The Holy Spirit in Acts
Day 17 — The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
Acts 7:54-8:3; Acts 9:1-31
a. Born in Tarsus of Cilicia
b. Brought up in Jerusalem
c. Educated under Gamaliel
d. Zealous for God, according to the Law
e. Persecutor of Christians
f. Commissioned in writing to imprison Christians by the high priest and Council of elders
g. Circumcized 8th day
h. Hebrew, Tribe of Benjamin
i. Studied and followed Law as a Pharisee (see Gal 1:13,14)
j. Zeal—persecutor of the Church
2. First Martyr Stephen with Saul standing by Acts 7:54-8:3
a. When Stephen, by the Holy Spirit declared he saw God and Jesus in heaven, then accused Jews there, saying that they were always resisting the Holy Spirit, killing the prophets; they rushed Stephen to stone him, handing their robes to Saul.
b. Saul gave hearty approval to their stoning him.
c. On that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, which scattered
d. Saul begins to ravage the church, entering houses and dragging them off to prison.
3. Saul was stopped by Jesus while still threatening murder against the discples of the Lord. Acts 9:1-19
a. Saul asked for letters to extend his authority to bring Christians from Damascus back
to Jerusalem.
b. Saul encounters Jesus in a bright light from heaven
i. heard a voice, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
ii. “Who are You, Lord?”
iii. Men with Saul heard but didn’t see anyone.
iv. Led him by the hand to Damascus, fasting 3 days.
c. Ananias, a disciple in Damascus was told by the Lord in a vision to go to Straight St., Judas’ house and ask for Saul of Tarsus who is praying and has seen in a
vision that you are the one laying on hands to regain vision.
i. Ananias reminds the Lord of Saul’s terrorism
ii. The Lord says, “Go, He’s my chosen instrument before kings and Israel.”
iii. “He will suffer for My name’s sake.”
iv. Ananias obeys the Lord and lays hands on Saul.
a) The Lord sent me.
b) to give you sight and
c) be filled with the Holy Spirit.
d) immediately scales off, regained sight
e) Saul baptized
f) ate and was strengthened
4. Saul spends time with in Arabia (desert Bible school) Galatians 1:11-17
a. Learns the gospel, not according to man. 1:11,16
b. Gospel received from a revelation of Jesus Christ 1:12
c. God was pleased to reveal His Son in me to preach to Gentiles 1:16
d. Went to Arabia and then back to Damascus 1:17
5. Once back in Damascus was several days with the disciples
6. Immediately began to proclaim Jesus is the Son of God in the synagogues.
7. Those hearing him were amazed at his change of heart and mission.
8. He kept increasing in strength and confounded Jews proving Jesus is the Christ.
Observations:
1. Saul was “all in” regarding protecting his faith.
2. Watching Stephen stoned gave him satisfaction, mission accomplished.
3. Stephen’s witness seemed to bounce off, but Stephen was speaking from the Holy Spirit.
4. It pricked their conscience when talking about resisting the Holy Spirit and killing prophets
5. This appearance of Jesus was only to Saul while the witnesses did hear. It is not saying it was a vision
or the Holy Spirit.
6. Saul was recognizing Lordship. Was praying. Was being told by the Spirit of Ananias
7. Ananias heard from the Lord in a vision and discusses the plan
8. Saul was to receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of Ananias’ hands, as well as healing.
9. After conversion, Saul goes out to Arabia to hear from a revelation of Jesus Christ, not the
gospel of men.
Difficult questions:
1. What is the difference between a vision, an appearance, a dream, “the Lord said”, “the Holy Spirit said?”
2. The timeline is not for sure about how long in the desert and then back to Damascus.
3. There are dispensationalists who believe that the Holy Spirit manifestations in Acts were to establish the authority of the apostles and the Word they wrote and spoke. Joel says it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” Joel 2:28 Is that scripture referring to the end times or possibly the 1st century?
Personal Application questions:
1. Have you experienced anything like Ananias where you were sure the Lord was saying to go into
what you felt was danger and then He convinced you that He had a bigger plan and just do it?
2. Why did it take the blinding light to open Saul’s eyes to his resistance to the Spirit of God?
3. Do you think this kind of revelation is happening in our generation? Why or why not?
The Holy Spirit in Acts
Day 18 The Holy Spirit for the Gentiles Acts 10:1-11:18
Reflection, Notes and Prayer