(Acts 9:1-16 NKJV)

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder

against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high

priest {2} 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. {3}

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and

suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

{4} Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him,

"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" {5} 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." {6} So he, trembling and

astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said

to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

{7} And the men who journeyed with him stood

speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. {8} Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought

him into Damascus.

{9} And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. {10} Now there was a

certain disciple at Damascus named

Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision,

"Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." {11} So

the Lord said to him,

"Arise and go to the street called Straight, and

inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. {12} "And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand

on him, so that he might receive his sight."

{13} Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about

this man, how much harm he has done to

Your saints in Jerusalem. {14} "And here he has

authority from the chief priests to bind all who

call on Your name." {15} But the Lord said to him,

"Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My

name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of

Israel. {16} "For I will show him how many

things he must suffer for My name's sake."

introduction

Bible Scholars generally agree that next to the

birth, death and resurrection of Jesus; the conversion of Paul

ranks as one of the most significant events of the NT, and probably

modern history.

introduction

Paul is set apart from any other Bible

personality in that Luke (the author of acts)

records Paul’s conversion three times -

Here in Acts 9 and then again in Acts 22 and 26.

introduction

During the late 1800’s, in England, there were

two well known and scholarly men who joined forces in an attempt to discredit

Christianity and put an end to it -

Sir Gilbert Hawkins and Lord Littleton.

introduction

They undertook to disprove the two events

upon which they believed the credibility of Christianity hinged.

The resurrection of Jesus and the

conversion of Saul of Tarsus.

introduction

The resurrection of Jesus, because it

validates 1.) the claims of Christ to deity and 2.)

the necessity of the sacrifice of the cross.

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, because his transformed life proves

that Christ is risen.

introduction

HAWKINS undertook a study to prove the

Resurrection a hoax.

LITTELTON planned on disproving the

Conversion of Paul.

introduction

HAWKINS had found that the Resurrection

record proved undeniable and credible because the historical

and archaeological evidence was

irrefutable.

introduction

LITTELTON discovered that the Conversion of Paul was a result of Paul’s own, personal experience with the

resurrected Jesus, and had so

TRANSFORMED Paul that it literally changed the course of History.

introduction

But here’s the kicker -

They agreed to come together after one year of research to celebrate their findings and when

they did, they discovered that each of them had, without the

other’s knowledge, become Christians!

introduction

So let’s look at this history-changing event, and in it we are going to

see –

1.) A Myth Dispelled

2.) A Sinner Pursued

3.) A Sinner Surrendered

a myth dispelled

There is a common belief among

unbelievers that Christianity is a crutch

for the weak.

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus utterly dispels

this myth because he was in no way a weak

man.

First of all, he was intellectually strong.

a myth dispelled

(Acts 22:3 NKJV) "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but

brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,

taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all

are today.

(Acts 26:4 NLT) "As the Jewish leaders are well

aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training

from my earliest childhood among my

own people and in Jerusalem.

He was one of the most promising young

Pharisees in Jerusalem and was well on his way

to becoming a great leader of the Jews.

a myth dispelled

(Gal 1:14 NKJV)

And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries

in my own nation, being more

exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my

fathers.

a myth dispelled

He was not only an intellectual force in

Israel, he was also a driven man, wielding all

of his religious and political power to

exterminate Christians and Christianity.

(Acts 22:4-5; 10-20 KJV)

And I persecuted this way unto the death,

binding and delivering into prisons both men

and women. {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, to bring

them which were there bound unto

Jerusalem, for to be punished. …. {19} And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and

beat in every synagogue them that

believed on thee:

{20} And 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.

(Acts 26:10-11 NKJV)"This I also did in

Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up

in prison, having received authority

from the chief priests; and when they were

put to death, I cast my vote against them.

{11} "And I punished them

often in every synagogue and

compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged

against them, I persecuted them even

to foreign cities.

a myth dispelled

Insight:

enraged= to transform; to become maniac; to go insane; to be mad

a myth dispelled

He would snap.

He would threaten.

He would be angry to the point of violence.

This man was no weakling, no coward.

a sinner pursued

The conversion of Paul leaves no doubt that

Jesus receives sinners.

(1 Tim 1:13;15 KJV)

Who was before a blasphemer, and a

persecutor, and injurious… {15} This is a faithful saying, and

worthy of all acceptation, that

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am

chief.

a sinner pursued

It was while in that state of maniacal rage that

Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus!

So in his conversion we also see that Jesus not only receives sinners, He PURSUES them.

a sinner pursued

Saul was not pursuing Jesus, yet Jesus went and apprehended Saul

on the road to Damascus.

Jesus was not waiting for Saul to find his way

into a Bible study so that He could save him.

a sinner pursued

Key Insight:

Even when you weren’t coming to church

looking for Jesus, Jesus was out there looking for

you.

a sinner pursued

Note:

I also believe that somebody in Jerusalem was PRAYING for Saul of Tarsus because they remembered that Jesus

said -

(Mat 5:44 KJV)

But I say unto you, Love your enemies,

bless them that curse you, do good to them

that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

a sinner pursued

Key Insight:

When God is going to work He always moves

His people to pray.

a sinner pursued

It is NOT the prayers of the people that move

God in a certain direction.

It is God who moves people in prayer,

bringing them in line with His will and

purposes.

a sinner pursued

Key Observation:

Luke tells us that Jesus came upon Saul

SUDDENLY.

a sinner pursued

Very few people wake up and say, “Today I

shall meet Christ and be converted.”

My testimony.

Students in England.(You’ve turned my world upside down / Andrew)

a sinner pursued

Key Observation:

Paul had no where to run, no where to hide.

(Acts 26:13 NKJV) "at midday, O king, along the

road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me

and those who journeyed with me.

a sinner pursued

Key Insight:

The word shining means,

to flash and blaze, to flash all around, an envelope of light:

a sinner pursued

In Hiroshima and Nagasaki,

when the Enola Guy dropped the Atomic

Bomb,the flash of light was so great that the images of people where etched in the earth and concrete.

a sinner pursued

Jesus (who said He was “the light of the world”) pursued this man, and blazed into Saul’s life

with such intensity that the life and nature of

Jesus was etched into Paul.

a sinner pursued

Key Observation:

Luke tells us that Saul fell to the earth.

There are those who think that if they were to

see Jesus that they would stand up and give

Him a piece of their mind.

a sinner pursued

There are those who actually believe that they are great and Jesus is nothing.

a sinner pursued

Example:

Bumper sticker of an evolutionist – “My god

can kick your God’s …”

Here we see arrogant Saul on his face before the presence of Jesus.

a sinner pursued

Key Observation:

Luke tells us that Saul Heard a voice.

a sinner pursued

Quote: M. Henry

“God’s manifestations of Himself were never

shown without words, for He magnifies His

Word above His Name, and what was seen was

always designed to make way for what was

said.”

a sinner pursued

Note Well:

No voice but the voice of Jesus can reach the

heart of man and convert him!

No word but the Word of God can reach the

heart of man and convert him.

a sinner pursued

Note Well:

When we teach and preach to you the Word of God, you are hearing

from God, not man.

(1 Th 2:13 NKJV) For this reason we

also thank God without ceasing,

because when you received the word of God which you heard

from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of

God, which also effectively works in

you who believe.

a sinner pursued

Key Application:

If you are a Christian today it is because GOD

spoke to YOU.

(Hebrews 3:1 NKJV)

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,

(Hebrews 3:7-8 NKJV)

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if

you will hear His voice, {8} Do not

harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the

day of trial in the wilderness,