Saul's Conversion Acts 9:1-9
Blinded By Religion
Scripture outline
* Saul before his conversion
o Breathing out murderous threats
* Approved of the stoning of Stephen
* Went to the high priest (probably Caiaphas) for permission to arrest the followers of The Way (what the early believers were called)
* Then take them back the Jerusalem where the Sanhedrin have full prosecutorial authority
* Traveling to the city of Damascus
* In the Roman province of Syria
* About 4 to 6 days from Jerusalem / 150 miles (they walked)
* Closest important city outside of Jerusalem (a hub for trade)
* Large number of believers went there after the dispersion caused by persecution following Stephen’s stoning
* Saul’s conversion
o On the road, saw a bright light
o Heard a voice and thought it was God (not Jesus)
o Saul fell to the ground in reverence to God
* Saul was a very devout Jew who had the upmost respect and fear of God
o “Saul why do you persecute me?”
o Why do we persecute God?
* When you attack the church or the people of God you attack God.
o Jesus revealed himself to Saul
o Told him to rise and go to Damascus and “I will then tell you what to do”
* God doesn’t always give us all the details beyond the next step. Can you imagine what Paul’s reaction would have been if he knew everything that would come in his ministry at that moment?
o The men traveling with him heard a sound but did not see the light (and might not have even understood the voice)
* We do not all see what God is doing in someone else’s life
* Do not judge others based solely on your perception of the situation
o When he got up, he was blind
* Blind for three days
* Fasted and prayed for that time
Saul was Jewish and he was blinded to the truth by his religion. Can this happen in the Christian church?
Why was Saul chosen over others? What is the relationship with the verse in Revelation that says God would rather us be hot or cold than lukewarm?
Last week, we talked about Philip and this week Annaias, who both had the faith and courage to do things that do not make sense to them