Eating The Fruit Of Your Labor - Part I Series

Vs 17-19 He received the tools he needed to begin the new labor; first his sight was restored, secondly, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and was baptized, and thirdly, he received physical food for body strength.

Power had now changed hands, his labor was not to cause havoc to the church any longer, rather, to build the church.

Vs 20-22 He began his new labor immediately, preaching to christianzzzz in the house of God. He angered the Jews as he continued to perform his new tasks. The more he labored, the more strengthened he became.

Two things signified that Saul's labor had changed, and they represented the fact that power indeed had changed hands -

His former compatriots now wanted to kill him (vs 23-25).

The church had peace and were edified (vs31). Saul's labor for the kingdom of darkness was so singlehandedly intent and powerful enough to throw the whole church into havoc. Now with the change in power, there was peace. Imagine if the Lord had not intercepted him. With this change, christianzzzz were hearing the real message, they were becoming bolder, even if a new Saul-like principality arises in the church, they are now christians - with the ability to confront and pull down strongholds.

The conversion did not precede the name change from Saul to Paul. Throughout Acts 9, Jesus referred to him as Saul (vs 11,17,22,23-24,26 ). He carried both names from the beginning - Acts 13:9 - see vs 6-9 where he was still referred to as Saul, but now and Paul. Perhaps both were his names, but that is not important. The main point is, Saul was Paul.

Post conversion labor - preaching to Jews and non Jews alike, and the government.

Many of the labor came with persecution and affliction:

Acts 9:29 attempted to be put to death

Acts 13:50 he was deported

Acts 14:5 attempted mistreatment and stone him

Acts 14:19 stoned, dragged and supposedly dead

Acts 16:22 order to be beaten with rods

Acts 18:12 prosecuted for preaching Christ

Acts 21:36; 22:22 mobbed

Acts 23:10 almost torn to pieces

1 Cor 4:12 he confessed that he TOILED, worked with his hands, was reviled, was persecuted, struck down (2 Cor 4:9)

2 Cor 11:24 five times he received 39 lashes

2 Tim 2:9 suffered hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal

Through his hard labor - the Word of God was and is still not imprisoned; he was not forsaken neither was he destroyed; he blessed and endured the hard labor and performed many miracles as follows:

acts 13:9-12 he pronounced curse which brought about salvation of the proconsul

Acts 14:8-10 lame walked

Acts 16:16-18 deliverance from demonic possession

Acts 19:11-12 unusual miracles performed by God through his hands

Acts 20:7-12 raised the dead

Acts 28:1-6 perceived to be god because he was not killed by a venomous viper/snake

Acts 28:7-9 healed Publius' father of fever and dysentery; and he healed all the sick people on the island.