Jesus Can Turn Things Around
Notes
Transcript
And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
I’m sure everyone here can agree that sometimes we need Jesus to turn things around for us...
For our nation.
For our family.
For our church.
Studying the scriptures can help us remember that Jesus has the power to turn things around.
My sermon today is titled “Jesus Can Turn Things Around.”
We sometimes hope for Jesus to turn things around. Usually, I think most of us know he can, but we lack the confidence in him actually doing it.
I want us to look at these scriptures today and find encouragement. I want us to find encouragement from the first century church where Jesus turned things around for them.
Four ways Jesus turned things around for the Church...
In verses 23-25
The first way Jesus turned things around for the church is seen in how...
Saul Went From Hunting Christians to Being a Hunted Christian
Saul Went From Hunting Christians to Being a Hunted Christian
Remember, when Saul was on his way to Damascus, he was hoping to hunt down people who associated with Jesus. He was on a mission to imprison and potentially kill christians.
But, on his way, Jesus appeared to him. Jesus intervened. And Saul was given a new mission.
And he was immediately successful in his new mission.
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
“But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”
Saul essentially began to stump the people he was sent to Damascus to help fight Christians.
Imagine expecting someone to be your star player on your team only to see them join the other team and out perform you at every turn. This is essentially what Saul did. These Jewish leaders had to be extremely disappointed and frustrated.
“When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul.”
I like what the CSB Study Bible says about this...
CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 9
After many days pictures Saul dutifully preaching Jesus as Messiah for long enough to become the uppermost enemy of unbelieving Jews in Damascus. He had come to help their struggle against the growing Christian movement, but now he had become the chief cause of its growth.
So, Saul’s effective witness and defense of the gospel movement enraged the people who expected him to help them stop it. Now they decide he must die! “If you can’t beat em, just kill em!”
Now this whole plot to kill Saul ordeal likely came to fruition about three years after his conversion.
We also know from 2 Corinthians that the Jewish leaders received help from a Nabatean governor to organize and execute this plot. The Nabatean’s had jurisdiction over Damascus and Arabia.
Saul must have made a lot of enemies while he was in Damascus and Arabia.
Sometimes preaching the truth of the gospel will make you enemies.
Look at how committed they were to killing their new enemy, Saul.
“They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,”
That is some serious dedication.
They were willing to lose sleep just to watch the gates for Saul. They really wanted him dead.
This week I went to pick up a mic from Bronstein’s music. The lady and her young daughter in front of me in line parked in a reserved parking spot. I noticed a guy who worked at the business that used the parking spots watching them. I’m not kidding, he eyeballed them for almost 10 minutes. Waiting to strike. As soon as they walked back to the car, he went in for the kill. I seriously thought to myself, “that guy is serious about his parking spot.”
These Jewish leaders and their co conspirators were super serious about wanting Saul dead.
“but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.”
Notice how it says “his disciples”. The NLT and the KJV say it was “some disciples”. But the greek text is explicitly saying that these were “disciples of Saul”
His preaching, teaching, and disputing was so effective that he essentially became a Christian Rabbi in Damascus.
This gives us a picture into just how gifted and effective God made Saul for this mission he had for him.
Saul lived to fight another day. Former hunter of Christians is now a Christian running for his life.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9
The Holy Spirit intervenes again and again to protect Saul
Maybe you were once a “hunter” of Christians. Maybe you loved to dispute with Christians before you became convinced of the gospel.
Maybe you are still a hunter. You better be ready. God can make you trade places with your opponents in an instant. Saul went from being a hunter of Christians to becoming a hunted Christian.
If you know someone who loves combating Christians. Someone too “woke” for the gospel. Don’t give up hope on them. Jesus can turn things around dramatically.
The first way Jesus turned things around for the church is seen in how...
Saul Went From Hunting Christians to Being a Hunted Christian
Saul Went From Hunting Christians to Being a Hunted Christian
The second way Jesus turned things around for the church is seen in how...
Saul Went From Being a Potential Spy to Being a Revered Apostle
Saul Went From Being a Potential Spy to Being a Revered Apostle
We see in these verses that the Church in Jerusalem had a reaction to Saul similar to Ananias’ reaction.
At this point, Saul hadn’t been back to Jerusalem in over three years. I’m sure word about Saul’s conversion traveled back to them. But, seeing as his reputation was that bad, and many of the disciples in Jerusalem were probably recipients of Saul’s persecution before he left for Damascus, it’s no surprise we are reading what we are reading.
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
“And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.”
Even though he wasn’t immediately embraced, it’s beautiful that Saul sought out the church.
“he attempted to join the disciples”
Saul’s purpose and bond was no longer found in the community he used to frequent. The religious Jewish community.
His place was now amongst the Church of Christ.
This is his new family. A family he used to persecute and terrorize.
Because of his past, they were suspicious of him.
The text doesn’t seem to indicate that the church was sinning in doing this. It’s just there. They thought he was a spy.
