Acts Of The Apostles (13 Of 39)

There is a small similarity between Saul’s conversion and that of the Ethiopian eunuch. They were both converted on a road.

One of the differences in these two conversion is that the Ethiopian eunuch was converted in a chariot, and Saul was converted laying on the ground.

It is a marvelous thing HOW GOD SAVES PEOPLE, and WHERE HE SAVES THEM.

When Saul gave his heart to the Lord, he became Paul, a devoted disciple of the Lord.

Let’s look at

I. THE DRAMATIC SALVATION OF PAUL

When the church was being persecuted, especially after the stoning of Stephen, the church went underground for obvious reasons.

Paul was a very devout Jew, and he felt as a Jew, that Christianity was a threat to everything he had been raised to believe was right.

And since the church had gone underground, the Bible tells us in verses 1-2, “ 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.”

Let’s look at three things in this sermon concerning Paul’s conversion. We want to look at-

A. HIS HATRED

Look at verse 1, we read, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest.”

Look at the words “Breathing out”. This implies that he was really upset.

Have you ever seen anyone that was angry and they are breathing hard?

This is they way the apostle Paul was. Remember he was a devout Jew, and he saw these Christians as a real threat to Judaism.

He hunted down Christians the same way a hunter would hunt down animals.

He went to the high priest to get permission to hunt these Christians down, and to bring them to Jerusalem to be tried and executed.

We have looked at HIS HATRED, but let us also look at-

B. HIS HEART

Look at verse 2, we read, “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.”

Paul volunteered to give his time and energy to seek out these Christians.

He went to the high priest to get permission to seek them out in the places they were hiding, and bring them in for a trial so they can be executed.

Notice, he included everyone of them, MEN AND WOMEN.

But notice, in verse 2, Christianity is not pictured as a religion, but as a WAY.

Look at these words in verse 2, we read, “…that if he found any of THIS WAY.”

That is exactly what Christianity is, it is a WAY.

And Christ came along and agreed with that, and said, “I am the WAY!”

Look at:

• Acts 16:17 He is the way of salvation.

• Roman 3:17 He is way of peace.

• 2 Peter 2:2 He is the way of truth.

• 2 Peter 2:21 He is the way of righteousness.

Paul, at this point in his life, despised THIS WAY that Christians believe in.

But as he set out to destroy these Christians, the Lord had something else planned, look at-

C. HIS HOPE

He was granted permission to find these Christians and bring them in.

But as he was going to Damascus, something absolutely amazing happened in his life.

Look at verses 3-9. We read, “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.”

Paul, in his effort to destroy the Christian church, had no idea what was about to take place when God knocked him off that donkey.

Look at verses 5-6, “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.”