“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
Cru
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and
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Mar
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of S
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Fam
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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?