Salvation of Saul

• 1^st – Impossible to stop… vs. 23-25
  • 1^st – Plot to kill… vs. 23
    • Pleasing men…
      • Saul had served beside the Jews under a RELIGIOUS system they both cherished…
      • He advanced beyond all his peers – working harder than them all – Philippians 3:5-6
      • So that by following the rules – he had become FAMOUS among the Jews…
      • But FAMOUS among men – but it did NOTHING to make him right with God!
      • RELIGION is NOT about pleasing God – it is all about LOOKING good…
      • Wearing the right clothes – saying the right words – following the right traditions…
      • It is all to IMPRESS those around us – but it CANNOT save us from our sin!
    • Pleasing God…
      • Now after many days were past the Jews plotted to kill him!
      • The very same men who had PRAISED Saul when he was a Jew…
      • Now sought to KILL him because he was preaching Jesus Christ…
      • Saul rejected RELIGION – realizing it kept him from SERVING Christ!
      • Galatians 1:10 – “If I still pleased men I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”
      • People prefer RELIGION to a relationship with Jesus…
      • Because RELIGION can be used to justify their sin…
      • They can do what they want the rest of the week – so long as they go to church on Sunday!
  • 2^nd – Protected by God… vs. 24-25
    • No worries… vs. 24
      • But their plot became known to Saul!
      • [δέ] BUT – their PLAN was made [passive] KNOWN [γινώσκω] to Saul…
      • Saul had no reason to be worried of concerned – the Lord was watching out for him!
      • ANXIETY and WORRY come from thinking about things we have NO control over [future]
      • We spend countless hours – trying to work out what we should do [but have no answers]
      • The irony about worrying about our problems – is it does NOT help…
      • Because we focus on the PROBLEM – rather than the SOLUTION…
      • The answer is Jesus – He see EVERYTHING – and lets us KNOW [passive] what to do!
      • Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything – instead pray about everything.” [NLT]
    • Helping hand… vs. 24-25
      • And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
      • Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket!
      • The Jews were constantly watching [imperfect] the gates of the city…
      • They even asked the governor to guard it with soldiers – II Corinthians 11:32
      • Day and night they were there – hoping [subjuntive] to KILL Saul…
      • Therefore – the ONLY way out of the city was over the wall [in a BASKET]
      • But Saul could NOT do this himself – he needed others to HELP…
      • The DISCIPLES [μαθητής] came to his aid – and made sure he got out safely…
      • What a twist – the people Saul used to trust as friends – were trying to KILL him…
      • The people Saul used to try and KILL – were the ones who SAVED his life!
      • When we chose to LIVE for Jesus – those in the world will NOT like it…
      • We may lose friends – people who used to LOVE us – now HATE us…
      • Because we are NO longer living by their RULES – we are following Christ…
      • And since they do NOT want Jesus – they will reject us!
      • John 15:19 – “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world – but I chose you out of the world – therefore the world hates you!”

• 2^nd – Impossible to silence… vs. 26-31
  • 1^st – Bad reputation… vs. 26
    • Not convinced…
      • When Saul had come to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples.
      • But they were all afraid of him – and did not believe that he was a disciple!
      • When Saul returned to Jerusalem – he TRIED [imperfect] to join in the DISCIPLES [μαθητής]
      • [δέ] BUT – they were ALL [πᾶς] – including the Apostles – afraid [imperfect] of him…
      • Because they did NOT believe [πίστις] he was a DISCIPLE [μαθητής]!
    • No words…
      • It had been THREE years since Saul had chosen to follow Jesus – Galatians 1:18
      • Rumors had spread the great persecutor of the church got SAVED…
      • But most did NOT believe the man who hunted them to death – was a Christian…
      • Rather they FEARED it was a ploy to draw them out – and ARREST them…
      • And NOTHING Saul said could convince them – they needed to SEE the CHANGE!
      • I knew a man whose wife was a believer – and prayed for his salvation EVERY day…
      • Driving home DRUNK one night – he almost crashed his car…
      • In that moment he called out to Jesus to SAVE him – and became a Christian…
      • He immediately ran home to tell his wife the GREAT news – but God stopped him…
      • The Lord spoke to his heart – do not TELL your wife – SHOW her!
      • After we believe in Jesus – people will naturally be skeptical…
      • They will say we are NOT different – we are still the same old sinner…
      • And there is NOTHING we can SAY to change their mind…
      • We do NOT need to TELL people we believe in Jesus – we need to SHOW them…
      • No matter who we were – they will NOT be able to argue with a transformed life!
  • 2^nd – New definition… vs. 27
    • Barnabas…
      • But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles!

