"A HARMONY OF THE LIFE OF PAUL"

The Conversion Of Paul (36 A.D.)

INTRODUCTION
  1. Paul began his life known as Saul of Tarsus...
    1. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin
    2. A Hebrew of the Hebrews, a Pharisee and a son of a Pharisee - Php 3:5; Ac 23:6
  2. He was on the "fast track" as far as his Jewish faith was concerned...
    1. Living according to the strict sect of His religion - Ac 26:5
    2. Advancing in Judaism beyond many of his contemporaries - Ga 1:14
  3. His zeal for Judaism led to his persecution of the church...
    1. He tried to destroy it - Ga 1:13
    2. By seeking to imprison and put Christians to death - Ac 22:3-5
    3. This he did because he believed it to be God's will - Ac 26:9-12
  4. Yet Paul became converted to Christ...
    1. Which amazed those who first heard him preach - Ac 9:20-21
    2. Whose conversion continues to provide powerful testimony to the resurrection of Christ

[As we continue this harmony of the life of Paul, we shall now focus our attention on "The Conversion Of Paul", collating what is found in the scriptures about this remarkable event. We begin with what happened...]

  1. ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS
    1. THE MISSION OF PAUL...
      1. Paul received permission to bring disciples back from Damascus - Ac 9:1-2; 22:4-5
      2. Which Paul thought was proper to do - Ac 26:9-11
    2. THE APPEARANCE OF JESUS...
      1. Prefaced by a light shining from heaven
        1. Occurring around noon - Ac 9:3; 22:6
        2. Brighter than the sun, shining around him and those with him - Ac 26:13
        3. Causing them all to fall - Ac 26:14
      2. Accompanied by a voice speaking to him
        1. Saying in Hebrew, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" - Ac 9:4; 22:7; 26:14
        2. A voice heard, but not understood by those with him - Ac 9:7; 22:9
      3. Jesus identifies Himself to Paul
        1. Paul asks, "Who are You, Lord?" - Ac 9:5; 22:8; 26:15
          1. At this point, Paul does not know Who he is talking to
          2. But he obviously recognizes His authority!
        2. The reply, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" - Ac 9:5; 22:8; 26:15
          1. As the Head of the church, Paul was persecuting Him when he persecuted the church which is His body - Ep 1:22-23
          2. Note well: what we do or don't do for the church, we do or don't do for Jesus!
        3. Jesus continues, "It is hard for you to kick against the goads" - Ac 9:5; 26:14
          1. In his misdirected zeal, Paul had been resisting the will of God
          2. E.g., resisting the preaching of such men as Stephen - cf. Ac 7:51-53
    3. THE SUBMISSION OF PAUL...
      1. Still fallen to the earth, he was trembling and astonished - Ac 9:6
      2. He asked, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" - Ac 9:6; 22:10
      -- At this point, Paul acknowledges both the authority as well as the identity of Jesus!
    4. THE COMMISSION OF JESUS...
      1. Paul is told to go into the city
        1. There he will be told what he must do - Ac 9:6
        2. There he will be told what things are appointed for him to do - Ac 22:10
      2. Jesus gives him an idea of what to expect - Ac 26:16-18
        1. To become a minister and a witness of things seen, and would be revealed
        2. To be sent to both Jews and Greeks...
          1. To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God
          2. That they might receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance with those sanctified by faith in Jesus
      3. Paul proceeds to obey his new Lord - Ac 9:8; 22:11
        1. He arose from the ground, but was blinded by the light
        2. He is led by the hand to Damascus
  2. IN THE CITY OF DAMASCUS
    1. HIS THREE DAY WAIT...
      1. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank - Ac 9:9
      2. He was also praying during this time - cf. Ac 9:11
    2. HIS VISIT BY ANANIAS...
      1. The Lord appears to Ananias in a vision - Ac 9:10-16
        1. A disciple who lived in Damascus, well respected among the Jews - Ac 22:12
        2. Told to go to the house of Judas, where Paul was praying and had seen a vision of Ananias restoring his sight
        3. Ananias is reluctant at first, but is reassured by the Lord
      2. Ananias visits Paul
        1. Laying hands on Paul, Ananias relates how he was sent to him - Ac 9:17
        2. Paul's sight is restored - Ac 9:18; 22:13
        3. Ananias relates Paul's mission - Ac 22:14-15
        4. Ananias admonishes Paul to be baptized, and Paul responds - Ac 22:16; 9:18
          1. Note well: Paul was still in his sins!
          2. The vision, his acceptance of Jesus as Lord, his fasting and praying, etc., had not saved him
          3. He needed to be baptized in order for his sins to be washed away - cf. Ac 2:38; 1Pe 3:21
        5. Paul resumes eating - Ac 9:19
    3. HIS INITIAL PREACHING IN DAMASCUS
      1. He spends some days in Damascus - Ac 9:19
      2. He immediately begins to preach Jesus - Ac 9:20-22; 26:19-20
        1. As the Christ, the Son of God, and their need to repent
        2. To the amazement of all who knew him
        3. Confounding the Jews who were in Damascus

        [The conversion of Paul was a remarkable event, not only for him personally, but also for the church (cf. Ga 1:22-24). It is not surprising, then, that Paul would often refer to this event...]

  3. REFLECTIONS ON HIS CONVERSION
    1. WRITING TO THE CHURCH IN CORINTH...
      1. He was called to be an apostle - 1Co 1:1
      2. He had seen Jesus Christ - 1Co 9:1
      3. His testimony joined that of the others who had seen Him - 1Co 15:7-8
    2. WRITING TO THE CHURCHES IN GALATIA...
      1. He was an apostle by Jesus Christ, not men - Ga 1:1
      2. His conversion was the result of a special calling - Ga 1:15-16
        1. Part of God's plan for him even before his birth
        2. When called, it was by the grace of God - cf. 1Co 15:10
        3. To reveal His Son to him, that he might preach Him among the nations
    3. WRITING TO THE CHURCH IN ROME...
      1. Called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God - Ro 1:1
      2. Having received both grace and his apostleship - Ro 1:5
      3. Delivered from the bondage of sin to freedom in Christ - Ro 7:7-8:2
    4. WRITING TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS...
      1. By grace and special revelation he came to know the mystery of Christ - Ep 3:1-6
      2. By grace he received his ministry to preach the riches of Christ - Ep 3:7-8
    5. WRITING TO THE CHURCH IN PHILIPPI...
      1. He spoke of being "apprehended (laid hold) of Jesus Christ" - Php 3:10-12
      2. A possible reference to his conversion on the road to Damascus
    6. WRITING TO TIMOTHY...
      1. Thankful that Christ put him into the ministry - 1Ti 1:12
      2. Acknowledged that it was due to mercy and grace, for he was the chief of sinners - 1Ti 1:13-16
CONCLUSION
  1. Paul's conversion certainly had a great impact on the early church...
    1. It prompted them to glorify God in him - Ga 1:22-24
    2. His conversion proved a powerful testimony to the resurrection of Jesus
  2. Paul's conversion also had a great impact on his own life...
    1. He certainly did not consider himself worthy to be an apostle - 1Co 15:9
    2. But receiving God's grace motivated him to serve God diligently - 1Co 15:10

In our next study we shall notice the early years of Paul's service to God as a disciple of Jesus Christ. But as we conclude this lesson, consider how the grace of God affected your life, and whether or not it has had the effect it should...

"We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain." (2Co 6:1)