But look at Barnabas. Good ole Barnabas. A good man full of the Holy Spirit. Son of encouragement. Rightly named.
“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles”
When it says “Barnabas took him” it uses a word that describes taking someone by the hand, lifting them up, and assisting that person forward.
That is essentially what encouragement is. Barnabas fulfills the name the Apostles bestowed him with.
And Barnabas essentially ushered him in to the presence of the Apostles.
He brought him in. He put his own neck on the line for Saul.
Oh… MAY WE ALL BE BARNABAS!
He vouched for Saul.
“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.”
We are told from another text that the apostles Saul was brought to were Peter and James.
Okay, here is what is really cool about what Barnabas did. He pointed out and attested to three very important things about Saul.
Saul saw the physically resurrected and glorified Jesus.
Seeing Jesus like this was a huge deal. An apostolic qualifier
Saul spoke to the physically resurrected and glorified Jesus.
Speaking to Jesus was also a huge deal. He’s essentially confirming that Saul was called out by Jesus to follow him. This is the same callout the Apostles received from Jesus during his earthly ministry.
Saul preached in the name of the physically resurrected and glorified Jesus.
Saul was participating in the same ministry that had been entrusted to the Apostles.
He was “preaching boldly in the name of Jesus”
Barnabas was not only vouching for Saul’s authentic conversion, but also his status as an Apostle.
“So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.”
When it says “he went in and out among them”, the “them” it is referencing is the Apostles. Not just the disciples at large.
The New American Commentary: Acts Persecuted in Jerusalem (9:26–31)
Barnabas fulfilled his mediating role, securing Paul’s acceptance in the apostolic circle. Paul was now “with them” (v. 28).
And he kept on preaching.
Saul went from being a suspected church infiltrator to being a respected church leader.
That could happen here with us.
God might eventually bring someone here who everyone is suspicious of and then put them in lead positions within the church.
And when God does that, rather than resist, we must celebrate it and do what we can, like Barnabas did in order to put the people God wants in leadership into leadership.
Sometimes our initial lacking is lacking full perspective.
The second way Jesus turned things around for the church is seen in how...
Saul Went From Being a Potential Spy to Being a Revered Apostle
Saul Went From Being a Potential Spy to Being a Revered Apostle
The third way Jesus turned things around for the church is seen in how...
Saul Replaced The Preacher He Helped to Execute
Saul Replaced The Preacher He Helped to Execute
Saul spoke and disputed to the very group he helped kill Stephen.
If we go back a little bit to Acts 6, we see this...
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Luke used some more specific descriptors in Acts 6 like, “Synagogue of the Freedmen”, “Cyrenians”, “Alexandrians”, “Cilicia” (Saul’s home area), and “Asia”.
All of these essentially point to them being “Hellenist Jews”. Meaning, Greek Speaking, or of the Greek culture.
Stephen was himself likely a Hellenistic Jewish Christian.
Saul was of those in the group who participated in murdering Stephen.
Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Saul helped Stephen’s killers throw harder and lift up bigger rocks to kill him with.
And now we see a huge role reversal
And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
“And he (Saul) spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.”
This group probably consisted of some of Saul’s friends. Some of the very people he held coats for several years back.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles H. Saul Preaches in Damascus and Jerusalem (9:19b–31)
He assumes the role of Stephen in debating with Hellenistic Jews, who then plot to kill him (9:29; cf. 6:9–11).
Imagine the conversation that probably took place.
“Guys, remember that guy we all framed and killed a few years back, who claimed that Jesus of Nazareth died and resurrected from the grave. That guy Stephen called him our Messiah! Well, I met this Jesus he spoke of. He’s alive, and He’s the son of God. We were wrong...”
This would have gone back and forth.
We saw that in Damascus, the Jews were surprised by the fact that Saul was preaching Christ. Imagine how surprised these Hellenists were to hear Saul preaching and defending Jesus… Not just preaching and defending Jesus, but doing it well!
Some people with a bad reputation get converted. Many people may not know the person but they know his reputation. It’s one thing to see a man, you don’t know but you know his reputation, living for Jesus. But it’s even more impactful to know someone, witness their life before Christ, and then see them a new person in Christ, living for Christ. That’s huge. ]
Sadly, rather than head this new Saul, they tried to kill him.
“But they were seeking to kill him.”
Funny, we’ve seen this before in verse 23. The Jewish leaders in Damascus plotted to kill Saul because he preached and defended the gospel well.
So full blooded Jewish Leaders and Hellenist Jewish Leaders want Saul dead. This guy can’t catch a break!
I like what the ESV Study Bible says about these plots.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9
plotted to kill him. Enemies of the gospel cannot defeat it by free and open debate, so they often resort to force, falsehood, murder, and governmental suppression
Sadly, this matches the testimony of history.
What are we to do!?
Let’s see what the church did...
“ And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.”
They smuggle Saul out. Just like they did in Damascus. Likely, Saul took a boat from Caesarea back to his hometown.
It’s not wrong to run when hard hearts won’t soften.
