Saul Begins to Preach

October 11, 2015 Background Scripture: Acts 9:19b – 31 Lesson Passage: Acts 9:19b – 31 Nothing propels a person forward like a personal testimony. Indeed, sometimes it seems as though that’s all we have to motivate us. That appears to be the case with Saul in our lesson today. Saul had gained notoriety as a religious leader of the Jews who did not mind vigorously persecuting anyone who dared claim to be a follower of Jesus or “The Way” as it was called then. Saul had the support of the Jewish leadership who were in cahoots with the local Roman civil authority. In other words, Saul was given the authority to do or encourage whatever he chose to do in order to destroy what was believed to be a religious sect that threatened Judaism. As Saul traveled from Jerusalem to Damascus, his reputation preceded him for the Christians of Damascus knew who he was and what authority he had been granted to pursue Christians. But a funny thing happened to Saul on his way to Damascus, i.e., funny as in ironic. Saul had an encountered with Jesus—the risen Lord! Perhaps Saul had considered the gospel message of resurrection to just be a rumor but now he knew the realness of it. Certainly Saul knew the realness of the crucifixion and death of Jesus because it was orchestrated by his fellow Jewish leaders. But just maybe he did not accept the eye witnesses’ accounts of Jesus’ resurrection as a reality until he found himself on the ground having a one-on-one conversation with Jesus. Saul was between Jerusalem and Damascus on the ground and physically blind while engaged in a conversation with Jesus. Jesus was clear that he was taking it personal that Saul was persecuting the church which he had purchased with his own blood. Jesus’ question to Saul was: Why are you persecuting me? Jesus identified one hundred percent with the pain of the church. Jesus suffered when the church suffered but Saul was engaged in a losing battle to destroy the church. In a note of divine irony, it would be Saul the persecutor who would become the most recognized individual in ensuring the growth and stability of the church. Yes, the persecutor of the church would become the preacher of the gospel. I am really convinced that God has a wonderful sense of humor. Saul’s life gained new meaning on the Damascus road. That encounter with Jesus established Saul’s purpose for being born into this world. Saul’s life purpose was not what he might have supposed and that is to become a great religious leader of the Jews and to defend Judaism against all threats and perceived threats. Saul would become an important part of the foundation of the Christian faith. It would be Saul the Pharisee and not the fishermen or the tax collector who would deliver the biblical defense of the Christian faith. With all of his training and instruction in the Old Testament scriptures, Saul would write half of the New Testament scriptures to provide instructions and clarity to the church of Jesus Christ throughout the Church Age. Although the Christians who knew him as Saul the persecutor would be slow to accept his genuineness, they would come to appreciate the power of Christ to transform wayward people as they witnessed the transformation of Saul when he began to preach. Robert C. Hudson September 30, 2015