Sunday School Lesson

1. Acts 9:1-25
The Conversion of Saul
“Blinded By The Light”
May 8, 2016
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
May Memory Verse
John 13:34-35
34 “A new commandment I give to you; that you love one another: just as I have
loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

2. References
• Stott, John R. W., The Message of Acts (Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity
Press, USA, 1994).
• Swindoll, Charles R., PAUL: A Man of Grace and Grit (Nashville, TN, W
Publishing Group, 2002).
Lesson Approach
1. Saul himself: his pre-conversion state in Jerusalem in Acts 9:1-2.
2. Saul and Jesus: his conversion on the Damascus Road in Acts 9:3-9.
3. Saul and Ananias: his welcome into the church in Damascus in Acts 9:10-
25.
When and why was Saul’s name changed to Paul?
• Paul was born into an eastern orthodox Jewish family and his father was
also a Roman citizen.
• His Jewish name was Saul (Jewish Pharisee).
• His Roman (Gentile) name was Paullus (Paul) and he was a Roman citizen
because of his father’s citizenship.
• After his conversion and God’s call to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles, he
referred to himself as Paul.
4 Life Lessons From Paul
1. No matter how you appear to others today, everyone has a dark side.
2. Regardless of what you have done, no one is beyond hope.
3. Even though your past is soiled, anyone can find a new beginning with
Jesus.
4. Jesus puts the details of your life together even before your conversion for
the ministry to which He calls you.

3. Introduction to Saul in Scripture
Acts 7:58 ESV
58 Then they cast him (Stephen) out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses
laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Acts 8:1 & 3 ESV
1 And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in
Jerusalem, …
3 Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off
men and women and committed them to prison.
Saul was “ravaging the church”
• Same verb, lymainomai, used in Psalm 80:13 “The boar from the forest
ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.”
• Describes “wild boars devastating a vineyard”.
• Acts 26:11 ESV
11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them
blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to
foreign cities.
Saul’s Birthplace of Tarsus
• Reared in city of Tarsus (Providence of Cilicia) –Turkey.
• Busy city of 250,000 with a diverse culture (Epicenter for Greek Stoic
Philosophy).
• Black tents of Tarsus were a popular export.
• Popular trade route for caravans going from the Orient to Rome (passed
through the Cilician Gates in the Taurus Mountains).

4. Saul’s Family
• Saul’s parents were Pharisees who believed in strict obedience to the Law
of Moses.
• Family was from the Tribe of Benjamin.
• Family could speak Greek but spoke Aramaic (Hebrew) at home.
• Belonged to the freemen of Tarsus (Manumission of Jewish slaves who had
earned their freedom after Pompey’s capture in 63 BC).
Saul’s Early Life
• Motherless from the age of 9 years.
• Father was a tentmaker and taught Saul (Acts 18:3).
• Sent to Jerusalem to study Judaism under Gamaliel when 13 years old
(Family in Jerusalem Acts 23:16).
• Taught the art of debate (diatribe of Q & A).
• Became a successful lawyer with a goal of a seat on the Sanhedrin (rulers
of the Jews).
Acts 9:1-2 ESV
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at
Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he
might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Saul’s Purpose in Life
• Mindset of hatred and hostility for followers of Christ.
• Goal was to destroy all followers of Christ.
• Damascus had a large Jewish community and many followers of Christ
had escaped there as persecution in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria
began.
• Saul got papers (extradition orders) from the high priest to bring followers
of Christ back to Jerusalem for imprisonment.

5. Why Damascus?
• Damascus was 135 miles, a 6-day walk, north of Jerusalem.
• Damascus was an oasis on the border of the Arabian desert and on the
route from Mesopotamia to Egypt.
• Damascus had a large community of Christ followers and a large Jewish
community.
• Saul does not return to Jerusalem for 3+ years, but returns as a follower of
Christ.
Acts 9:3-9 ESV
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light
from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice
saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, "Who
are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise
and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 7 The men who were
traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul
rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So
they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days
he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Saul’s Conversion Accounts in Scripture
• Acts 9:3-9 – Luke’s account in the scripture.
• Acts 22:1-22- Paul speaking before the crowd in Jerusalem.
• Acts 26:12-26 – Paul speaking before King Agrippa.
Acts 26:13-14 ESV (Saul’s Own Account)
13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun,
that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had
all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the
goads.’

6. Saul is questioned by Jesus
• “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
• Jesus spoke in the Hebrew language.
• “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
• Jesus identified with his followers – “persecuting me”.
• Jesus was alive and his claims were true.
• The risen Lord had appeared to Saul.
• The light he saw was the glory of Christ.
Goads
‘It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
What was Jesus saying to Saul?
• The farmer would use a goad (sharp stick) to break in an ox learning to
pull a plow.
• Jesus was pursuing Saul, prodding and pricking him, which was painful
when he resisted.
• What were the “goads” that Jesus had been using on Saul to prick him?
• Hints in the New Testament.