My guess is that when Stephen was preaching to and disputing with the Hellenists, the church didn’t anticipate him being murdered. The text doesn’t tell us if that had happened before Stephen. But, most likely, Luke would tell us if it had. They now know better.
The disciples don’t want a repeat of what happened to Stephen.
I also know God didn’t either. Paul tells us something in Acts 22 that Luke doesn’t mention here.
Act 22:17-21
“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
I like how we see God refilling Stephen’s shoes with Saul’s feet. Even if it was only for a short time.
No one would have guessed that a few years after Stephen was executed, one of his executors would be stepping in for him.
We’ve seen people pass away recently. People we love and cherish. They, themselves will never be replaced in our hearts. But we can pray and expect for God to fill their shoes in areas they served.
Children’s Ministry
Hospitality
Teaching
Evangelism
Sometimes, those who replace them will surprise us.
The third way Jesus turned things around for the church is seen in how...
Saul Replaced The Preacher He Helped to Execute
Saul Replaced The Preacher He Helped to Execute
The fourth way Jesus turned things around for the church is seen in how…
Saul’s Conversion Transitioned Persecution to Peace
Saul’s Conversion Transitioned Persecution to Peace
After Stephen’s death, we read in Acts 8:1 that a great persecution started against the church which pushed Christians to leave Jerusalem.
And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
This verse marked a transition for the narrative. It introduced a time of uncertainty and pain. But, God used it to bring about church expansion outside of Jerusalem, to Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.
So, Saul’s approval of Stephen’s execution is what’s mentioned just before that transition. And then, this transition is preceded by Saul replacing Stephen as a preacher to the Hellenists.
Now look what it says in 9:31, Luke’s going to show us that the church will now experience peace and grow stronger.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up.”
Notice here that it’s not just the church in Jerusalem that Luke is talking about.
This is a period of peace and strengthening for the church in “All Judea and Galilee and Samaria”
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9
whole world (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 5:25). Peace came to the church after the conversion of its prime persecutor
When Jesus took hold of Saul, and renovated his life mission, it had far reaching effects.
Luke seems to want us, the readers, to believe that Saul was a major contributor to the oppression and fear the church experienced between Acts 8 and 10.
And now that Saul is fighting for the Messiah that he used to fight against, the church is prospering. It’s growing. It has peace.
Not just that, but likely the continued faithfulness of people like Philip and other normal disciples effected how this peace and strengthening grew.
Rather than the church retreating and hiding during opposition, the church and it’s leaders continued the mission of Jesus despite people like Saul “ravaging” them and causing “havoc” for them.
The church endured, remained faithful, and moved forward during a time of severe danger. This likely contributed to them growing even stronger after the conversion of their greatest threat.
They didn’t shrink back in fear of Man during this time.
“And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
Who did they fear?
“the Lord”
Not that they were afraid of God like he was some cosmic abuser.
They knew who rightly deserved reverence and respect. They didn’t fear him who could only kill the flesh.
They feared him who could destroy both body and soul in hell.
They feared God during and after a time where people like Saul were saying “fear me!”
They walked in the fear of the Lord.
And the text says they experienced “the comfort of the Holy Spirit...”
Walking in the fear of God with God.
They Multiplied.
Grew in numbers. More people were converted.
That means they kept preaching the gospel and calling people to repentance.
There are three things the church experienced as Jesus turned things around in this verse:
They Experienced A Period of Peace.
They Experienced A Period of Strengthening.
They Experienced A Period of Multiplication.
I’m not sure about you, but I’ve been very concerned about whats next after CoronaVirus and this civil unrest we are experiencing.
My hope and prayer is that Jesus turns this time of distress into a time of blessing.
My encouragement to you is for you to pray for these three things we see in this verse.
Pray that God would let us...
Experience a period of peace.
Experience a period of strengthening.
Experience a period of multiplication.
The fourth way Jesus turned things around for the church is seen in how…
Saul’s Conversion Transitioned Persecution to Peace
Saul’s Conversion Transitioned Persecution to Peace
Conclusion
The Hunter Became the Hunted.
The Potential Spy became a Revered Apostle.
The Murderer replaced the preacher he helped to murder.
This new convert transitioned the church from persecution to peace.
There is a lot more in store for this man, Saul.
We will see Jesus use him a lot more as we continue studying acts...
For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
The New American Commentary: Acts Persecuted in Damascus (9:23–25)
The remainder of the Pauline conversion narrative illustrates the fulfillment of 9:16. Paul the persecuted became Paul the sufferer, first in Damascus (vv. 23–25) and then in Jerusalem (vv. 26–30). The Jerusalem section also legitimizes the ministry of Paul because he was then accepted by the circle of apostles. A summary statement (v. 31) caps off the whole of 9:1–30.
If Jesus can change Saul’s story, He can change anyone’s story.
Strangely enough, when Jesus changed Saul’s story, He also changed the entire church’s story.
Jesus can turn things around!
Do you believe it?