Dynamic New Witness

                               Sunday School Lesson
                                            

Lesson: Acts 9:18-31 
                                                                                                 
Golden Text: “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20).
I.  INTRODUCTION.  It had to be a great surprise to both the friends and enemies of Christianity when God recruited maybe the worst foe to Christianity, to become a great missionary and defender of the faith.  Of course, that would be Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle Paul.  In this week’s lesson we take a look at the time soon after the conversion of Saul and note his fervent evangelistic witness for Christ.  He continued that fervency his whole life.  However, for most of us, our boldness and evangelistic zeal tend to diminish over the years.  As we study this lesson, let us renew our commitment to the evangelistic zeal we had when we first trusted Christ.
II. BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON.  At the stoning of Stephen, we are first introduced to a young man named Saul (see Acts 7:58), who later was called Paul after he and Barnabas left on their first missionary journey (see Acts 13:9).  After the burial of Stephen, Luke writes that Saul “made havoc of the church” entering believers’ homes and taking the men and women to prison (see Acts 8:2-3).  As a result of Saul’s actions against the church in Jerusalem, believers were scattered abroad preaching the word wherever they went (see Acts 8:4).  The next time Saul is mentioned is when he stepped up his war against Christians and went to the high priest to get authorization to go to the synagogues in Damascus, Syria and bring any believers he found back to Jerusalem (see Acts 9:1-2).  Damascus was the largest Jewish population center next to Jerusalem.  It was also a center of trade and movement of people.  This helped to further the spread of the Christian witness.  While travelling to Damascus, the Lord Jesus appeared to Saul who was blinded by a very bright light (see Acts 9:3).  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Saul said, “Who are you, Lord?”  Then the voice answered, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.  Get up and go into Damascus.  Someone there will tell you what you must do.”  The men traveling with Saul just stood there, unable to speak. They heard the voice, but they saw no one. Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but he couldn’t see.  So the men with him held his hand, and led him into Damascus.  For three days, Saul could not see nor did he eat or drink (see Acts 9:5-9).  Fasting was one of the signs of repentance for a Jew (see Daniel 9:3-6).  In the meantime, the Lord appeared to a certain man named Ananias in Damascus, telling him to find Saul and lay hands on him so that he would be able to see again (see Acts 9:10-12).  Ananias was reluctant to go look for Saul because of his reputation, but he obeyed the Lord.  When Ananias found Saul, he told him that he was the Lord’s chosen vessel who would take the gospel to the Gentiles (see Romans 11:13; Galatians 1:15-16; 2:7-9), but that he would also suffer for Christ’s sake (see Acts 9:13-16).  When Ananias laid hands on Saul, he told him that he was going to be filled with the Holy Ghost (see Acts 9:17).  This is where our lesson begins.  
III. SAUL REDEEMED FROM SIN (Acts 9:18-22) 
A. Saul receives his sight (Acts 9:18).  Continuing from verse 17, this verse says “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”  As soon as Ananias laid hands on Saul so that he could receive his sight, “immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales.”  Whether these were actual scales or not, we can’t be sure, because Luke describes them saying “as it had been scales” meaning “something that looked like fish scales.”  Since the Greek word translated “scales” comes from a word that means “to peel,” some scholars suggest that actual scales of some sort may have been covering Saul’s eyes.  Again, there is no evidence that this was the case.  Saul received his sight “forthwith” or immediately, and he “arose, and was baptized.”  No doubt, Saul was kneeling before Ananias as when he received his sight.  Therefore, he stood up and “was baptized.”  As noted throughout the book of Acts, those who trusted in Christ immediately obeyed the rite of baptism which was commanded by Jesus (see Matthew 28:19).  Water baptism also identified the believer with Christ and other believers (see Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:48; 16:33; 18:6).  The point was settled; Saul was now a disciple of Christ.  He not only stops opposing Christ, but he also devotes himself entirely to the Lord’s service and honor.
B. Saul receives food (Acts 9:19-20). 
1. (vs. 19).  This verse says “And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.”   Saul had gone three days without food, fasting.  This, along with the mighty weight that was upon his spirit, had made him very weak.  Therefore, “when he had received meat, he was strengthened.”  The word “meat” means food.  After eating, Saul received his bodily strength.  “Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.”  The term “disciples” refers to all the believers in Damascus and not the Twelve Disciples or Apostles, for they were still in Jerusalem (see Acts 8:1).  Luke does not tell us how long Saul was with the believers in Damascus; he only says that Saul spent “certain days” with them.
2. (vs. 20).  This verse says “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”  Soon after associating himself with other believers, Luke says that “straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”  In other words, soon Saul began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus “is the Son of God.”  Two points are made clear here.  First, where Saul preached: “in the synagogues of the Jews.”  The gospel was to be preached to the Jews first (Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16).  But when the Jews rejected the gospel message, Paul turned to the Gentiles, knowing that they would listen (see Acts 13:46-48; Romans 1:16).  The “synagogues” were the places where Jews preached against Christ and where Saul himself had often punished believers (see Acts 26:11).  Therefore, he openly professed Christianity in a place where he had once opposed it. Second, what Saul preached: “He preached Christ.”  From the time he began to be a preacher, Saul stuck to preaching Christ.  In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul said “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus our Lord” (see II Corinthians 4:5).  In other words, he preached nothing but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  The message that Saul preached concerning Christ was “that he is the Son of God,” His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased.  
