Session 2

Paul – The Early YearsSaul grew and studied under Gamaliel until he was a young man.

At some point he left Jerusalem and (probably) returned home to Tarsus to work in his father’s business and search for a place to serve.

Throughout his life, Saul sought to obey the Law and keep the commandments.

The life of a PhariseeNearly every waking moment was governed by some form of ritual.

From the time he awoke Saul’s first words were determined by the Law.

On which side of the bed he arose.The order in which he put on his clothes.How he washed his hands before breakfast.He always ate slowly and NEVER in a standing position.

At night ritual determined how he undressed.He lay down on his left side and attempted to awake on his right.He tried not to toss and turn at night – that’s sinful.

The life of a PhariseeNearly every waking moment was governed by some form of ritual.

On Friday evening he would cut his fingernails and toenails. Not sequentially but alternately. Then trimmings were then burned.

He was always careful not to violate any Sabbath restrictions:He would not spit in such a manner that the wind might

scatter the saliva and thereby be considered sowing.

Isaiah 56:2 - Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.

Saul the PhariseeLiving as a Pharisee, do you think Saul was a happy man?

The life of a PhariseeLiving as a Pharisee, do you think Saul was a happy man?

All of this I mention so that we may have an appreciation for what a first century Pharisee believed and how that belief worked its way out in his life.

Now that we have this understanding, think of how much of a life change Saul/Paul experienced on the road to Damascus.

The stoning of Stephen byJuan de Juanes

Saul the PersecutorActs 7:58-8:1 - dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

Saul the PersecutorWe don’t know for sure why Saul returned to Jerusalem from Tarsus. Perhaps in far away Tarsus he heard of the threat the infant church of Jesus Christ was posing to Judaism. It had been about two years since the first Easter and the church was making slow but steady progress.

What we do know is that he was there.

8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.

The Greek word used here (suneudokew) conveys much more than just acquiescence. It means to “garner pleasure from” to enjoy.

I can see Saul not only approving of what was taking place but cheering them on and keeping score.

Saul the PersecutorThe Jewish authorities were normally not able to execute those with whom they had differences. Witness the round about way in which our Lord was crucified.

However, the Romans did allow the Jewish courts to execute those whom they found guilty of violating the sanctity of the temple.

Stephen’s execution gave the Sanhedrin the opportunity to launch a comprehensive campaign of repression against the nascent church.

The apostles retained enough popularity in Jerusalem that they were immune from persecution. However, general membership of the new church was forced to leave Jerusalem and areas under the sway of the Sanhedrin.

Saul the PersecutorTwo things happened because of the this persecution:

1) The Hellenistic Christians returned to their homes and carried the new faith beyond Palestine.

2) The church that remained in Jerusalem become almost exclusively Hebrew in character.

Saul the PersecutorRemember what Jesus said in the opening chapter of Acts?

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.“

While Stephen’s death was certainly tragic, it was the catalyst that fulfilled Jesus’ words.

Saul the PersecutorThus began a systematic repression of the Christian church with Saul as the persecution’s chief agent.

Saul undertook his charge with vigor like a lion tearing into its prey. Going house to house the once lively and vibrant church was systematically reduced to impotence.

Many believers left Jerusalem to return home or find other, safer places to live.

Paul never once denied his involvement in the persecution of the church. See:

1 Cor. 15:9Gal. 1:13Acts 9:1

Saul the PersecutorSaul obtained from the Sanhedrin warrants for the arrest and trial of anyone found to be a Christian.

What was Saul’s beef with the early Christians? Why was he so adamant and energetic to see that this upstart sect be exterminated?

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 - If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse.

Saul the PersecutorThe Christian church claimed that Jesus of Nazareth was the long awaited Messiah.

Saul and the Jewish authorities argued that Jesus could not possibly be the Messiah since he was crucified and therefore fell under the curse of God.

The Christians said that Jesus was vindicated when God raised him from the dead on Easter morning.

Saul and the Jewish authorities countered with the argument that Jesus had not been resurrected, the disciples simply stole his body.

Saul the PersecutorIf Stephen was saying, “The old order has passed and a new way is taking its place.

Saul argued that, “The old must remain and therefore the new must be exterminated with extreme prejudice.”

Saul could understand the customs and traditions of Moses being changed if and only if the Messiah came to Israel.

Jesus of Nazareth could not possibly be the Messiah because:

A) the Romans are still hereB) he died on a treeC) he is still dead

Saul the PersecutorEven though the church in Jerusalem had suffered a blow, the dispersed followers of Jesus continued their witness and the number of believers grew.

An indignant Saul obtained from the High Priest letters allowing him to arrest and return to Jerusalem those who were adherents to the new faith.

Acts 9:1-2 - Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Saul the PersecutorSaul and his traveling companions leave Jerusalem on their way to Damascus.

I’m guessing that the party crossed the Jordan at Jericho to avoid Samaria. Good Jews didn’t associate with Samaritan “half-breeds” remember.

