Saul was persecuting Christians and breathing murderous threats against them. He obtained letters from the high priest to arrest Christians in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem. On the road to Damascus, Saul saw a bright light and heard Jesus say "Why do you persecute me?" Saul was blinded and Jesus told him to go to Damascus where he would be told what to do. Saul's persecution of Christians was his turning point, as Jesus chose him to be an instrument to carry his name to Gentiles, kings and Israel, though he would suffer greatly for this.

2. Acts 9:1-6 NIV
1
Meanwhile, Saul was stillbreathingout murderous
threats againstthe Lord’s disciples.He went tothe high
priest
2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in
Damascus, so thatif he foundany there who belonged
to the Way, whether men or women, he might take
them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3As he neared Damascus onhis journey, suddenly a light
from heaven flashedaround him.

3. 4 He fellto the groundand heard a voice say to
him,“Saul,Saul, why doyou persecute me?”
5
“Whoare you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whomyou are persecuting,” he replied.
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you
will betold what you must do.”

5. In Every Man’s
Life
There is a
Turning Point

6. Relationship

7. Career

8. Physical Appearance

9. Childhood to Adulthood

12. I. The Persecutor
1
Meanwhile, Saulwas stillbreathingoutmurderous
threats againstthe Lord’s disciples.He went to the high
priest
2and asked him for letters tothe synagogues in
Damascus,so thatif he found any there who belonged
to the Way, whether men or women, he might take
them as prisoners toJerusalem.
Acts 9:1-2

13. "Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you."
And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew
language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsusin Cilicia,but brought up in this city, educated
at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our
fathers, being zealous for God as allof you are this day.
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both
men and women,
asthe high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness.
From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward
Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds
to Jerusalem to be punished.
Acts 22:1-5 ESV

14. The Stoning of Stephen

15. But Saul began to destroy the church.
Going from house to house, he dragged
off men and women and put them in
prison.
Acts8:3

16. II. The Turning Point
As he nearedDamascusonhis journey,suddenly alight
from heavenflashed aroundhim.
He fell tothegroundand hearda voicesaytohim, “Saul,
Saul,why doyou persecute me?”
“Whoare you,Lord?”Saulasked.
“Iam Jesus, whom youare persecuting,”hereplied.
“Nowget upand gointothe city,andyouwill be told
whatyoumust do.”
Acts9:3-6

18. Here is a trustworthy sayingthat deservesfull
acceptance,Jesus came into theworld to save
sinners –of whomI am theworst.
But for that very reasonI was shown mercy so that in
me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display
His unlimitedpatienceas an examplefor those
would believeon him and receiveEternallife.
1 Timothy1:15-16

19. III. The Chosen Instrument
But the LORD saidto Ananias,“ Go! This man is my
chosen instrument to carry my name before the
Gentilesand their kings and before thepeople of
Israel.
I willshow him how much he must suffer for my
name.
Acts 9:15-16 NIV

21. They only heardthe report: “Theman who
formerly persecutedus isnow preachingthe
faith he once to destroy.
And they praisedGodbecauseof me.
Galatians1:23-24 NIV

22. Am I trying t win the approvalof men, or of
God? Or amI trying to pleasemen? If Iwere
still trying to pleasemen? IfI werestill trying
to pleasemen, Iwould not be a servantof
Christ.
Galatians1:10 NIV

23. After we had beenthere for a numberof days, a
prophetnamedAgabus arrived from Judea.
During his visit he took Paul's belt and tied his own
feet and hands with it.Then hesaid, "The Holy
Spirit says, 'This is how the Jews inJerusalem will
tie upthe man whoowns this belt.Then they will
handhim over to peoplewhoare not Jewish.'"

24. When we heard this, we and the believerswho
lived there beggedPaul not to goto Jerusalem.
Then Paul replied,"Why are you crying likethis and
breakingmy heart? I'm ready notonlyto be tied
up inJerusalem but also to diethere for the sake
ofthe Lord,the onenamed Jesus."
When Paul couldnotbe persuaded, we droppedthe
issue and said, "May the Lord's will be done.“
Acts 22:10-14 GW

27. CHALLENGE