“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? “
And he said unto them, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. “ : Acts 1:6-8
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The Man with two names - Episode 1
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Clint Eastwood ... enough said ! Eyes of ice ... delivering acidly sarcastic lines in a raspy voice, the words bitten and spat out much like the wad of tobacco chewed by him ... Dusty boots and a dusty poncho, a horse, his guns and a bedroll his total worldly possessions. A total badass, who rides from town to town, bringing them hope, and ridding them of their troubles.
Fans of spaghetti westerns will say we got our title wrong ... and they are right ! But that’s because we are not going to be talking about Clint Eastwood, or the Man with No Name .... we are going to take a look at Saul/Paul who led a similarly itinerant life.
Why?
Its interesting because, for someone who wrote a lot of the New Testament ... remember... :
(a) he was a human just like us.... so ... What was his Christian experience like? How long did it take for him to go from being little Shaul ha-Tarsi ( Saul of Tarsus in Hebrew ) to the Apostle Paul of the New Testament?..... You may say you know all about the road to Damascus, but do you know what happened later ?
(b) Aren’t you curious about what being an Apostle really looks like? ( Would it make a good reality TV show? ... ? ... on The Apostle! this week.... ) How long does the training last? Do we get to meet Jesus... is there a secret handshake? We are being silly on purpose, but we have so much material in the New Testament - we should be able to answer these questions and many more besides... and Saul/Paul had the unique distinction of working on the opposite side ( persecuting Christians ) before switching!
Enough preamble .... lets dive in ....
A. Birth and early life:
Born in Tarsus of Cilicia ( in Turkey today, look it up) , this town was about 200 miles west of Antioch ( called Antakya today ), which itself is about 300 miles north of Damascus. He was a Jew, a Pharisee of the tribe of Benjamin. He would have learned to speak Greek and Aramaic based on his early upbringing and geolocation ( Tarsus and Antioch were trading hubs ) and was educated in Jerusalem, at the feet of the rabbi Gamaliel... and would seem to have been well accepted by the religious leaders at that time.
We first meet him as a young man in Acts ....at about the time the early church was just getting traction in Jerusalem. Peter and the other apostles,post Pentecost of the year Christ was crucified...c 33 AD.., were preaching in the temple and doing miracles, and this “ Way” was beginning to attract many followers - much to the dismay and chagrin of the current religious leadership. These leaders, forbade Peter or the disciples to teach in the temple, but they were ignored and the church kept growing..... and the Word kept spreading in Jerusalem. “
( “... when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. “ - Acts 5:40–42 (AV) )
So much so, that the apostles had to hire Holy Spirit filled ( -very- important qualification) deacons to manage the day to day logistics of caring ( waiting tables ! ) for the Jerusalem congregation.
The first Christian martyr Stephen was one of those deacons. We also meet a very important character called “ Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed -Barnabas-, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “-Acts 4:36–37.
We will talk more about Joses/Barnabas later. Suffice it to say that from the very beginning we see him sell all to follow Jesus, and see him as a member of the early church at Jerusalem.
Saul would definitely have been a witness to the church/council goings on in Jerusalem, and the apostles and Stephens trials. When sentence on Stephen was carried out we are told...
“And (they)cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the -witnesses- laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen....” Acts 7:58–59 (AV):
Why would the council trial witnesses pick -Saul- to guard their clothes.... ?..... because Acts 8:1... “And Saul was consenting unto his death.”.... he probably engineered it!
“ And at that time there was -a great persecution- against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all -scattered abroad- throughout the regions of —Judaea and Samaria—-, —-except the apostles— . And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
As for -Saul-, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Therefore they that were -scattered abroad -went every where -preaching the word.
{ordinary people - no apostles, some just converted, no New Testament}
Then -Philip- went down to the city of -Samaria-, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.” - Acts 8:2-8
Having started with Stephen, Sauls zeal for Orthodox Judaism drove him to persecute the fledgling church in Jerusalem. The result ? The Gospel began to be preached outside Jerusalem - in Judaea and, - in Samaria, by the church, and by Philip ( a Greek speaker ! ) What happened next?
“ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. “ - Acts 8:14–17
Isn’t it it cool? Right here we see that just being dunked in water and baptized IN JESUS NAME was NOT deemed sufficient.... a Holy Ghost Baptism was considered ESSENTIAL by the early church elders... what a lesson for us today !!!
B. Conversion experience:
Meanwhile....
“... Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” And he said, “Who art thou, Lord? “ And the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? “ And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” - Acts 9:1–7 (AV)
A few things to notice. Jesus called him by his birth name... we are called when we are still sinners!
