Chief Proclaimer Chief Persecutor Conversion of the Chief Persecutor One of the strongest proofs of the resurrection. Example of Conversion recorded 3 times Acts 9 Acts 22 Acts 26 Getting Acquainted with Saul Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Phil. 3:5-6) 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 zealous toward God (Acts 22:3) Did he see Jesus in Jerusalem? If he did not, what would explain it? Imagine his concern when he returned and found thousands believing the Messiah had come. The Persecutor He held coats of those who stoned Stephen (Acts 7:58). Saul made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. (Acts 8:3) Saul shut up saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, He cast his vote against them (Acts 26:10) Saul persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women (Acts 22:4) Must have been very wicked! Very Moral: concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Phil. 3:6). Very Religious: Advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation. (Gal. 1:14) Very Sincere: Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day (Acts 23:1) Saved? Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Tim. 1:15) Confession A Change of Allegiance Baptism A Change of State Repentance A Change of Will Faith: A Change of Mind What is Necessary to Convert Such a Confirmed Opponent of Jesus? What could Produce Faith? Faith: A Change of Mind 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 (Acts 9:1-2) That Journey to Damascus What could Produce Faith? Faith is based on evidence! Saul knew and believed the O.T. Prophets. As a Pharisee, he believed in resurrection. Likely among those in the Synagogue of the Cilicians who disputed with Stephen and were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke (Acts 6:9-10). He heard the speech of Stephen recorded in Acts 7. He witnessed the confidence of witnesses of the resurrection. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. (Acts 9:5) The vision of the risen Lord settled his mind. Faith: A Change of Mind Evidence of Repentance? So he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what do You want me to do? His original purpose was to persecute JesusNow his purpose is to obey Him. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. (Godly sorrow) I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. (Acts 26:19) Repentance A Change of Will His whole life changed! When was this changed? Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And at that same hour I looked up at him. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22) Baptism A Change of State Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4) Events He saw and heard Jesus He believed in Jesus. He fasted. He was baptized Saved? When was he saved? Acts 9:6 Acts 9:9 Acts 9:6 Acts 22:16 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Ti. 3:5) Proof of Conversion 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 9:20-22) Why was Saul so Quickly Converted? He was good soil: -- Honest and good heart -- Already doing what thought right (Acts 26:9) -- Doing it zealously! He had already been exposed to truth. He just had to be convinced of what was right. He continued zealously doing what he had learned was right. Lessons for Lost Sinners Honesty demands immediate obedience when truth is learnedSaul did not even wait to eat. Do not expect Jesus to appear (1 Cor. 15:8) Why did Jesus Appear to Saul? B But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. (Acts 26:16) Am I not an apostle? . Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? (1 Corinthians 9:1) Lessons for Christians Learning new truth is a test for us -- Will we obey regardless of consequences? -- Will we be zealous in doing right? We should not be selective in evangelism -- Sincere, moral, religious may still be lost. -- We are looking for people like Saul. -- They may even be hostile at first. -- Initial failures may not be final.