[:en]SCRIPTURE: ACTS 9
“Saul, Why do you persecute me? I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 4-6)
“Ananias, Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat” (Acts 9:34)
“Tabitha, get up! She opened her eyes and seeing Peter, she sat up” (Acts 9:40)
SAUL’S CONVERSION (vs. 1-19)
Saul was on his way to persecute Christians. As he neared Damascus, he saw a light and heard a voice from heaven saying: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul asked: “Who are you Lord?”. He replied: “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do” (vs. 4-6). When Saul got up from the ground, he was blind.
In the meantime, God spoke to Ananias in a vision and told him to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, to restore his sight” (vs. 11-12). Ananias was hesitant at first because he knew that Saul was known to have authority from the chief priests to persecute believers. But Jesus told Ananias that He will be using this man to carry His mission before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. So, Ananias went to Saul and placed his hands on him. Immediately, something like scales fell down from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
SAUL IN DAMASCUS AND JERUSALEM (vs. 20-31)
After Paul’s conversion, he prayed and preached. Many Jews conspired to kill him. So his followers took him by night and lowered him through a window at night in a basket. When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples but they were all afraid of him. It was Barnabas who took him and brought him to the apostles. Paul stayed with them and spoke boldly about the name of the Lord. When the brothers learned that the Grecian Jews were trying to kill him, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. The church through Judas Gentiles and Samaria were strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. It grew in numbers and they lived in fear of the Lord (v. 31)
AENEAS AND DORCAS (vs. 32-43)
Peter went to visit the saints in Lydda. There, he healed a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who was bedridden for 8 years. He also rose Dorcas, a dead woman from Joppa to life. Many people all over the Joppa believed in the Lord.
LESSON:
- Saul was saved by the grace of God. God showed him a light, called him by his name and Saul obeyed His call. Every sinner is in dark until the light of Gospel shines on him. God is calling us through His Word. Will you obey His call?
- God used Ananias to heal Saul. Are you willing to be used by God to further His gospel?
- The apostles were afraid of Saul and refused to accept him. But Barnabas introduced him to the group. Are you willing to be an encourager and build the bridges between people?
- Brave men smuggled Saul out of Damascus. Holding the ropes was an important job in saving Saul. Are you willing to do any job that God has called you to do?
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