A hitman got saved: Paul
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| La conversion de Saint Paul by Luca Giordano (1690), Museum of Fine Arts of Nancy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Acts 9:19b–31
Saul, once a hunter of Christians, was now the hunted.
Following his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, Saul not only faced opposition, but the apostles and other Christians didn’t believe his experience was authentic. Given his former persecution of the church, it’s not surprising that they thought it was a trick. The Jews, appalled by the about-face of their religious hit man, now sought to kill him.
The church is full of unlikely converts. Our Lord is in the business of changing the hearts and lives of those who reject him and persecute his people. God’s grace and power, the same power that raised Jesus from death, can change the most hardhearted and unwilling individual. Not one of us is “good enough” to choose God. He alone changes hearts, and we are all in need of his great mercy.
As we study Saul’s conversion, reflect on the greatness of our God and his power to save. Saul’s story should make us hopeful for those around us who don’t know God. Sing God’s praise for rescuing us from death and new life in Christ Jesus, because like Saul, without Jesus and his mercy, we too are unlikely converts.
Observation
- How did Saul’s conversion immediately affect his actions?
- How did he demonstrate change to those around him?
- Who plotted to kill Saul when they heard of his conversion?
- Where did he go to escape?
- Why were the apostles afraid of Saul?
- Who convinced them of his conversion?
- What effect did Saul’s preaching have on the church?
- How was that manifested within the church?
- What two things were required for the church to multiply?
- Does the church only grow during a time of peace?
Church Father Tertullian (A.D. 160–225) said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” How is this true in the context of Acts 8 and 9?
Interpretation
During his stay in Damascus, Saul “immediately proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues.” He was speaking boldly and disputing the Greek-speaking Jews, despite threats against his life. What issues may have been raised in these disputes?
Read Ephesians 2:1–6. These beautiful words describe how we are saved by grace through faith. What words stand out as evidence of Saul’s experience in Acts 9? Why is Saul’s conversion so encouraging to believers?
Christianity is a religion that you enter by conversion. You are not born into it, and it does not discriminate. Read Romans 3:22–26, written by the Apostle Paul much later in his ministry. How do these verses remind you of your need for a Savior?
In what way does this passage remind us that the gift of preaching is needed for teaching and encouragement in the church?
When Saul’s friends learned that he was in danger, they sent him home to Tarsus. Why did they do this? What is the responsibility of the body of Christ and you as an individual believer to care for another Christian?
Application
Many of us don’t have a conversion story like Saul. Some people say they wish they had a more dramatic or interesting story of how they came to know Jesus. Yet we each have a story to share. Every one of us is in need of a Savior, and our sin is deserving of death, yet God being merciful chose to extend his grace to save us. Even if you see your story as boring, you can be encouraged that we have a God who is anything but boring, and the story you have is the one God gave you. He chose you, and he will help you to share the gospel and your story with others.
Reading about Saul’s unlikely conversion compels us to look back to the first time we met Jesus.
- When you met Jesus, was it a road-to-Damascus experience or something that happened over time?
- What type of opposition did you face from those around you?
- How does Saul’s story give you hope?
- What doubts do you have about the gospel?
- How do your doubts make it difficult to share Christ with others?
- When have you been fearful about sharing the good news of Christ?
- What caused this fear?
- How has the good news of Christ enabled you to live more boldly? Think about a time where you shared your conversion story with others. What compelled you to be bold?
- Think back to a sermon that you’ve heard recently. How were you encouraged by the preaching?
