BIBLE STUDY LESSON 13

SERIES U --- THE EARLY CHURCH

SAUL’S CONVERSION

THE MAN WHO SAW AGAIN

From Acts 9:1-31

Saul was becoming increasingly violent in his persecution of the believers. He went to the high priest, asking for letters to the synagogues of Damascus. It was his intention to bring every believer he could find, man or woman, back to Jerusalem in chains. As Saul approached Damascus, a radiant light from heaven flashed down upon him. Falling to the ground, Saul heard a voice calling out of heaven. [Saul! Saul!] the voice cried. [Why are you persecuting Me?] [Who are You, Adonai?] Saul asked. [I am Yeshua!] the voice said. [I’m the One you are hurting! Now get up from the ground. Go into the city and wait until I tell you what to do.] Saul’s traveling companions were so stunned that they couldn’t say a word. They had heard the voice, but they could not see anyone. When Saul stood up, he realized that he was blind. His companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. For three days Saul waited in Damascus for his new orders, blind and hungry, for he neither ate nor drank during that time. A believer named Ananias lived in Damascus. One day Adonai spoke to him in a vision. [Ananias!] Adonai called. [Here I am, Adonai,] Ananias answered. [Over on Straight Street you will find the house of Judas,] Adonai said. [Go there and ask for Saul of Tarsus. At this very moment he is praying to Me, for I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming to lay hands on him to take away his blindness.] [But Adonai, I’ve heard so many people talk about Saul and the suffering he has brought to the believers in Jerusalem,] Ananias answered. [He has come here to Damascus with orders from the chief priests to put our believers in chains.] [Go and do what I tell you,] Adonai answered. [I have chosen Saul to take My Name to Gentiles and kings, as well as to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for Me.] Ananias went to the house and laid his hands on Saul. [Brother Saul, I have been sent by Adonai Yeshua, Who appeared to you on the road when you were coming here, so that you might see again and be filled with Ruach HaKodesh.] Immediately Saul could see again. It was as though some scales had fallen from his eyes. Then Saul was baptized, and after eating, he felt strengthened. For a few days, Saul stayed in Damascus with the believers. He went at once to the synagogues, telling people that Yeshua was the Son of YHVH. The people could hardly believe their ears. [Isn’t this the man who persecuted Yeshua’ followers in Jerusalem, and even came here to put them in chains and take them back to the chief priests?] they asked. Saul became more and more courageous and powerful in his preaching. The Damascus Jews were frustrated because they could find no argument against Saul’s proofs that Yeshua was the Moshiach. After a few days, the Jewish leaders in Damascus made plans to kill Saul. But Saul learned that they were watching the gates of Damascus day and night, ready to pounce on him and murder him. One night some of those whom he had led to Moshiach put him in a large basket and let him down through an opening in the city wall. When Saul returned to Jerusalem, he wanted to be accepted by the believers there. But they refused to receive him as a believer, for they were afraid of him. Then Barnabas presented him to the apostles and told them how Saul had met Yeshua on the road, how He had spoken to Saul, and how Saul had preached with great courage in Damascus. After that, Saul was accepted as one of the believers and went throughout Jerusalem, preaching with great courage in the Name of Yeshua. He sometimes argued with the Jews who spoke Greek, and they were so angry at him that they tried to kill him. When the believers learned about this plot, they sent Saul to Caesarea and from there to his hometown of Tarsus. For a while, then, the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace. It grew stronger in faith and numbers; its members lived in reverence for Adonai and in the power of Ruach HaKodesh.

COMMENTARY

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SAUL -- FROM JERUSALEM TO TARSUS

As a Pharisee, Saul was angry to see how many people were following Yeshua and encouraging others to follow Him, too. He was determined to stop this new movement, by punishing or killing the believers. Saul began his persecution in Jerusalem. His freedom of movement, and the ease with which he was able to imprison and execute the believers, caused him to search for another city where he might expand his persecution, He chose Damascus. Leaving Jerusalem, Saul and his small band of helpers went toward Damascus. But as they approached the city, Yeshua spoke to Saul and he was converted, Saul stayed in Damascus for a while until his fellow Pharisees and other religious leaders turned against him and he was forced to escape. From there, Saul returned to Jerusalem until it was no longer safe to remain there. To protect his life, the believers took him to Caesarea, where he boarded a ship for his hometown of Tarsus, which today is in the southern part of Turkey.