The De-Masking Of Saul Of Tarsus

The De-Masking of Saul of Tarsus

Acts 9:1-22

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN9fbsYohMQ

Today’s message kind of goes along with this holiday that finds millions of Americans, along with others around the world celebrating, that which is known as Halloween. It’s a holiday where masks and costumes are worn that give the illusion to those wearing them, and to those who see them, that they are something different than who or what they are.

Well, this is exactly what was going on in our study today as we look at the de-masking of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. Or, as I like to say that Saul is getting de-masked in Damascus.

As we are in our series looking at those who encountered Jesus, and the reset that happened in their lives, like the Samaritan Woman at the Well, Nathanael, Simon Peter, and Nicodemus. But there is one more name that I’d like to look at before we enter our special series next week on getting our lives reset, reignited, and refueled.

And the person’s name is Saul of Tarsus, or as most know him today as the Apostle Paul. Some have even gone so far as saying that this is the greatest reset of them all, that is, from Saul of Tarsus into Paul the Apostle, and that is because Paul is responsible for 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament, or about one-third of what was written. But not only that, but Paul was called by Jesus at his reset to take the gospel into the Gentile world.

Saul grew up a Pharisee. He was taught the life of a Pharisee as he sat under the teaching of Gamaliel, the most influential Jewish teacher of his day. Gamaliel was a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling religious court in the land, and he was the one who told the Sanhedrin to leave this small group of Jesus followers alone. He said that if this was a move of God, then there was really nothing the Sanhedrin could do to stop it. If it wasn’t, it would soon die out on its own.

And while we’re starting out in Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus is actually mentioned earlier at the stoning death of the disciple Stephen. It says in Acts 7:58 that the Jews took Stephen outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned him. And those who executed him laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

And in Acts 8:1 it says that Saul was in hearty agreement with putting Stephen to death. While he wasn’t a member of the Sanhedrin, it says that he consented to Stephen’s death, which meant that he gave his permission for it to happen, and what that means is that he most likely was the Sanhedrin’s representative as he sat as a witness to his death.

And then in Acts 8:3 it says that Saul began to ravage the church, entering into houses and dragging Christians off to prison. And this is where we pick up our story about the great conversion, the great de-masking, the great reset that happened in his life.

Now, if anyone has been a Christian for any length of time, the story of this transformation, or reset, is well known, as to what happened to Saul on the road to Damascus, as he was on his way to arrest and bring back to Jerusalem Christians to stand trial.

“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2 NKJV)

Why didn’t Luke call them Christians, or Disciples of Christ? Why did he use the designation, “The Way.”

The word, "way" is used to suggest a course or path, that is, a way of life that is definable and distinguishable from something else. For instance, there is a “way of wisdom,” and the “way of the ant” (Proverbs 4:11; 6: 6). The Bible also uses the word to describe God’s way in contrast to the way of man, or false ways.

And so, those of “the Way,” would be those who followed the way of Jesus. Plus, the word Christian didn’t come into the vocabulary until later and was given to those who were followers of Jesus in Antioch.

And so, as I have mentioned, Saul was in need of a reset which came when He encounter the risen Jesus on his way to do what he considered to be the will of God.

“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” (Acts 9:3-5 NKJV)