Next, he was not given a complete roadmap of his life by the Lord at that time. No, all he was told was ... Go to the city..... take the next step.... and this is the pattern we should expect in our lives too. Obedience first, then God shows us more!
Lastly, Saul was deeply shaken ... his world was rocked! Imagine yourself surrounded by light like that, hearing a voice that tells you, you are injuring yourself (behaving like an obstinate horse kicking against Gods direction) - by persecuting Jesus. Now scared, and sorry... you are struck blind ( yikes !) and told nothing about what’s going to happen to you other than to continue to your destination and ...you’re gonna find out...... brrrr....Close Encounters of the third kind...
Saul didn’t eat or drink for three days from that moment ... just kept praying. ).
Yet while all that was going on, the Lord spoke in a vision ( awake dream ) to a -disciple- called -Ananias-, and told him that He was giving this praying Saul, reassuring visions that he would receive his sight at Ananias hands.
Humorously, in his own vision, Ananias questions the Lords decision (say whaaaat... do you know who this guy is )....to which the Lord says-
“Go thy way: for he is a —chosen vessel unto me—— , to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For -I- will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. “
“ And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said,
‘ Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that -appeared unto thee- in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest —-receive thy sight——, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. ——- ‘ { see/see the truth of Jesus, and be indwelt by Him }
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and ——was baptized—-. { Jesus needed to be baptized in water , so do you, so did Saul } And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. “
The Word bears witness that - the Lord self identifies Himself to Paul, by the coincident visions of Paul and Ananias, by their actions and words spoken, and by the testimony of miracles. Saul is an Apostle commissioned by Jesus Himself!
C. New Convert Saul :
“Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
But all that heard him were amazed, and said; ‘Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? ‘
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. “ - Acts 9:17–31 (AV)
Sauls experience mirrors our own when we first come to Christ. Our worldview is changed, everything is different, and we have a zeal and energy to preach the Gospel, even though we may not be initially equipped to do it. People wonder if we are the same person, considering our very recent... past behavior!
Saul seems to be a quick study, ‘increasing in strength’ — beginning to use his training in the Word to debate the Jews, and discovering truth for himself.... as we all must do!
D. Hate and Persecution because of the Word ... ( In Sauls case - real life kill you dead persecution ) ..... begins :
“ And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. “Acts 9:17–31 (AV)
Saul is in Damascus, a strange city, and now there are people who know him ( & people he knows ), who are watching the gates of the city day and night, seeking an opportunity to assassinate him. So bad is the situation, that the church in Damascus has to secretly get him out by night... and set him on the road back to Jerusalem. He is literally in the dark of night, hanging out to dry, swaying in the breeze, over the ramparts of a strange city!
“And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. —-But Barnabas——- took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. “ - Acts 9:17–31 (AV)
Poor Saul.... he comes back to Jerusalem looking for refuge from the very people he was persecuting just a while ago.... of course... they want nothing to do with him...
BUT JOSES/BARNABAS ....like Noah, this piece was on the board per Gods design all along....( Hallelujah!) BARNABAS steps in at this most critical juncture!
Just ONE person... and what a difference this ONE person made! Barnabas is often thought of as Paul’s side kick... no.... Barnabas was a church ELDER, and Paul was his protege! Barnabas encourages Paul to continue his ministry at Jerusalem!.... which he does...
“And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. “
Which ministry goes well for a time, Saul beginning to engage with the Gentiles or Hellenized Jews.... ( foreshadowing his ministry )... but... and ... this is a pattern that is going to recur many times over in this mans life... evil will continually be stirring the pot against him! It is why he is favored with a second visitation and warning. In his own words of what transpired at that time....
“ And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, “Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. “
And I said, ‘Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.’
And he said unto me, “ Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. “ -
Acts 22:17–21 (AV)
Wow..... Sauls words almost seem like a confession ... he means that his own people, who KNEW him and his zeal, should have greater reason to believe and hear him, so the hostility is surprising to him..... well we know who is really behind the hostility to Christ..the devil .... so we should not be surprised when we encounter hostility for speaking the truth.
Perhaps based on this warning, the disciples send him home.... and a very changed Shaul it is that returns to his hometown on the ship from Caesarea. The World has changed for him, but he has changed the world too... being an instrument of persecution to fulfill the words of His Lord....the prophecy of witness beyond Jerusalem to Judaea and Samaria... which fulfillment is testified in the text by the fact that those churches finally rested, and were established.
“ Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. “ - Acts 9:17–31 (AV)
What will he do? What happens next....? Stay tuned as we will be bringing you a new episode every week... God willing...
Hallelujah!