Tonight we continue our study of the book of Acts. Remember we are using the Scriptural outline for the book found in 1:8.
(Acts 1:8b) "…Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Tonight we continue studying the development of Christianity in Jerusalem.
I. Christianity in Jerusalem 1:1-8:3
A. The risen Lord 1:1-26
B. Pentecost 2:1-47
C. The Healing of a Lame Man 3:1-26
D. The beginning of persecution 4:1-37
E. Purging the Church 5:1-42
F. Conflict within the Church 6:1-7
G. Stephen - The First Martyr 6:8 - 8:3
II. Christianity in Judea and Samaria 8:4-12:25
A. Christians scattered and the ministry of Philip - Acts 8:4-40
B. The Conversion of Paul 9:1-31
1. The Account of his conversion 9:1-19
a. The conviction of Saul v 1-9
1) Saul's continued attack v1-2
a) The word 'yet' indicates that Saul didn't let up for a moment in his crusade against Christians
b) As the good news was spreading out from Jerusalem so was the bad news
c) Saul had gone to the High Priest for authority in Damascus to persecute the Christians he found there and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial or punishment
2) Saul on the Damascus road v3-7
a) Saul both heard the voice of the Lord Jesus and saw him
b) Jesus asked why Saul was persecuting Him
NOTE: this shows the unique union of Christ and the believer
c) "...it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." - this indicates that Paul had been under conviction but was resisting the Holy Spirit's leading. Perhaps from the time of Stephen's stoning
d) Saul acknowledges Jesus as Lord and receives instructions from Him
Note: this was a private conversation. The men with Saul heard the sound of a voice but could not understand what was being said or who was saying it because they saw no man
(Acts 22:9) And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
3) Saul immediately obeys the command of Christ v 8-9
a) When Saul got up from ground he was blind Paul later attributes his blindness to the brightness of the light that shone around Him
b) Also, Paul later elaborates on the conversation with the Lord
c) Now he must be led by the hand into Damascus - where he spends three days without sight, food, or drink.
b. The convincing of Ananias v10-19
1) Ananias was a disciple of the Lord at Damascus - His relationship with the Lord is seen by his response to the Lord's call ..."Behold, I am here, Lord"
a) He wasn't surprised when the Lord spoke to him
b) He was yielded for the Lord's service
2) When the Lord told him what He wanted him to do, Ananias balked v 11-14
a) Saul's reputation had preceded him to Damascus
b) Ananias also knew that Saul had been given the authority to take Christians into custody
NOTE: How often we are like Ananias - we say we are available for whatever God wants - but - when God asks us to do something we don't like we begin to question Him about it.
3) The Lord is longsuffering toward us - He clarified his command for Ananias
a) He explained that He had chosen Saul to be a witness to the Gentiles
b) With that further explanation, Ananias was ready to obey
4) Ananias greets Saul as a brother v 17
a) He explains that Jesus had sent him that he might receive his sight and that he might receive the Holy Spirit
NOTE: How different the meeting of these two might have been if not for Jesus
b) Saul received his sight - was baptized and remained in fellowship with the disciples for several days
2. The Aftermath of Paul's Conversion v20- 31
a. The confession of Saul v20-22
1) Right away he began preaching in the synagogues - the message was clear: Jesus is the Son of God!
2) The people who heard him were amazed because they knew who he was and what he had been!
3) He continued to grow in the Lord and the Jews were confounded - literally they were stirred up - or in an uproar because of the course of events
4) Saul's conversion gave strong evidence toward proving that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah
b. The conspiracies against Saul v23-31
1) In Damascus v23-25
a) The Jews counseled together on killing Saul
b) But their plan to kill him at the gates of the city was found out
c) The disciples helped Saul escape over the wall in the night
2) In Jerusalem v26-30
a) When Saul returned to Jerusalem most of the disciples were afraid of him
b) remember he had made havoc of the church there
c) Barnabas befriended him and brought him to the Apostles and spoke up for him - after that he was accepted as a brother
d) His witness was bold especially in his debate with the Grecian Jews - these were the ones who killed Stephen
e) They plotted against him to kill Paul also - but their plans were found out as well
f) The disciples brought Saul to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus
3) The conclusion v 31
a) The churches had rest from persecution
b) They were edified
c) They walked in the fear of the Lord rather than the fear of men and they found comfort in the Holy Spirit
d) They were multiplied
C. The Conversion of Gentiles 9:32-11:30
1. The preparation of Peter 9:32-10:22
a. Peter at Lydda (32-35)
1) The last time we saw Peter he was preaching in the cities of Samaria as he traveled back to Jerusalem
2) From v 32 Peter apparently did a lot of traveling in Judea and in the course of his travel he came to Lydda
3) God used Peter to heal a paralytic by the name of Aeneas
4) As a result of this miracle "many turned to the Lord"
b. Peter at Joppa (36-43)
1) While Peter was at Lydda, a well beloved Christian woman by the name of Dorcas or Tabitha died at Joppa
2) Because Joppa and Lydda were in close proximity to one another - about 12 miles - the disciples in Joppa had heard that Peter was at Lydda and about the great working of God
NOTE: so far as the record in the book of Acts goes, no one had been raised from the dead in the early church. But their faith was so great - they expected Peter to restore life unto Dorcas so they sent for him
4) When Peter came - he cleared the room of all the weeping mourners - he prayed and then commanded her to rise - he then presented her to the saints who had gathered
5) As a result of this great work of God many believed in the Lord and Peter remained in Joppa several days
Next time: Peter and Cornelius