Acts 1-2: AD 30 – Acts 9 begins at
Saul: (Hebrew) – asked for (EBD), demanded, death (destroyer) (HBND), beggar (ISBE)
Paul: (Latin) – small, little (SBD, HBND)
(Paul) For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. – Galatians 1:13-15 (NIV)
(vv.1-2) Originally, we were called people of (v.2)
Acts 9:2, 18:25-26, 19:9, 19:23, 22:4, 24:14, & 24:22
(vv.3-4) (In Paul describes) I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun… – Acts 26:13 (NASB)
Paul asks The Questions of True Conversion: (vv.5-6)
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 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.” – Acts 9:5-6 (NKJV)
are You Lord? (v.5)
do You want me to do?
God speaks (v.6)
God directs (v.6)
When God He (vv.10-12)
(vv.15-16) God called Saul His “” long before there was evidence of anything worthy in Saul to
“Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine…” – Acts 9:15 (NKJV)
(vv.17-19) Later Paul will say: I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. – 1 Corinthians 14:18 (ESV)
Between v.22 & 23 is a gap:
But when God, who set me apart…was pleased…so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem… – Galatians 1:15-17 (NIV)
For Paul, following Jesus meant (v.23) from old friends and being (v.26) by his new friends
(Paul) Love…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NASB95)
(v.27)
(Barnabas) Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”)… – Acts 4:36 (NIV)
Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles — only James, the Lord’s brother. – Galatians 1:18-19 (NIV)
(vv.28-29) God’s will was revealed through: A vision
“It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You’… And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
– Acts 22:17-21 (NASB95)
Not by but through Him
Confirmation by
We don’t hear from Paul for more years:
The the , the longer the
Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.
– Acts 11:25-26 (NKJV)
Am I willing to in while God me?