"HE IS RISEN"
Acts 9:1-19 The Story Behind Paul.
Stephen
was the first martyr to the Way, as the new church being built on the
resurrection of Jesus was called during its early years. For
proclaiming the gospel of a risen Christ Stephen was drug outside of
Jerusalem and beat with stones until he died. Standing as an onlooker
to the stoning event was a young Pharisee named Saul (Paul in Greek).
As time passed and the the early church continued to grow Saul became an
even more aggressive in his efforts to stop the spread of the Way.
His
opposition is basically straight forward. From the later scriptures by
the Prophets in the Old Testament the Pharisees had developed a belief
that God would bring about a heavenly kingdom on the earth. That there
would be a divine Son of Man, descending from the heavens, who would
defeat the evil rulers of the world and bring about God’s. This Son of
Man would be the ultimate warrior and leader. He would not be a
condemned criminal who would be crucified on a cross. The death of
Jesus was contrary to all Jewish understanding and teaching.
Paul
learned about a possible group of Christ believers in Damascus, and
with the authority of the Jewish leaders was traveling from Jerusalem to
find these heretics and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial and
sentencing.
While
they were traveling, a heavenly glowing Jesus appears to Saul with such
power that it literally knocks Saul from his horse and blinds him.
“Saul, Saul,” Jesus asks, “Why do you persecute me?” Saul, lying on the
ground in confusion asks, “Who are you Lord?”
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” answers Jesus. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what to do.”
Those
traveling with Saul heard the sounds, but did not see Jesus. They
helped Saul to his feet, and discover he was blind. Helping him onto
his horse they took Saul into Damascus.
And
so we have the dynamic, instantaneous conversion of Saul into probably
the most influential of the Apostles. Paul believed Jesus appeared to
him, alive. Paul reasoned that because God brought Jesus back to life,
despite not conforming to the anticipated qualifications, Jesus was
indeed the Messiah, sent by God.
Join us for our April 21st Worship Service.
Drawing: The Conversion of Paul, 1866, Gustave Dore, private collection