“Look, I can’t promise I’ll change, but I can promise I’ll pretend to change”

“Look, I can’t promise I’ll change, but I can promise I’ll pretend to change”

Essential Review• Essential Background – All Jesus did & taught• Essential Role – to be a witness• Essential Beginning – The Gift of the Holy Spirit• Essential Message – Jesus the Messiah • Essential Proofs – Signs & Wonders of Apostles• Essential Boldness – to share the word of God• Essential Character – avoiding hypocrisy wit• Essential Principle – obey God rather than man• Essential Sacrifice – martyrdom of Stephen

Saul’s Plan • Arrest anyone who had fled to

Damascus belonging to “The Way”

God’s Plan - Conversion• What are some proofs of God’s divine

intervention?

Saul’s Conversion• Orchestrated by God • No other real explanation • Began his journey alone

Life of Paul• Acts 22:27-28 a roman Citizen from birth• Acts 21:39 – from Tarsus of Cilicia • Acts 22:3 Taught by Gamilel • Phil 3:5 – pure Jew, and A Pharisee • Acts 23:6 – Father was a Pharisee• Acts 26:11 – attacked & persecuted the church• Gal 1:17-18 – Studied in Arabia for three years• Acts 13:9 – changed his name to Paul• Acts 18:3 – was a tentmaker by trade

Life of PaulA.D. 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

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Acts 1 - 8 9 10 - 11 12 13 -14 15 16 - 18 19 - 21 22 - 26 27 - 28Burning of Rome

Paul in Damascus and

Araibia

Paul in Tarsus Paul in Antioch

Tiberius Caligula Claudius

"fourteen years after" Gal. 2:1

After 3 yearsGal. 1:18

First Missionary Journey Second Missionary Journey

18 MonthsCorinth

Third Missionary Journey

2 Years 3 MonthsEphesus

3 Mo

Corinth

Caesarean Imprisonment First Roman Imprisionment Final Travels

End ofBook

Saul in Damascus (9:20-25)

Early Travels of Saul1. Heads to Damascus2. Leaves to Arabia3. Back to Damascus4. Escapes to Jerusalem5. Flees to Tarsus

Saul in Jerusalem (9:26-31)

Results• 31  So the church throughout all Judea and

Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Essential Conversion• Completely a work of God

• Thus He must be trusted

• Be a Barnabas to another

For Next WeekThe Essential Understanding

• Read Acts Chapter 9:32-10:33• Mediate on:

–  How would you describe the spiritual status of Cornelius?

– How do explain Peter’s reaction in verse 23?– How does Peter interpret and apply the vision?