C.  Saul receives strength (Acts 9:21-22).
1. (vs. 21).  This verse says “But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?”  As Saul preached to unbelieving Jews in the synagogue, “all that heard him were amazed.”  Anyone who heard Saul preach was “amazed” or astonished and confused by him.  Their confusion caused them to say among themselves “Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?”  Simply put, the unbelievers in Damascus were saying among one another “Isn’t this the same man, who in Jerusalem attacked those who called on this name (Jesus), and had come here (to Damascus) for the express purpose of bringing Jesus’ followers back to Jerusalem bound (in chains) before the chief priests?”  The people were astonished because now Saul was also calling on “this name” meaning Jesus, and was persuading others to call upon it.  It didn’t make any sense.  None of them could believe that Saul, the persecutor of Christians would ever preach Christ as he was now doing.
2. (vs. 22).  In this verse Luke writes “But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”  The phrase “But Saul increased the more in strength” most likely means that Saul became more powerful in his preaching and teaching.  His preaching was so powerful that he “confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”  In other words, as Saul grew stronger in the Word, he “confounded” or perplexed the Jews who were living in Damascus.  They were perplexed because Saul, no doubt used Scripture as we all should, in “proving that this (Jesus) is very Christ.”  The word “Christ” means Messiah or Anointed One.
IV. SAUL REMOVED FROM DAMASCUS (Acts 9:23-25)
A.  Saul’s execution planned (Acts 9:23-24). 
1. (vs. 23).  This verse says “And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him.”  The phrase “And after that many days were fulfilled” seems to indicate that there was a time gap between verses 22 and 23.  This time gap may be what Paul referred to in Galatians 1:17-18.  Sometime after the events of verse 22, Saul apparently spent some time in Arabia, then returned to Damascus to proclaim the gospel (see Galatians 1:17).  This is most likely where verse 23 comes into play.  During the time spent in Arabia, Paul stated that God was preparing him to preach Christ among the Gentiles (see Galatians 1:15-16).  When Saul returned to Damascus, he continued to preach the gospel with boldness which offended the unbelieving Jews who then “took counsel to kill him.”  The Jews were unable to counter Saul’s message that Jesus was the Messiah, so they “took counsel” or “plotted” to kill him.  Since they couldn’t stop the message, they decided to stop the messenger.  Some things never change!
2. (vs. 24). This verse says “But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.”  Luke does not tell us how, but somehow the plot to kill Saul became known by him, for Luke writes “But their laying await (in wait) was known of Saul.”  The plot to kill Saul was revealed in that “they watched the gates day and night to kill him.”  The word “they” refers to those the governor of Damascus appointed to guard (see II Corinthians 11:32) “the gates day and night” in order to apprehend Saul, if he tried to leave the city.  If he did and was captured, he would be killed.            
B. Saul’s escape performed (Acts 9:25).  In this verse, Luke went on to say “Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.”  Having learned of the plot to kill Saul, “the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.”  The term “disciples” refers to Christians in Damascus not the Twelve Disciples.  Later, “the disciples” would be called “Christians” (see Acts 11:26), a description that appears in only two other places in the Bible (see Acts 26:28; I Peter 4:16). These “disciples” or followers of Christ, helped Saul escape by letting him down the city wall in a basket at night so that he wouldn’t be seen by the guards.
V. SAUL REBUFFED BY THE JERUSALEM CHRISTIANS (Acts 9:26-27) 
A. Saul’s attempt to join other believers in Damascus (Acts 9:26).  In this verse Luke writes “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.”  It appears from Galatians 1:16-18, that it was only after Saul had been saved for three years that he “was come to Jerusalem” meaning he returned to Jerusalem.  This was the first time he had been back to Jerusalem since he asked the high priest for letters authorizing him to go to Damascus to find Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem to be dealt with.  After three years (see Galatians 1:10) Saul returned to Jerusalem and “he assayed to join himself to the disciples.”  The term “assayed” means to “attempt” or “try” indicating that Saul tried to join the other followers of Christ in Jerusalem and be included in their fellowship.  However, the response of these disciples was that “they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.”  Saul therefore, was a man without a people.  He was seen as a traitor to his former associates who opposed Christ, and his new brethren in Jerusalem couldn’t afford to trust him.
