts 9:1-31

The Conversion of SaulThe Conversion of Saul

Meanwhile, Saul was still Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.*against the Lord’s disciples.*

I will capture all those

disciples of Jesus and put them in jail!

He went to the high He went to the high priest and asked priest and asked him for letters to him for letters to the synagogues in the synagogues in Damascus,* so that Damascus,* so that if he found any if he found any there who there who belonged to the belonged to the Way, whether men Way, whether men or women, he or women, he might take them as might take them as prisoners to prisoners to Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

As he neared As he neared Damascus Damascus on his on his journey, journey, suddenly a suddenly a light from light from heaven heaven flashed flashed around him.around him.

He fell to the ground and heard He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him,*a voice say to him,*

Saul, Saul, Saul, Saul, why do you why do you persecute persecute me?*me?*

Who are Who are you, Lord?you, Lord?**

I am Jesus, I am Jesus, whom you are whom you are persecuting. persecuting. Now get up Now get up and go into the and go into the city, and you city, and you will be told will be told what you must what you must do.do.

The men traveling with Saul stood The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.sound but did not see anyone.

Saul got up from the Saul got up from the ground,* but when ground,* but when he opened his eyes he opened his eyes he could see he could see nothing.* So they nothing.* So they led him by the hand led him by the hand into Damascus. For into Damascus. For three days he was three days he was blind, and did not blind, and did not eat or drink eat or drink anything.*anything.*

In Damascus there was a disciple named In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision*Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision*

Ananias!

Yes, Lord.

The Lord told him, The Lord told him, “Go to the house of “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Judas on Straight Street* and ask for Street* and ask for a man from Tarsus a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he named Saul, for he is praying.* In a is praying.* In a vision he has seen vision he has seen a man named a man named Ananias come and Ananias come and place his hands on place his hands on him to restore his him to restore his sight.”sight.”

House of Ananias

““Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” arrest all who call on your name.”

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument* to carry my name is my chosen instrument* to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings* and before the Gentiles and their kings* and before the people of Israel. I will show him before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”* how much he must suffer for my name.”*

Then Ananias went to the house and entered Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said,*it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said,*

Brother Saul, Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared who appeared to you on the to you on the road as you road as you were coming were coming here—has sent here—has sent me so that you me so that you may see again may see again and be filled and be filled with the Holy with the Holy Spirit.Spirit.

Immediately, something like scales fell from Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.* He got Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.* He got up and was baptized,* and after taking some up and was baptized,* and after taking some food, he regained his strength.*food, he regained his strength.*

Saul spent several days with the Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.* At once he disciples in Damascus.* At once he began to preach* in the synagogues began to preach* in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.that Jesus is the Son of God.

I’m learning much from

the disciples!

All those who heard him were All those who heard him were astonished and asked,*astonished and asked,*

Isn’t he the man Isn’t he the man who raised who raised havoc in havoc in Jerusalem Jerusalem among those among those who call on this who call on this name? And name? And hasn’t he come hasn’t he come here to take here to take them as them as prisoners to the prisoners to the chief priests?chief priests?

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.*by proving that Jesus is the Christ.*

I was born in Tarsus, I was born in Tarsus, was a Pharisee, and was a Pharisee, and

used to bully used to bully Christians and have Christians and have

them put in jail. Now I them put in jail. Now I know that Jesus is the know that Jesus is the

Christ. You should Christ. You should believe, too!believe, too!

After many days had gone by, the Jews After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him,* but Saul learned of conspired to kill him,* but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill watch on the city gates in order to kill him.*him.*

I thought Saul was on our side! We need to get

rid of him before others believe his story about Jesus being the

Christ.

But his But his followers followers took him by took him by night and night and lowered him lowered him in a basket in a basket through an through an opening in opening in the wall.*the wall.*

Hang on!

When he came to Jerusalem, he When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.*that he really was a disciple.*

This is the Saul we

remember!

But Barnabas But Barnabas took him and took him and brought him to brought him to the apostles. the apostles. He told them He told them how Saul on his how Saul on his journey had journey had seen the Lord seen the Lord and that the and that the Lord had Lord had spoken to him, spoken to him, and how in and how in Damascus he Damascus he had preached had preached fearlessly in the fearlessly in the name of Jesus.name of Jesus.

So Saul stayed with them and moved So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly* in the name of the Lord. He boldly* in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Grecian talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.*Jews, but they tried to kill him.*

When the When the brothers brothers learned of learned of this, they this, they took him took him down to down to Caesarea* Caesarea* and sent him and sent him off to off to Tarsus.**Tarsus.**

Then the church throughout Judea,* Then the church throughout Judea,* Galilee* and Samaria* enjoyed a time of Galilee* and Samaria* enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.