Acts 22 v 1 - 21 I Saw the Light
1. The Failure in His Religion - His Defence -
He was -
A Restrained Man - Verses 1 - 2
A Religous Man - He Speaks of -
His Birth - 3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia,
His Background - yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,
His Birthright - and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers,
A Righteous Man - and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
A Rigorous Man - 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death,
binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
A Relentless Man - His Journey to Damascus.
The Reason for His Zeal - Romans 10:1-3
His Prayer - 1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
His Problem - 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
His Pronouncement - 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness,
have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
The Reality in His Zeal - Galatians 1: 13 -
His Past - For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion,
His Pursuit - how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
His Progress - 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation,
His Purpose - being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
The Result of His Zeal -
He Persecuted - The Lord's People
He Provoked - The Lord's Person - 7 why persecutest thou me?
He Prevented - The Lord's Purpose -
Acts 9:5 it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
2. The Fury in His Retribution - His Defiance -
The Regulation of His Journey - 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus,
The Reason for His Journey - to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
The Resolve in His Journey - 6 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. (almost there)
3. The Fear in His Revelation - His Deference - He Highlights -
The Plan - 6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey,
The Place - and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon,
The Pace - suddenly
The Presence - there shone from heaven a great light round about me
The Power - 7 And I fell unto the ground,
The Person - and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul,
why persecutest thou me?
A Lifted Person - He Reigns - 6 suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.7 And I fell unto the ground,
Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
A Living Person - He Speaks - and heard a voice saying unto me,
A Learned Person - He Knows - Saul, Saul,
A Longsuffering Person - He Feels - why persecutest thou me?
A Loving Person - He Seeks - 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord?
A Listening Person - He Hears - And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
A Leading Person - He Reveals -
His Power - 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord?
His Purpose - And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus;
His Plan - and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
His Preeminence - 11 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.
4. The Freedom in His Redemption - His Deliverance - He Speaks of -
The Man - 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
The Message - 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight.
The Miracle - 13 And the same hour I looked up upon him.
The Meaning - 14 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.
The Mission - 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
The Means - The Priority of Salvation - 16 And now why tarriest thou?
The Process of Salvation - arise, and be baptized,
The Promise of Salvation - and wash away thy sins,
The Person of Salvation - calling on the name of the Lord.
5. The Fullness in His Reconciliation - His Devotion -
It's Call - 17 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;
It's Caution - 18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
It's Constraint - 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
It's Conquest - 20 & when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed,
I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death,
and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
It's Control - 21 And he said unto me,
Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
