Transcript Document

Paul – The Early Years
Saul 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 Pharisee
Nearly 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 Pharisee
Nearly 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 Pharisee
Living as a Pharisee, do you think Saul was a happy man?
The life of a Pharisee
Living 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.
Saul the Persecutor
Acts 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.
The stoning of Stephen by
Juan de Juanes
Saul the Persecutor
We 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 Persecutor
The 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 Persecutor
Two 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 Persecutor
Remember 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 Persecutor
Thus 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. 15:9
Gal. 1:13
Acts 9:1
Saul the Persecutor
Saul 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 Persecutor
The 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 Persecutor
If 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 here
B) he died on a tree
C) he is still dead
Saul the Persecutor
Even 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 Persecutor
Saul 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 Persecutor
Saul 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 Persecutor
And then the unthinkable occurred!
Saul the Persecutor
And 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 Persecutor
Luke offers three accounts of Saul’s conversion experience:
Acts 9:1-9
Acts 22:6-11
Acts 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 Redeemed
Let’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 Redeemed
Saul’s companions took him to the house of Judas on Straight Street in Damascus, parts
of which still exist.
Saul the Redeemed
I’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 Redeemed
For 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 Redeemed
Jesus 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 Redeemed
In 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 Redeemed
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 Christian
In 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 Christian
Sometime 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 Beyond
Saul 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 Beyond
The 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 flowers
The furnace of summer.
Saul in a\Arabia and Beyond
Three 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.