Good morning,
This series began with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus then appears for forty days to the apostles, disciples, and many other people. During this time, He is training, encouraging, and telling them what happens next. Just prior to His ascension, He announces the promise of the Father to baptize them with the Holy Ghost. Jesus then ascends back to heaven and seven days later, they are baptized with the Holy Ghost.
What happens next is amazing! One hundred twenty believers began speaking in languages they were never taught. People heard the gospel in their own native language. Then Peter stands up to preach. The result 3,000 were saved and baptized. Later Stephan, one of the first deacons, testifies of Christ and is stoned to death.
This week, Saul, hater of the believers in Christ, encounters Jesus and it changes his life forever.
1) SAUL’S CONVERSION (ACTS 9:1-20)
A. SAUL BEFORE CONVERSION (1-2)
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
B. SAUL’S CONVERSION (3-18)
ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS (3-6)
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
SAUL’S OBEDIENCE (7-9)
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
ANANIAS-GOD’S SERVANT-COMMISSION (10-16)
And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
SAUL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST (17)
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
SAUL BAPTIZED (18)
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
C. SAUL PREACHES CHRIST (19-20)
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
2) SAUL’S PREACHING ON MARS HILL (Acts 17:16-34)
A. PAUL DISPUTES WITH THE ATHENIEN’S (16-21)
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
B. The Unknown God (22-23)
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
C. GOD MADE THE HEAVEN AND EARTH (24)
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
D. GOD GIVETH LIFE (25-26)
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
E. MEN SHOULD SEEK THE LORD (27-28)
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
F. GOD IS NOT AN IDOL (29)
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
G. GOD COMMANDS MEN TO REPENT (30-31)
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
H. THE RESPONSE TO PAUL’S PREACHING (32-34)
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.33 So Paul departed from among them.34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 1-907-715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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