Paul later remembered that these were peter and james the lords brother gal. It has been suggested that the conversion of saul is perhaps the most important event in the church since pentecost. For it was stephens prayer that planted the seed which later helped saul on his path to conversion. Pauls conversion showed that jesus himself wanted the gospel message to go to the gentiles, quashing any argument from the early jewish christians that the gospel was only for the jews.
Acts 9 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Pauls conversion from being an outrageous persecutor of the gospel of christ to be an illustrious professor and preacher of it. A recent book by researcher wade roof, spiritual marketplace. As a great kindness to the poor saints at damascus, who had notice of his coming, as appears by what ananias said v.
He began doing the things that jesus wanted him to do. What is the meaning of this text in the context of the whole book. After his conversion, sauls name was changed to paul, and he spent the rest of his life serving jesus and teaching people about him. We know that pauls sisters son was in jerusalem after pauls conversion acts 23. Without question, the story of sauls conversion is one of the most important events, if not the most important event, that luke records in. The conversion of paul on the road to damascus acts 9 represents a critical point in the book of acts and in the history of christianity. Topics and verses are autogenerated from user searches. Sauls purpose in traveling to damascusthen saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of damascus, so that if he found any who were of the way, whether men or. Toussaint, acts the bible knowledge commentary, 2 vols. Sauls conversion was one of the most miraculous and significant instances of repentance that took place during the early expansion of the church. Then saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of damascus, so that if he found any who were of the way, whether men or women, he might. It has been popularly assumed that sauls name was changed when he became a follower of jesus christ, but that is not the case.
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. Mcgarvey, circa 1823, in his commentary on acts tells this most interesting story. The power of god is revealed in the conversion of saul the power of conversion acts 9. Pauls conversion bible story summary, study and lesson.
Each version is different, and this fact has led some critics to say that the accounts are contradictory. If saul had remained a jewish rabbi, we would be missing thirteen of twenty seven books of the new testament and christianitys early major expansion to the. A devout hellenistic jew, of the tribe of benjamin, born in tarsus of cilicia, saul was a member of the pharisees and was taught by none other than gamaliel, whom we have already met acts. Like paul, believers become new creations in christ. With hand drawn illustrations of pauls conversion, your kids are going to love unleashing their creativity on these printable activity pages. Renan, the french atheist, said it was an uneasy conscious with unstrung nerves, fatigue from the journey, eyes inflamed by the hot sun, and a sudden stroke of fever that produced pauls hallucinations. Sauls conversion meanwhile, saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the lords disciples. It is quite possible that saul was present for the trial of stephen a trial that resulted in stephen becoming the first christian martyr acts 7. There was no human explanation for sauls conversion.
The conversion of the persecutor, saul of tarsus, is one of the most. What is the story of saul of tarsus before he became the. David guzik commentary on acts 9 describes the conversion of saul of. He became a missionary to people all over the world. Barnabas, one of the leaders, believed in sauls sincerity and brought him before the apostles. The conversion of saulpaul is so important to the author of the book of acts that he presents the story three times acts 9, 22, 26. Barnabas told them of sauls amazing conversion as a result of seeing the lord and of his bold witness for christ in damascus. Sauls conversion occurred when he was on his way to the city of damascus. Sauls conversion since the persecution of christians in jerusalem spread the disease to other jewish communities, saul undertakes to stop the spread.
Let us now study the conversion of saul of tarsus the apostle paul. The book of acts says that paul was on his way from jerusalem to syrian damascus with a mandate issued by the high priest. Pauls road to damascus conversion bible study guide. The causes of sauls conversion are plain in the narrative, even though the shortened form is adopted, which is found in the revised version. The powerful story of pauls conversion has been beautifully brought to life with these sunday school coloring pages. Intervarsity press commentary on the book of acts william j larkin, jr. Pauls conversion sunday school lesson make childrens. Other writers say it was a thunderstorm that hit, and in fear, he imagined he saw jesus because he. An old apocryphal book, dating to the end of the first century, described paul like this. This chapter reveals the conversion of saul of tarsus, the mighty persecutor acts 9. As he neared damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from. Luke recorded the conversion and calling of saul of tarsus to demonstrate the supernatural power and sovereign direction of god. Michelangelos the conversion of saul is housed in the cappella paolina of the vatican palace. If you have a new life in christ, then you are filled with the holy spirit as well.
The conversion of paul the apostle was, according to the new testament, an event in the life of. Second, it was samuel who was to convey the lords battle plans. Sauls conversion acts 9 object lesson bible lessons. This book tells the story of the conversion of paul acts 9.
Sometimes people are slow to understand gods plan and may even resist it. Henceforth his persecution of christians, as portrayed in the book of acts via his own. In studying an incident or subject, let us always remember to read all the verses that pertain to said incident or subject. A missionary is a person who is sent by a church to. First published in 1964, arch books captivate children with colorful pictures and creative poems. Acts 9 conversion of saul object lesson for children. Luke recounts pauls conversion story three times acts 9, 22 and 26.
Paul said that god set me apart before i was born, and then on the damascus road called me by his grace galatians 1. Conversion of saul in acts by alvin lam whereas in. Paul begins this passage by reminding his readers of the man he used to be. Saul once tried to stop people from believing in jesus, now he believed in jesus and was gods child.
Kings could offer sacrifices for themselves, but never for the nation. Sauls purpose in traveling to damascusthen saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of damascus, so that if he found any who were of the way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to jerusalem. Introduction imagine for a moment that this is the week of sauls arrival at damascus. First, kings werent supposed to offer sacrifices on behalf of the community. He wants to pour himself into you so that you then pour yourself into others by loving and serving and sharing jesus with them. Acts 9 pauls conversion sunday school coloring pages. God works in unexpected people and places to spread the saving message of the gospel. The importance of sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. These verses describe the conversion of saul with the assistance of ananias. But the conversion of saul also shows gods grace, and mercy, and illuminates the. This wellloved series captures the attention of children, telling scripturally sound stories that are enjoyable and easy to remember.
Acts 9 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The account of pauls conversion in acts is relatively brief. Sauls conversion is a spectacular example of how jesus changes lives. Sauls disobedient actions involved at least three major errors. Pauls conversion is recorded three times in the bible 1. According to the book of acts, he was a roman citizen. Saul goes to caiaphas, the high priest, to ask for letters, permission, to drag christian men and women out of their homes in damascus and into jerusalem for judgment, and execution. The conversion of paul the apostle also pauline conversion, damascene conversion, damascus christophany and the road to damascus event, was, according to the new testament, an event in the life of paul the apostle that led him to cease persecuting early christians and to become a follower of jesus.
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