Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit: Saul of Tarsus Conversion.
God's Messenger: Risen and Glorified Lord Jesus Christ.
Bible Location: Close to Damascus.
Bible Text: Acts 9:1-18 NLT (see also Acts 22:1-16)
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.
2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of The Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!
6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!
8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.
9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord!” he replied.
11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to Me right now.
12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!
14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is My chosen instrument to take My message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.
These few verses speak of the conversion of one Saul of Tarsus.
Perhaps it would be wise at this point to say a word about the sins of men, of which fall into one of three categories.
First of all let there be no doubt that “all, have sinned and come short, of the glory of God .
Romans 3:23 KJV.”
This is inherited sin from Adam.
Romans 3:10 KJV
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 5:12 KJV
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Man stained with the curse of sin, he sins, and he does this in one of several ways, besides already being under the curse of sin.
One is by “Commission,” of sin in his life. This is what a person admittedly does, even knowing that it is wrong, in the site of God, and yet does it.
Another is by “Omission,” things that a person knows, he or she should do, to be a child of God, and yet does not, do them.
And the sin of “Ignorance (some say Innocence).” Committing sin, in innocence, i.e. not knowing that something is wrong, and does it.
Acts 9:1-2 NLT
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.
2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of The Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. (Approximately some 135 miles.)
Saul of Tarsus, was a Jew who was both adamant and, vigorous in his Jewish faith.
Christianity meant the corrupting of his faith. The very idea, that God would come to earth to upend all Jewish laws and customs, was preposterous. Christianity at all costs, in the mind of Saul, had to be stopped.
Saul was a man, and thus a sinner. And Saul was laboring under the sin of “Ignorance,” as well.
Miracles in the life of Saul, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:3 NLT
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.
May it come as no surprise to anyone, that this “miracle,” of God reaching out to some one, is what God has done since the very beginning of time, to lost humanity, and He calls yet today!
John 7:37-39 KJV
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive..."
I Timothy 2:3,4 KJV
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Revelation 3:20,22 KJV
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith..."
Revelation 22:17 KJV
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Acts 9:4,5 NLT
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!
Miraculously, Saul heard the voice of the risen Saviour.
And the Lord had a message for Saul of Tarsus.
Saul had been sincere, but he had been sincerely wrong.
Jesus was God's son, now seated on the right hand of the Father in heaven, and He had seen and knew what Saul had done to His followers.
Saul had knowledge, but he did not have perfect knowledge.
John 14:6 KJV
Jesus saith..., I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
Now it was Saul's life that was upside down.
Acts 9:6-9 NLT
6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!
8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.
9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
Once a man full of determination and vigor, now, a blind man, in bewilderment, lead about by the hand of his fellow travelers.
What was it Jeremiah of old said...
Lamentations 3:22,23 KJV
22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Think how Almighty God, could stop anyone, and for that fact, judge them and send them off to hell.
But oh the Miraculous mercy of God, we are not consumed, we may yet hear His voice and do what He bids us to do!
Acts 9:10-12 NLT
10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord!” he replied.
11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to Me right now.
12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
Miraculous Commission To Ananias.
God always has someone in every city who is serving him, that oncecame as a shock to Elijah, but tis still true today!
I Kings 19:18 KJV
Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
God had a man in Damascus, that would not be dragged to Jerusalem, his name was Ananias.
It will do well, to say that in our last posting ( Weapons-Christians And ) the wonderful promises of the “protection of God,” for His people was covered. If you missed reading it go back and read them.
God, our God, knows how to protect His people!
God, our God, knows how to protect His people!
That is what would have happened to Ananias, but God, had another idea.
Acts 22:12 KJV (Paul's own testimony of Ananias-some think him a bishop of Damascus.)
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
Ananias received a vision from the risen Lord who said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas.” God knows your address, in fact He knows more about you, than you know yourself.
Romans 11:33 KJV
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!
For three days and nights blind Saul had been fasting and praying. A Jew, praying to Jesus, Jesus the risen Messiah.
Godly Ananias had his doubts.
Acts 9:13,14 NLT
13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!
14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
If Saul's inclusion had been left up to believers......it never would have happened.
But thank God, it wasn't up to them.
Acts 9:15,16 NLT
15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is My chosen instrument to take My message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
God saw the repentance in the life of Saul, after his vision on the Damascus road. Saul was to become a chosen instrument in the hand of God for taking the gospel to the Gentiles.
And the Lord would show Saul how much he must suffer for the sake of the Lord.
All the disciples were martyred except beloved John, and for what sin, for the sin of preaching the word of God.
Revelation 12:11 KJV
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Miraculous healing and infilling.
Acts 9:17,18 NLT
17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.
Where is that poor soul, that says the Great Commission with signs following was only for the disciples?
Ananias hardly was a disciple, a devote man, yes, but certainly “not,” a disciple, and yet, he was following the directives of the Lord for believers.
Mark 16:15-18 KJV
15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
( These verses explained: Kept By The Power Of God )
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Ananias prayed, and Saul was set free from blindness, physically and spiritually, Saul became Paul.
Miraculously a Born again baptized Jew, filled, and baptized in the Spirit of God. And not only that but called and commissioned by the Lord.
Acts 9:18 NLT
“...Then he got up and was baptized.”
It is a call, yes the very duty of every Christian to witness of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9,10 KJV
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
I Peter 3:15 KJV
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
This is called witnessing, and just as the Great Commission has “not,” been rescinded, neither too has the call to witness of and for the Lord of glory, come to end.
Paul, would go on to write 14 of the epistles of our New Testament. And what of suffering for the Lord? Paul's sufferings are enumerated in ...
II Corinthians 11:22-28 KJV
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Matthew 9:37,38 KJV
37 Then saith he unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore The Lord Of The Harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.
John 4:34-37 KJV
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent Me, and to finish His work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
Salvation Prayer
