Weekly message : Compare and contrast the narratives of Saul met Jesus (Acts9 :1-20; 22:6-18;26:12-20 ) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Compare and contrast the narratives of Saul met Jesus ( (Acts 9:1-20; Acts 22:6-18; Acts 26:12-20)  By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries :Biblical precepts & Gospel Music ; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

 Today’s message, I would like to compare and contrast the narratives of Saul meeting Jesus according to Acts 9:1-20; Acts 22:6-18 ; Acts 26:12-20 . What was the purpose that Jesus appeared to Saul? Jesus sent Ananias to heal Saul’s eye, why was Ananias questioned about?  Saul’s name changed to Paul, what job Jesus assigned Paul to do?

 Ø  Jesus appeared to Saul in order to stop him from threatening and slaughtering the disciples.

Acts 9:1-20 (KJV)

 

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?   And he said,   Who art thou, Lord?           And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.                                                                        

 Ø  Ananias was perplexed and questioned about why?  

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

 

Ø  Ananias was sent by Jesus to heal Saul’s eyes as his assignment

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

 

Ø  Apostle Paul’s expression about himself how he met Jesus

 

 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, what shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.(Acts.22:6-18 KJV)

 

Ø  Apostle Paul’s second narratives about how he had seen and heard Jesus’ voice and commanded him to do the ministry as a minister and a witness.

 

In chapter 9 and Chapter 26 emphasized “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” And acts 26 12-20 the narrative added the job position that Jesus assigned for Saul to do.   

 

 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue,

Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon

thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Acts 26:12-20 (KJV)

 

Ø  Saul became Apostle Paul preached to the men of Athens where full of idols.

 

 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:22-31 KJV)

 After Apostle Paul’s preaching, a few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. (v.33)  

Jesus appeared to Saul a persecutor for a reason, in order to cease the slaughter and persecution, Jesus made Saul suffer greatly to bear His name, but Jesus also empowered him to be a chosen vessel to fulfill His purpose. Saul transformed and became Apostle Paul as a minister, a witness and sent out to minister his people and Gentiles, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Jesus.

What is the implication and application of Acts 9, 22, 26?

1) Don’t persecute, threaten and slaughter against Jesus’ disciples, you will suffer greatly for Jesus’ name as He said to Ananias, “I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake”.

            2) Obey Jesus’ commands; do not learn your own understanding as Ananias, who was perplexed and questioned about this mission, for Saul was an evil man. Jesus is the way, life and truth. Jesus was able to stop persecution and transformed an evil man into a vessel for His purpose, as He commanded Ananias “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

            3). Facing persecution, saints need to keep praying and ask Lord Jesus, send forth His light to guide and lead. What shall we do? What is His purpose? How to deal with the persecutors? Jesus was the Great One to stop Saul and transformed Saul into a minister and a witness instead of a persecutor. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore.  He said Saul,  for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

   

 

Bibliography,

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

            King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

                       

            Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

          

            Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.