15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is
a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings,
and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show
him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." Acts
9:15 - 16
Previously, we began to speak about what we believe as the people
of God and our witness. The Lord has committed to us such a powerful
word. The gospel that has been committed to us has the power to
change lives in such a radical way. I often think about how much
the Lord has changed my life; the very way I think and see things,
and I am often amazed. I sometimes look at myself and wonder, “Who
are you?” I know that sounds pretty crazy, but it is true.
The Bible clearly states that we will be new creatures if we are
in Christ. I have experienced this first hand.
How is it that we can observe and behold our lives, yet fail to
believe that the gospel has the same power to touch others’
lives? It is not that we do not believe that people can be saved;
we just do not believe that people will be saved because we hoard
the word of God, and keep it to ourselves. There are many opportunities
for us to reach out and give our testimony of what the Lord has
done in our lives. Everyone has a circle of influence. It is up
to us to testify of the grace of the Lord. We have a power to change
lives and if we would ever believe in the power that has been committed
to us, we would begin to see a change in this society. I believe
that the men and women of God will begin to stand up and declare
the righteousness of the Lord and we will witness a change in this
earth. I just know that it has to be that way!
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues,
that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard
were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those
who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that
purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?"
Acts 9:20 - 21
There is so much that we could cover in this message, but I would
just like to highlight a few things. The context of this scripture
is that Saul had just had his conversion experience. The first thing
that we can note about his change was that it was radical. The most
unlikely man at the time to be saved was not only converted, but
he also became the leading apostle to the Gentiles. This is especially
unusual considering that it was so against Jewish tradition to mingle
and reach out to the Gentiles. Many times Paul encountered more
resistance from his fellow Jews because of his practice of reaching
out to those who were “unclean”.
Paul was completely dedicated to his religion. He excelled in it
like no other. The fact that he had such an intense conversion is
so significant that Luke records his conversion three times in the
book of Acts. This is something that Paul used often to explain
the change that happened in his life. He had a testimony and had
no problem telling it whenever he got the chance. He explained how
that at one time he “wasted” the church by persecuting
it. He was saying that he was attempting to destroy it. The fact
that he was standing there preaching to the people was such a radical
change that people; even believers did not believe that he was saved.
We can see this clearly from verse 26:
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried
to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did
not believe that he was a disciple. Acts 9:26
They did not believe that he was a disciple. Perhaps this was a
plan of deception on the part of Paul to trap the Christians. The
very same person who had received orders from the government to
throw all the Christians in jail was now promoting the message that
he so previously despised. This change is significant. There was
no earthly advantage at all for Paul to convert in this manner.
Why else would he have done such a thing if he did not have an encounter
with the Lord? Paul stood to gain so much more financially and status
wise, that there would be no reason whatsoever for him to go against
everything that he had worked so hard to gain if he had not truly
had a life-changing experience. The life-changing experience that
we read about was his encounter with Jesus.
Another thing that I want to point out from verse 20 is that he
immediately began to preach in the synagogues. When someone has
truly had a conversion experience, he or she will immediately begin
to preach Christ. Paul did not waste any time. He went directly
into the synagogue to tell his fellow compatriots about his newfound
faith. He understood the error in his ways and began to dispute
with the teachers of the law in the synagogue. He was concerned
about lives. He wanted other people to see the truth and the light
as he had come to know the truth. He realized that everything he
worked so hard to be was not actually what he needed. Instead, he
needed to be acquainted and surrendered to the very life of Christ.
This is what he wanted the people to know. This is why he went into
the synagogue to tell and preach about it. This is one of the signs
that the Holy Spirit is in someone: do they preach Christ? Many
people are preaching things other than Christ, but the Holy Spirit
was given for the purpose to testify of Christ.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,
He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own
authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell
you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for
He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. John
16:13 – 14 (emphasis mine)
What was Paul’s reaction to the doubts of the people? Did
he get discouraged just because people did not believe that he had
actually been saved? On the contrary, we find that Paul increased
in strength and continued to do what he was called to do.
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength,
and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this
Jesus is the Christ. Acts 9:22
How did Paul (Saul here; his name still had not been changed) confound
the Jews? He proved to them that Jesus is the Christ. He did this
by the Scriptures. The Scriptures were the Old Testament passages.
There was no such thing as the New Testament at this point, it was
being written by their lives. Paul was able to show and prove to
the Jews that Jesus is the Christ out of the scriptures. There are
those who over-spiritualize the Old Testament, failing to discern
that these were real people in real times who did real things. Because
people lose the historical context of the Old Testament, they fail
to understand God’s redemptive history and plan to its fullness.
There is so much we miss because we do not study the Old Testament
properly. There is a lot more that I could say about that, but I
guess I will step off that soapbox for now. Consider this: the Old
Testament was quoted by all of the New Testament writers, including
Jesus. Thirty of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament are
found referenced in the New Testament. You tell me how important
the proper knowledge of the Old Testament is.
