From Saul To Paul Series

Acts 26:12-22 Paul and the Resurrected Christ

1. How the Lord Met Him (12-14)

i. Unexpectedly (12) Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests...

Nothing could have been further from the mind of Saul of Tarsus than conversion

His Activity as I went

His Authority with authority

His Alacrity and commission from the chief priests

ii. Unmistakably (13-14) 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? ft is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Vision - I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun

Voice - I heard a voice speaking unto me,

Vocation - 16 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;

iii Indisputably - The Evidence In His Life, His Love, and His Labours

2. How the Lord Mastered Him (15-18)

i. The Revelation of His Person (15) And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. The answer to the need of his heart was Jesus, not Judaism

ii. The Revelation of His Plan (16-18)

a. Paul was to Be a Faithful Witness (16) 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.

He was to be a Minister— an under-rower, one in a subordinate position.

Paul was now under new management.

He was to be a Messenger, - a witness a martyr.

He was to be a Mediator, - a communicater of truth to others.

iii The Revelation of His Purpose

b. Paul was to Be a Fearless Worker (17-18)

1. Given a Mission (17) Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee.

Paul's primary sphere of witness was to be among the Gentiles. The World

2. Given a Message (18) 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 [Christ].

(a) How the Lord Sees us. He sees us as

Spiritually blind: "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness."

Satanically bound: "To turn them... from the power of Satan unto God."

(b) How the Lord Saves us. He saves us by

Giving us Freedom: "to open their eyes... to turn them."

Giving us Forgiveness: "That they may receive forgiveness of sins."

Giving us Fulfillment: "That we may receive... inheritance."

We become children of God, joint-heirs with Jesus.

Giving us Fellowship: "... inheritance among them which are sanctified."

Giving us Focus: "Sanctified by faith that is in me."

3. How the Lord Matured Him (19-22)

i. His Option (19) Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.- He gave himself wholly to it.

ii. His Opportunity (20) 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.

That is a clear note in all Paul's epistles: first doctrine, then deeds;

first belief, then behavior; first the principles, then the practice;

first the faith, then the fruit.

iii. His Opposition (21) For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

iv His Operation 22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: