The Movement is Strengthened
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We find from the previous chapter that the movement has been scattered due to extreme persecution. Believers were dragged out of their houses and put into prison, but Acts 9:31 tells us that…
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Why is this? What happened along the way?
Well, that’s what this chapter is all about. Acts chapter 9 is where we find the narrative of Saul's conversion to the Movement.
No person, apart from Jesus himself, shaped the history of the Christian movement like the apostle Paul. Even before he was a believer, his actions were significant to the Movement.
Today, we will study one of the most crucial chapters in the Book of Acts—the conversion of Saul, the conversion of the Movement’s worst enemy.
The conversion of Paul is pivotal, not only on which his life turned, but on which the history of the church turned. Remember the movement of the church as commanded by Jesus in Acts 1:8?
From Jerusalem (Acts 1-7),
to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-11)
To the ends of the earth (Acts 12-28)
Paul’s conversion brought the movement to the ends of the earth.
It is fitting that Saul’s conversion be very unique, because he is such a unique person. By birth, he was a Jew; by citizenship, a Roman; by education, a Greek; by devotion, a staunch persecutor of the church; by conversion and grace, a born again believer. And he became the best of all those things in combination. He was a dedicated missionary, deep theologian, powerful evangelist, a caring pastor, wise organizer, strong leader, brilliant thinker, diplomatic statesman, fighter for truth, and at the same time, lover of souls.
He was everything that a Christian could and should be, just short of being what Jesus Christ is. There never was a man like him, as far as I know. And you and I, in tremendous measure, are indebted to this man for whatever we may know about God and about salvation because he wrote most of the New Testament that teaches about the doctrines of our salvation. That is why this chapter is very pivotal.
I believe that God’s design in converting Saul to Paul is to give people hope of salvation, that no worst sinner is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Amen? This is a great evidence of the fact that God can turn the worst offender of the church, the worst of the worst, and make them the best defender. God is in the business of doing that.
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Acts 9:1-3
Luke wants us to see in this passage that the conversion of Saul was the conversion of an utterly committed opponent of the Christian movement. Remember back in Acts 8:3 (ESV), “But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”
Then here in Acts 9:1–2 Luke says that Paul was not just threatening the Christians, he was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” It is as though persecution was the air he breathed. This was not a minor or peripheral thing in Saul’s life. It went right to the core of who he was as a Pharisee. Christianity with its message of salvation by faith apart from meritorious works would turn Paul’s religious achievement in a pile of rubbish (Philippians 3:7–8) and be the end of all his boasting.
So Paul was breathing threats and murder against Christians. He was even taking his persecution 150 miles north to Damascus and planning to bring Christians back to Jerusalem for punishment.
But what follows next is something so sudden and shocking that stunned Saul to his core. Let’s look at his conversion and from there, learn fove valuable lessons about what genuine conversion involves and what it results to.
But first, let’s define what is Conversion.
Conversion is the theological term for the point at which a person is saved. Dr. Wayne Grudem in his book Systematic Theology defined conversion as follows:
“Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.”
The word conversion itself means “turning—here it represents a spiritual turn, a turning from sin to Christ. The turning from sin is called repentance and the turning to Christ is called faith.”
Without genuine spiritual conversion taking place, a professing Christian is just a Christian by name. He/she is not truly saved. From our point of view, Conversion is really the point of our state of being saved. The moment I trust Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and repent of my sins, I am saved. That’s conversion.
There are certain essential elements to genuine conversion. Let’s look at Saul’s conversion and learn these essential elements.
I. Engagement with the Lord Jesus (v.1-9)
Conversion takes place when we encounter Jesus personally and spiritually. Saul’s conversion has three features.
A. Divine Confrontation
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
This is a classic illustration that salvation is initiated by God, not man. It is always the sovereign will of God. It is always His purpose. It comes about by His power and His determination. This is a direct sovereign confrontation of God on Saul. The salvation of anyone is totally initiated by God.
B. Direct Conviction
In bringing a person to salvation, there is an initial confrontation initiated by God, and then there is the direct conviction of sin.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Wait a minute. Paul wasn’t around when Jesus was executed. How come Jesus said, “why are you persecuting me? Our Lord identifies for us this very significant reality that to persecute any of His people is to persecute Him, that He is inseparable from His people. He is bound together with all the members of His body so that every stroke which is directed against us is a blow that falls on Him. He is truly identified with us. Persecuting us is persecuting Him.
When Saul was ravaging havoc to the church, he was delivering blows to Jesus Himself.
At this point, the Holy Spirit is already working in Saul’s heart, convicting him of his sins and transforming him into a believer. Remember that salvation is the inner work of the Holy Spirit. So as Jesus is confronting Saul, the Holy Spirit inside is also busy working, converting his sinful heart into a believing heart.
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
C. Disturbing Complication
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Can you imagine how disturbing this must have been for this staunch enemy of the Church? He has been breathing threats to the people who believe and follow this Jesus whom he considered a false Christ and now he meets Him personally and supernaturally and he is now blind and useless. He must be so disturbed that he couldn’t possibly eat or drink for three days.
That’s the dramatic and miraculous conversion of Paul.
True conversion involves a personal engagement or encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. It involves a direct confrontation of our sins.
II. Endorsement by Another Disciple (v.10-19)
A person’s conversion to Christ is not just a personal thing. It must be attested by someone else. Someone must testify that indeed you are converted, that you have confessed that you have repented of your sins and trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Well, someone endorsed Saul’s conversion. But this man was reluctant to endorse him.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Ananias is one of the leaders of the Damascus church and, therefore, one of Saul’s targets. So I’m pretty sure you can understand Ananias’ reluctance.
“You are talking of this ferocious Saul who is so determined to destroy the movement and now I am going there to meet him and heal him? No way Lord. Not him, that’s impossible! He could never become a Christian!”
In essence, that’s what Ananias said when God told him of Saul’s conversion. After all, Saul had pursued believers to their death.
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go!
Despite these understandable feelings, Ananias obeyed God and ministered to Saul.
LESSON: We must not limit God—he can do anything. We must obey and follow God’s leading, even when he leads us to difficult people and places.
What we find next is Saul’s commission from God. Notice v.15-16.
A. Saul’s Commission
This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my Name.”
B. Saul’s Consecration
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
III. Empowerment to Preach the Gospel (v.20-22, 28)
20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
IV. Estrangement from His Own People (v.23-25, 29)
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.
V. Encouragement by the Church (v.26-31)
A. Saul’s Companion
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
B. Saul’s Contribution
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.