Three years later, Paul returns to Jerusalem and we find him again
disputing with the religious people of the day. At this point, he
was speaking to the Hellenistic Jews. These were Jews by birth that
were born and raised in Greece and the language thereof.
29 And he [Paul] spoke boldly in the name of the
Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted
to kill him. Acts 9:29
Why did they attempt to kill him? They could not resist the reason
and proof that Paul was able to give. Considering that he was able
to do this, what does that say about Paul? It shows that he knew
his word. He was able to give good reason for his conversion. He
disputed with them. Dispute here means literally, “to examine
together”. God has never advocated that we be brainless. We
should be able to reason with people; there is nothing against that.
There are people who will not reason with those who will give good
arguments for their position that happens to be against Christianity.
Then, we will fall back on the scripture given to Timothy: avoid
foolish and unlearned questions. However, if the questions are formed
through good reason, it is our duty to always be ready to give good
reason. When the followers of Christ reasoned with people in the
book of Acts, people became frustrated to the point of wanting to
literally kill them. Obviously, their arguments must have been fairly
irrefutable.
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came
to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath
day and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the
Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them,
saying, "Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation
for the people, say on." 16 Then Paul stood
up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you
who fear God, listen: Acts 13:14 – 16
Paul, now in Antioch, again went into the synagogue. He begins to
preach the gospel of Christ.
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue,
the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the
next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had
broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul
and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue
in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost
the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy;
and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken
by Paul. Acts 13: 42 – 45
Some rejected the words that Paul was speaking, but there were many
who wanted to hear more. By the next Sabbath, almost the entire
city came to hear the word of God. Paul, preaching the word once
sparked such an interest, that almost the entire city came to hear
it. That sounds awfully significant and powerful to me. One word
that was committed to Paul went out and caused an entire city to
be affected. Is that what we believe about the word of God? We have
the same word. There is only one true word, and we have been given
the same word that caused uproar back in these days. The question
is do we believe it? As a result of the success of the word, it
started to be spread throughout the region, and Paul and Barnabas
were kicked out of the region:
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout
all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the
devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised
up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from
their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from
their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:49 – 52
Paul, being forced to the next city, again went to the synagogue
and continued to do what he always did:
1 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together
to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude
both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their
minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed
there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing
witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to
be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of
the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the
apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made
by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone
them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra
and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7
And they were preaching the gospel there. Acts 14:1
– 7
I emphasized the fact that they were preaching the gospel again
after having been forced out of Iconium. They were relentless. They
were being persecuted, but with every persecution, they became bolder
and bolder. Luke says a great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed
as a result of their preaching. This is the whole reason why they
were constantly being forced out of cities and regions. Their word
was so powerful; so life changing, that people were kicking them
out of entire cities! That is amazing when you think about it.
19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there;
and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged
him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20
However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and
went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to
Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel
to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium,
and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the
disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying,
"We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
Acts 14:19 – 22
Paul was stoned to the point of near death. However, this did not
shake or move him. Instead, he continued on his mission. He went
to Derbe, made disciples, and returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch:
the three places were forced out of the city. These were the same
places they had received intense opposition. However, the souls
of the disciples there were more important to Paul than his own
life. Paul’s ministry was spreading, and wherever he went,
he had a huge impact! I think we will close with this next passage:
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and
Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue
of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went
in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ
had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This
Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." 4
And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout
Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming
envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering
a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason,
and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 But
when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren
to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned
the world upside down have come here too. Acts 17:1
– 6
Again, Paul went into the synagogue (are you seeing a pattern develop
here). Luke said that this was Paul’s custom to do. He reasoned
with them for three weeks. What was the content of his reasoning?
He explained and demonstrated that Christ had to suffer and rise
again. He showed that Jesus fulfilled these prophecies from the
Old Testament. Paul was very skilled in demonstrating the divinity
of Christ. We should be able to do the same; so are we able?
There were many who were persuaded, but then there were the unbelievers.
The unbelievers created uproar, and attacked one of the saints.
Consider their words: “These who have turned the world upside
down have come here too”. The few apostles of Christ had “turned
the world upside down.” They had made such an impact in the
world that their name preceded them. They had no CNN, no Internet,
no printed press, but their name had gone out. They had a message
that could not be resisted. People knew who these people of the
Way were.
We briefly looked in days in the life of one life of a man that
has made an impact in the world that will never be forgotten. All
of us who are not Jews can be thankful to Paul for his obedience
to his calling because he has affected each of our lives with his
ministry: he had a ministry to the Gentiles. There are so many words
that we can learn that Paul wrote. It was his one life that made
such an impact. The one word that he was given had a power to change
lives and cause entire cities to be thrown into an uproar. Finally,
it was his one testimony that stuck with him throughout and reminded
him where his calling originated. It was what kept him going. He
used it to explain to people that his call was divine rather than
human in origin. There are so many accounts that I have left out
for the sake of time and space, but I encourage you to take a closer
look into the life of this man. The things that he did through the
Spirit are nothing short than amazing! One life, one word, and one
testimony: will you allow the Lord to use this in you? Amen.
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