Saul the PersecutorSaul and his traveling companions leave Jerusalem on their way to Damascus.

I’m guessing that the party crossed the Jordan at Jericho to avoid Samaria. Good Jews didn’t associate with Samaritan “half-breeds” remember.

On the last day of their journey, the group would have passed in sight of Mt. Hermon. The city of Damascus rested on a plateau some 2,000 feet above Paul and his party.

Saul the PersecutorAnd then the unthinkable occurred!

Saul the PersecutorAnd then the unthinkable occurred!

Saul is thrown from his mount …

Acts 9:4 - He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

If ever any one human being had a life changing moment this was it.

Saul came face-to-face with Jesus Christ.

Saul the PersecutorLuke offers three accounts of Saul’s conversion experience:

Acts 9:1-9Acts 22:6-11Acts 23: 12-19

While not word-for-word identical, they have three things in common:They all agree it was around midday.Saul heard a voice asking why Saul was persecuting the church.The voice identified himself as Jesus of Nazareth the object of Saul’s

persecution

At that moment Saul knew. He had seen the Lord. In a moment that must have seemed like an eternity he saw the wounds in Jesus’ hands and feet and knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that he was alive.

Stricken blind, Saul was taken by his traveling companions to the house of Judas on Straight Street in Damascus.

Saul the RedeemedLet’s stop for just a moment and reflect on the magnitude of change that took place in Saul's life.

Remember from last week’s study how a Pharisee’s life was ordered and controlled by ritual and strict observance of the law.

And now Paul turns from all of this to embrace the life of a Christian apostle.

Talk about a radical 180o turn about!

Saul the RedeemedSaul’s companions took him to the house of Judas on Straight Street in Damascus, parts of which still exist.

Saul the RedeemedI’m sure Saul thought of himself as vigorously and faithfully serving God.

Time became meaningless. He forgot hunger and thirst. His entire personality was in mutation much like the butterfly in a cocoon.

Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?

His only answer had to come from Psalm 51 – “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy loving kindness, according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions … Against Thee, Thee alone, have I sinned.”

Saul the RedeemedFor three days Saul lay in bed in Judas’ house. He wanted no human company, only to be alone with the Lord Jesus as he now called him.

But now, confronted with ultimate purity he saw that his goodness was counterfeit and his good deeds a parody of Goodness.

Jesus had captured him. Philippians 3:12b - … but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Saul the RedeemedJesus had captured him. Philippians 3:12b - … but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

The Greek word Paul uses here is katalamba,nw to apprehend, seize, overpower, to overtake.

In later years, Saul/Paul would use this experience as air-tight proof that God had raised Jesus from the grave; that he was alive and confronted Saul/Paul, not to punish and destroy, but to overwhelm him with love and forgiveness.

Saul the RedeemedIn another bedroom on the other side of town, God spoke to Ananias and told him where to find Saul.

Probably against his better judgment, Ananias heads over to Judas’ place to minister to Saul.

Having discharged his duty, Ananias disappears from the pages of Scripture into obscurity.

Scripture tells us that Saul was baptized. How, when or by whom remains a mystery.

We do know that Saul began preaching and teaching about Jesus, and him the Son of God.

Saul the RedeemedScripture tells us that Saul was baptized. How, when or by whom remains a mystery.

We do know that Saul began preaching and teaching about Jesus, and him the Son of God.

Saul the ChristianIn my mind I can see Saul entering the synagogue on the

first Sabbath after his conversion. Nothing outward has changed. He still wears his blue trimmed robe (the only clothes he brought).

He would have been greeted warmly by the elders and rulers of the synagogue.

He would probably have been given the honor of reading from the Torah. He read the lectionary passage, each inflection

correct and returned the scroll.

Imagine the shock of everyone when he stood up and proclaimed Jesus Christ the Son of God!

Saul the ChristianSometime later, (many days) Saul became the target of death threats from the Jews. The city gates would have been heavily guarded and therefore, he had to be lowered bodily down the wall is a basket.

Acts 9:25 - But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

2 Corinthians 11:32-33 - In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

Saul in a\Arabia and BeyondSaul escaped into Arabia.

Galatians 1:15-18 - But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.

Saul in a\Arabia and BeyondThe most likely place for him to have gone was in the Nabatean Kingdom.

Saul went here to learn. Preaching was probably incidental to his primary purpose.

Weeks turned into months, turned into years. The winter storms;The spring when the desert was scented with flowersThe furnace of summer.

Saul in a\Arabia and BeyondThree years later and Saul was ready. He’s now a lean, mean preaching machine.

He returns to Damascus, probably to get a read on the climate. Is it safe?

He must return to the mainstream. Just as Moses went back to Egypt from the desert in Midian to lead God’s people to the promised land; just as Jesus emerged from the desert and entered the synagogues to begin his ministry; so emerged Saul.