Saul Is Converted

 

A1 Theme--Jesus will build His church


 

A2 Objectives

B1 Describe Saul's conversion.

B2 Contrast Saul/Paul before and after his conversion.

 

A3 Scriptures

B1 Acts 8:1-3--Saul starts persecution of God's people

B2 Acts 9:1-33--Saul's conversion

B3 1 Timothy 1:13--Characteristics of Saul/Paul pre-conversion

B4 1 Corinthians 15:9--Paul's past

B5 2 Corinthians 5:17--Paul's grief

B6 Galatians 1:10-17--A summary of Paul's life

 

A4 Notes

B1 Acts 8:1-3--Start of persecution

C1 Saul

C2 Persecution of Jerusalem church

C3 Most scattered throughout a wide area

C4 Stephen buried and mourned

C5 Saul is successful at arresting men and women and bringing them to prison

B2 Acts 9:1-33--Saul's conversion

C1 Traveling to Damascus

C2 Jesus's message to Saul.

C3 Jesus's instructions to Saul.

C4 Jesus's instructions to Ananias

C5 Saul preaches

C6 Saul persecuted

C7 Saul escapes

C8 Saul goes to Jerusalem where he is persecuted and sent away by the brethren

B3 1 Timothy 1:13--Personal characteristics of Saul/Paul pre-conversion

B4 1 Corinthians 15:9--Paul's view and grief from his past.

B5 Galatians 1:10-17--A summary of Paul's life

C1 How he learned the correct Gospel

C2 His life as a dedicated Pharisee

D1 Persecutor of Christians

D2 Further advanced than most of his age in

E1 Zeal

E2 Education

C3 How God brought about his salvation

D1 Chosen

E1 This is by foreknowledge Romans 8:29-30, 1 Peter 1:2

E2 Foreknowledge is knowing beforehand, before it happens. Foreknowledge is NOT God's decree. Some believe that in essence God decreed everything that comes about and has a very good memory so it is perfect. This definition is not foreknowledge that God truly knows the future. Yes, God is that type of being that truly knows the future. God does, however, predestinate, preordain, some things that will happen as in the case of Jesus being the Messiah and would die as the Passover Lamb.

D2 Here it is most reasonable to understand that God know Paul would believe and initiated salvation, open his eyes and heart to the truth and knew that Paul would believe and trust in Jesus Christ.

C4 "...set me apart..."

D1 Truly knowing the future that Paul would believe, God then chose Paul to be the missionary Apostle to the Gentiles.

D2 Compare Jeremiah 1:5, Acts 13:2, etc.

D3 For further information see here.

C5 "...called me by His grace..."

D1 The Greek word for called is kaleō and means an invitation.

D2 The Greek word for grace is charis and means something that is not deserved or earned. It is something that is pleasing and delightful.

D3 God did not have to do this; He wanted to do this. Most do not respond with faith.

C6 The three years in Arabia, of which we know little.

 

A5 Questions

B1 Who is left in Jerusalem? (Apostles and a few others) Why?

B2 Where was the persecution started? (Jerusalem)

B3 Where were the believers scattered? (Though out Judea and Samaria)

B4 Is this soft or hard persecution? (Hard) What is the difference? Have you ever experienced persecution?

C1 Soft

D1 Loss of job

D2 Loss of educational opportunities

D3 Financial loss

D4 Ignoring

C2 Hard

D1 Death

D2 Rape

D3 Burning and loss of house/possessions

D4 Imprisonment

D5 Torture

B5 What is the motivation for persecuting? (Jealousy, hate, pride, etc.)

B6 What is Saul going to Damascus? (He wanted even more imprisonments)

B7 Who is agreeing with his travels? (High priest)

B8 Where on the journey did Paul have this experience? (As they drew close to Damascus). Why there?

B9 What was the first thing that happened? (Bright light)

B10 What was the next thing that happened? (Jesus's voice)

B11 What did Jesus say to Saul?

B12 Did Saul answer Jesus's question? (No) What did he say to Jesus? (Who are you Lord?)

B13 What did Jesus answer?

B14 What did the others traveling with Saul hear? (Voice) Did they understand what was being said? (No)

B15 What was the first proof Saul had repented?

C1 Did not go to synagogues.

C2 Did not arrest anyone.

C3 Obeyed Jesus's command.

B16 Was his response faith of works? (Faith to believe and works proving his faith)

B17 Was Ananias excited about what Jesus wanted him to do? (No, but he did it anyway)

B18 How does the actions of Saul and Ananias apply to us?

B19 What were the things that Ananias to tell Saul?

C1 Go to Judas' house and talk to Saul

C2 Saul is a chosen instrument of mine

C3 To tell/teach about Jesus to Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel

C4 How much he is to suffer because of Jesus's name

C5 Pray for Saul's healing

B20 How did Saul respond?

C1 Talked to Ananias

C2 Allowed Ananias to pray for him

C3 Was baptized

C4 Ate food

B21 What is filled with the Spirit?

C1 All Christians have the Holy Spirit

D1 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

(Romans 8:9 EMTV)

D2 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

(Galatians 4:6 EMTV)

C2 Filled is empowerment to do God's will

B22 What were Saul/Paul's personal characteristics pre-conversion?

C1 Blasphemer

D1 How did Paul blaspheme? (Wrong concept of God and God's will)

D2 What commandment did Paul break? (3rd--"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7 NKJV)

C2 Persecutor

C3 Insolent, that is, verbal abusive, bully, insulter, etc.

B23 Did Paul think he was worthy to be an Apostle? (No, 1 Corinthians 15:9)

B24 Why did Paul still grieve over his pre-conversion activities.

B25 How can we know and learn the correct Gospel? (The Apostles--including Paul--were taught by Jesus himself).

B26 What is most impressive about Saul/Paul's conversion?

B27 Can even the most evil person be forgiven and regenerated?