7. Goads of Saul
1. Saul’s own doubts about his beliefs
 Some scholars think that Saul had met Jesus before the crucifixion.
 Possible they had visited Jerusalem and the temple at the same
time.
 Saul could have heard Jesus teach.
 Saul was very familiar with Jesus’ teachings.
2. Stephen’s Witness
 Saul was present at Stephen’s trial and execution.
 Saul saw the face of Stephen and heard his remarks as he was
being stoned to death.
 Stephen’s witness may have caused Saul to doubt himself deeper.
 Saul’s fanaticism was attributable to his “compensation for secret
doubts” (C. G. Jung).
3. Guilt
 Saul knew his motives and desires were not clean in God’s sight.
 Jealousy and covetousness described the Pharisees in persecuting
the apostles.
 Saul had neither power nor peace.
Jesus did not humiliate Saul
 “Why are you persecuting me?”
 Jesus was asking Saul to examine his motivation.
 He appealed to his reason and conscious.
 Jesus did not violate Saul’s personality.
Saul questions Jesus, “Who are you, Lord?”
 In Acts 22:10 Saul also asks Jesus, “What shall I do, Lord?”.
 Saul’s addressing Jesus as “Lord” was a term of respect (Kyrios) “Who are
you, sir?”.
 Jesus answers Saul directly.
Acts 9:10-12 ESV
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in
a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him,
"Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a
man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a
vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might
regain his sight."

8. Straight Street in Damascus
House of Judas on Straight Street
Acts 9:13-19a ESV
13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how
much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority
from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to
him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the
Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he
must suffer for the sake of my name." 17 So Ananias departed and entered the
house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who
appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may
regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately something
like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was
baptized; 19a and taking food, he was strengthened.

9. Consequences of Saul’s Conversion
1. Saul had a new reverence for God
• “…behold, he is praying,”
• Saul had not eaten or drank for 3 days.
• Praying for forgiveness for sins of self-righteousness and persecution
of Jesus’ followers.
• Praying for wisdom to know what God wanted.
• Prayers of worship.
2. Saul had a new relationship to the church
• Ananias addresses him as ‘Brother Saul’.
• Saul receives the Holy Spirit and his sight was restored.
• He was baptized.
• Finally, he took some food to regain his strength.
Acts 9:20-25 ESV
19b For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he
proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." 21 And all
who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in
Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for
this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" 22 But Saul increased
all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by
proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot
became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to
kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an
opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
Saul’s time of preparation for the ministry
• Luke does not tell us the details of Saul’s next adventure.
• Acts 9:23a After many days had passed, ….
• The “many days” was actually a span of 3 years between Acts 9:22 and
9:23.
• Saul explains in Galatians where he was and how Jesus prepared him for
the ministry.

10. Saul Attends “Desert Seminary” in Arabia!
Galatians 1:15-18
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by
his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach
him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I
go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into
Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem ….
“Desert Seminary in Arabia” in 33-34 AD!!
Saul Points Out 2 Things He Did Not Do.
1. He did not immediately consult with other people.
2. He did not rush to Jerusalem to present himself to the apostles.
3. Paul’s point is that he had been directly commissioned and taught by
Jesus through revelations (secrets or hidden information made known).
The Place of Arabia
• The precise location is not told, but the Arabian Desert was only 100 miles
from Damascus.
• It was a barren wilderness except for a few Bedouins.
• We do not know how he was sustained during this time.

11. What did Saul learn in the desert?
 Ephesians 3:1-3
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you
Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's
grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known
to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
 Stewardship of God’s Grace = For Paul it was the sharing of the Gospel
with the Gentiles.
 Romans 16:25
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and
the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery
that was kept secret for long ages
 Preaching of Jesus Christ = Jesus is the Messiah and also the Savior of ALL,
not just the Jews.
 Galatians 1:11-12
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached
by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was
I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
 The gospel = The “good news” of Jesus Christ.
What about the “thorn in the flesh”?
 2 Corinthians 12:7
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing
greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a
messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
 Eye Problem?
 Galatians 6:11
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
 Theory Only – Paul’s eyesight was damaged when he was blinded by the
light on the road to Damascus.
 Jesus knew Paul was easily tempted to become conceited and he
needed an ever present reminder!
 Jesus gave him spiritual eyesight instead.
4 Life Lessons From Paul
1. No matter how you appear to others today, everyone has a dark side.
2. Regardless of what you have done, no one is beyond hope.
3. Even though your past is soiled, anyone can find a new beginning in
Jesus.
4. Jesus puts the details of your life together even before your conversion for
the ministry to which He calls you.

12. Paul understood how God works details when he wrote Romans 8.
• Romans 8:28
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for
good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
• Roman 8:31
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be
against us?
Praise The Lord!!!
The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.”
Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
 Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
 Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
 The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.

13. Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the
lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.
Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will
be my son.”
 Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquers.
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart
one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you have questions or would like to know more, please, contact First Baptist
Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/