B. Barnabas intervenes for Saul (Acts 9:27).  This verse says “But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”  Whereas most, if not all the believers in Jerusalem didn’t believe that Saul was saved, “Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles.”  Providentially, there was one who believed that Saul’s conversion was genuine.  “Barnabas” of Cyprus had already encouraged the Jerusalem church with his generosity (see Acts 4:36-37) proving the accuracy of his name “son of consolation.”  Now he’s encouraging Saul.  “Barnabas” took Saul to himself and accepted the responsibility of obtaining Saul’s acceptance by the rest of the believers.  He “brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he (Saul) had seen the Lord in the way.”  Barnabas related the facts regarding Saul’s changed life to the “apostles” first.  Even the church leaders, the apostles, had stayed away from Saul, so the first step in reassuring the whole church was to convince the apostles.  He told them how Saul “had seen the Lord in the way.”  The words “in the way” is a reference to the road to Damascus (see Acts 9:3).  Barnabas told the apostles how Jesus had appeared to this one-time persecutor and saved him.  He knew all about Saul’s experience because “he (Barnabas) had spoken to him (Saul).”  Barnabas apparently spent time alone with Saul and heard his remarkable story, and was convinced that it was true.  Barnabas also told the apostles “how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”  It’s quite possible that Barnabas may have also heard Saul preach in Damascus in one of the synagogues where foreign Jews worshipped (see Acts 6:9).      
VI. SAUL RECEIVED BY THE APOSTLES (Acts 9:28-31)     A. Christ is proclaimed (Acts 9:28-29).
1. (vs. 28). This verse says “And he (Saul) was with them (the apostles) coming in and going out at Jerusalem.”  The word “them” here most likely refers to the apostles, particularly Peter and James.  Saul later said that he saw only two apostles in Jerusalem at that time, Peter and the Lord’s half brother James (see Galatians 1:18-19).  The fact that Saul “was with them” means that he was accepted by Peter and James which no doubt opened the door of fellowship with other believers.  The phrase “coming in and going out at Jerusalem” means that Saul was able to move freely in the company of the apostles in and out of Jerusalem.
2. (vs. 29).  This verse says “And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.”  Saul was now able to move freely in Jerusalem, so he “spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  With no hindrances at this time, Saul preached the gospel “boldly” in Jesus’ name.  As he spoke boldly, he “disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.”  Saul’s boldness led him back into the same synagogue where Stephen had testified of Christ (see Acts 6:9).  He “disputed against the Grecians” means that he debated with the Hellenistic Jews with the idea of convincing them of the Christian faith.  These Jews are here called “Grecians” because they were from Greek speaking areas, and they spoke Greek not Hebrew.  The result of Saul’s debates with them was that “they went about to slay him.”  Unable to answer his arguments, these “Grecians” or Hellenistic Jews, resorted to the ultimate weapon used by intellectual cowards---murder.
B. The church at Jerusalem moves forward (Acts 9:30-31).
1. (vs. 30).  This verse says “Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.”  The phrase “Which when the brethren knew” refers to the plan of the Grecians to kill Saul (see Acts 9:29).  The Greek word translated “knew” signifies an accurate and certain knowledge.  They didn’t act on hearsay; this threat to Saul was real.  The term “brethren” or “brothers” refers to the other believers in Jerusalem who had now come to accept Saul as one of their own.When the fellow Christians learned of the plot to kill Saul, “they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.”  Saul was hurried away by his new brethren to “Caesarea” which was a seaport city along the Mediterranean Sea, the logical place to book passage to another location.  “Caesarea” was also the governmental headquarters of the Roman province of Judaea.  From “Caesarea” Saul was sent “forth to Tarsus” his hometown (see Acts 9:11).  “Tarsus” was located in what is today southern Turkey and was also a notable city in the Roman world (see Acts 21:39) with a significant Jewish population.  It’s quite possible that the believers felt that it was best for Saul to return to his hometown of “Tarsus.”  Being in a familiar place can oftentimes enhance a person’s safety.              
 2. (vs. 31).  In our final verse, Luke writes “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”  With the conversion of Saul, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified.”  Because Saul was now a disciple of Christ, all the turmoil caused by this former persecutor ended, and the believers enjoyed a period of “rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria” meaning that the churches throughout Palestine experienced relative peace from persecution.  During this time, the churches “were edified” or built up in their faith.  They were also “walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”  In other words, the believers in Palestine showed their respect or reverence for the Lord by the way they lived, and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church continued to grow.      
                                    
VII. Conclusion.  In this week’s lesson, Luke uses the conversion of Saul to bring to a close the Christian mission of bringing the gospel to the Jews.  The Jewish Saul's rejection of Christianity, and Judaism's rejection of Saul, the Christian Jew brings to a close the purely Jewish mission of Jerusalem Christians.  There are many reasons to believe that the Christian faith is from God.  Among them are the many changed lives that have occurred through the centuries.  In this week’s lesson, Luke has shown us one of the most dramatic conversions, that of Saul (Paul) of Tarsus.  Saul made a big impact in Damascus and Jerusalem even though he was a new believer.  We, like Saul may have been bold witnesses for Christ when we were first saved, but for some reason we may have backed off somewhat from that eagerness.  We can regain that fervency we once had simply by again giving our testimony, telling family and friends what Christ has done for us.