Acts 9:20-31

Last week:

We looked at the amazing conversion of Saul and learned how true it is that it is “by grace through faith” that we are saved, for here was a man dedicated to the abolition, the destruction, of the followers of Christ, yet God says to Ananias “he is a chosen vessel of Mine.” Likewise, we too are His chosen vessels, made alive by the Spirit, and there are good works for which we have been created. These good works are summed up by Christ in John 14:15 in which he says “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” So then, we have been specially set aside just as Saul was, even if the scope of our service and our suffering is not equal to that of his.

Last week we also discussed how Ananias questions God regarding this Saul whom God commands should be healed. God did not owe him a response, but He gives him one. Upon hearing of the amazing providence of God regarding Saul, we note that Ananias “went his way” and greets this former persecutor as “Brother Saul.”

Finally, we read last week how Saul’s eyes are opened up…the Word says “something like scales fell from his eyes.” Such is the condition of every one who does not believe. They have scales over their eyes…and brethren, these scales cannot be taken off by human actions…they can ONLY be removed by a divine action. Therefore it is not the packaging of the message that is important so much as its faithful presentation…

Let us now read Acts 9:20-23

So Saul is converted to the true faith, he spends some time with the local disciples, and then he does what? He begins to preach in the synagogues! And what message does he bring to the Jews? That Jesus is the Son of God!

Note carefully what Saul did…and remember that he was a learned man, well versed in the holy writings. All Jews would acknowledge that the Christ was the Son of God…for Christ is the Greek term for Anointed One…Messiah. What Saul began to do was to boldly profess that this Christ was Jesus! Saul, apparently, was no timid man, for his words were calculated to arouse the anger of the Jews! This was a vessel that bore fruit from the beginning!! Indeed, the Jews are amazed, one who had persecuted the faith is now its evangelist! One whose sole reason for being in the city was to capture the followers of Christ was now in their midst preaching the message!

Imagine that.

But there is more, for note verse 22 which says that Saul went about “proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” How did Saul do this? We could speculate with authority that Saul used the scriptures to prove his claim for Jesus. His arguments were strong, and his ability to present it was without rival.

I love this passage for many reasons, but my chief reason is that it attests to the necessity for us to know our Word. We dare not remain ignorant of what the entire Bible says about Christ! We dare not be idle in our study of the Word…because it is the Word that God will use to bring about the salvation of His people, and if you want to be used by God for this mighty work then you should be intimately familiar with Jesus in both testaments!

Telling someone that Jesus loves them is no substitute for pointing out from the Scriptures why this matters!! Why should they care that Jesus died on the Cross unless they know that sin is so terrible a rebellion against God that it demands the shedding of blood? Why should Jesus dying for us matter unless we know from Exodus that unless the shed blood of an unblemished lamb is present to protect then the destroyer WILL enter!

Note verse 23.
The religious authorities are mad…and they want Saul dead.

Read Acts 9:24-31

Sometimes it is the will of God that His servants go to be with Him. Such was the destiny of Stephen…to be a mighty witness and perish in his witness. Can you imagine how much Saul, after his conversion, must have thought of Stephen’s final address? Can you imagine what a shining example and model Stephen must have been in the life of Saul/Paul? I love to imagine that Stephen was often on the mind of Saul…and someday I’ll ask him if this was the case.

But it was not the will of God for Saul to receive the martyr’s crown yet. And so it is that the disciples help him to escape…and note that he eventually reaches Jerusalem and arouses fear among the Believers in that city (discuss Galatians 1:18 if necessary, in which he first goes to Arabia for three years).

They had VERY good reason to fear him, did they not?

Imagine that Osama Bin Laden received Christ as Lord and Savior of his life. And imagine that he came to Central Valley Baptist! An exaggerated example, but such was how the Believers viewed Saul…one who sought their deaths!! But Barnabas takes Saul to Peter and James and explains everything to them…telling them about Saul’s conversion and of his zeal for the cause of Jesus. So it is that he is accepted and joins with this body.

A word of caution here: We would do well to emulate this example set before us and be careful of those whom we would otherwise so readily admit into our fellowship. All should be welcome, no doubt about that, but before authority is given to them we should make sure of their walk with God. Not just anyone should be able to come in and teach…not just anyone should be allowed to become a deacon, or an elder...
Too often, churches are filled with people who have left other churches for reasons that are less than acceptable…and then we welcome them into our gathering because they are another number to be counted and to add to our association, but we fail to find out from them WHY they left their previous church…But that’s just my opinion and you can take it or leave it!

We do see that after receiving the witness of a well known brother, Saul is admitted and soon he’s about the business for which he was chosen…he’s boldly preaching Jesus as Lord!
He’s soon targeted for death, and Saul once again escapes with the help of the Believers and goes to his home town of Tarsus.

And note verse 31. The churches have rest and are edified…or built up.

First of all, the persecutions likely lessened because the greatest persecutor was now a Believer, but also, it is at this time in history that the Romans begin to have more of an interest in what is happening in this area of their empire. Albert Barnes mentions that it was at this time that Caligula ordered that his statue be set up in the temple of Jerusalem…so we see that the combination of the loss of their persecutor as well as the actions of Rome serve to take the attention of the Jews away from the followers of Jesus.

And so it is that God continues to grow His church, bringing many into His Truth.

End with prayer