Meanwhile, Saul was...
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Last wk. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. God had brought Philip to Samaria, to the wilderness, and to the gentile city of Caesarea - because Philip was moveable. The HS could direct his paths because He was was open and available to the Lord - and everywhere Philip went people got saved. And the Ethiopian official found Jesus and went on his way back to Ethiopia rejoicing! (talk)
Last wk. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. God had brought Philip to Samaria, to the wilderness, and to the gentile city of Caesarea - because Philip was moveable. The HS could direct his paths because He was was open and available to the Lord - and everywhere Philip went people got saved. And the Ethiopian official found Jesus and went on his way back to Ethiopia rejoicing! (talk)
Last wk. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. God had brought Philip to Samaria, to the wilderness, and to the gentile city of Caesarea - because Philip was moveable. The HS could direct his paths because He was was open and available to the Lord - and everywhere Philip went people got saved. And the Ethiopian official found Jesus and went on his way back to Ethiopia rejoicing! (talk)
Now lets look at vs. 1&2 of (READ)
The Way
Damascus was a major city - connecting trade routes - the Gospel could spread quickly
Saul was important - a Big Deal - Boys like that
But being a big deal didn’t make him a good man - Look - all the good things going on with Philip but “meanwhile”, in co
contrast, “Paul was still breathing out murderous threats.”
What a miserable contrast. What a lesser man Saul was compared to Stephen and Philip. The book of Acts takes place over a span of about 40 years. Luke writes the whole thing - but who told Luke about what was going on in Saul’s mind at this time? Paul did! (talk)
- Saul falls to the ground - knocked off his high horse - this is where we all must find ourselves before Holy God
persecuting the church means persecuting Christ - The Venerable Bede pointed out that Christ declared that “ ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Jesus is gentle even with this evil man
I am Jesus - so get up and go - In other words BE MOVABLE - notice no long explanations - no supernatural hand-holding/hugs - just an expectation of obedience.
(Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one.) So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was unable to see for three days, and he did not eat or drink.
The mighty Saul - lead into town by his hand. Imagine Paul telling this story to his friend bet he laughed at himself as he told it.
-9
Saul encounters the living God - and he is profoundly altered. It is a process but the man who left Jerusalem is not the man who entered Damascus.
And he fasts! Now I don’t know if this was a fast of prayer and meditation - or if he was just completely emotionally too overwhelmed to eat. Could have been either or maybe even both. The thing to keep in mind though is that fasting doesn’t make you a super Christian and it doesn’t make your theology better, fasting is not magic and it is not a short cut to Holiness - but it is definitely Scriptural - found in the OT and NT. Jesus himself, fasted. Something profound was going on and Saul fasted. That sounds reasonable to me.
- Placing hands on him - Ananias goes because he too is movable. Saul now is being taught that he needs others. Ananias is also being taught to accept this former persecutor of the church! God’s plan is big enough to work on more than one person at a time.
Vs. 16 is incredibly chilling - I will teach Saul what it means to suffer in my name. Saul is saved and forgiven, but God still has lessons for him to learn and that is terrifying. If Paul were here I wouldn’t be surprised if he would say something along the lines of “Well if it is from the hand of the Lord it is good.” But we know what is in store for Saul/Paul!
“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones,three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”
For Saul/Paul - becoming a Christian didn’t mean his life would become easier. It wasn’t easier. It was right. puts it this way “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Acts 9:17- 20
So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
and he took food and was strengthened.
Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,
and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
What a dramatic turn in the story of Saul’s life. Three times in Acts we here about how Saul/Paul was saved. It was pivotal moment for the early church - and what a major turn in the history of the human race! (talk)
in Acts when the HS comes there is often a physical manifestation - when Pater spoke the Gospel at Pentecost people heard the message in their own language now the HS comes and Saul can see & the persecutor of the Baptized in Christ becomes baptized himself! Another lesson in humility and identity!
He encounters the rez Christ - gets his eye sight back & and what seems reasonable to Saul? What does he decide to do? He goes to the local synagogue and starts proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God!
No more – “Meanwhile Saul was…” Wasting his days with venom and rage while God works and blessings pass him by! (talk)