• [δέ] But – Although everyone else FEARED Saul – Barnabas believed he had CHANGED…
• This is the same Son of encouragement [Barnabas] we read saw – Acts 4:26
• He took Saul to the Apostles – only Peter and James were there – Galatians 1:18
• All Jesus…
  • He declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that He had spoken to him.
  • And how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus!
  • Barnabas told the APOSTLES – how Jesus had MET and SPOKE to Saul – Acts 9:4
  • And how Saul had boldly spoken in the name of Jesus in Damascus…
  • Notice he NEVER made any references to his past [persecuting the church]
  • He only pointed out what Jesus had done in his life…
  • Because Barnabas did NOT see who SAUL was – he saw what JESUS could do!
  • We are NOT to judge each other by our MISTAKES…
  • We are not DEFINED by our PAST – we are NEW creations in Jesus – II Corinthians 5:17
  • We are now DEFINED by our Father in heaven – the righteousness of Christ!

• 3^rd – Bolding preaching… vs. 28-30
  • Another plot… vs. 28-29
    • So he was with them at Jerusalem coming in and going out.
    • And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.
    • And disputed against the Hellenists but they attempted to kill him!
    • So [καί] – Saul became part of the church in Jerusalem [going in and out]
    • He CONTINUED [imperfect] to speak BOLDLY in the name of the Lord [κύριος] Jesus…
    • AND [καί] – he began [imperfect] to DISPUTE [συζητέω] with the Hellenists!
    • The same Greek speaking Jews who had DISPUTED [συζητέω] with Steven – Acts 6:9
    • Like Steven – Saul wanted them to believe in Jesus – but had SIMILAR results…
    • The men plotted to KILL Saul – the same way they had KILLED Steven…
    • These men did had NOT learned – you CANNOT kill the Gospel message…
    • If you knock down one messenger – God will just send another!
    • Voltaire was one of the most vocal critics of the Bible during the Enlightenment [late 1700]
    • The Bible is what fools have written – what imbeciles commend – Philosophical Dictionary
    • His house would one day be purchased by Geneva Bible Society!
    • The Gospel is NOT some idea of men – it is powered by God – and unstoppable!
    • I Peter 1:25 – “The word of the LORD endures forever.”
  • Called to Gentiles… vs. 30
    • When the brethren found out they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus!
    • It was NOT the believers who discovered the PLOT against Saul…
    • They got him out of the city – and took him to Caesarea [port city]
    • From there they sent him back to his home in the city of Tarsus…
    • Where he will stay until Barnabas comes to get him to help in Antioch – Acts 11:25
    • But it is worth noting – the PLOT to kill Saul – was revealed by Jesus!
    • Acts 22:18-21 – “I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me: Hurry! Leave Jerusalem for the people here will not accept your testimony about me… The Lord said to me: Go – for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!”
    • Saul wanted more than anything to be able to reach the JEWS – Romans 9:3
    • He assumed that because of his PAST – his PERSECUTION of the church…
    • That he had consented to the DEATH of Stephen – the Jews would believe him…
    • But God told him they would REJECT him – because they did NOT want Jesus…
    • Therefore – God would instead use Saul to share the good news with the GENTILES!
    • Just because we REALLY want someone to be saved – does NOT mean they will listen…
    • God wants more than anything for EVERYONE to be saved – but it is their choice – II Peter 3:9
    • All we can do is open the door – it is up to the person to choose to step through!
• 4^th – Growing church… vs. 31
  • Built up…
    • Then the churches throughout all Judea – Galilee – and Samaria had peace and were edified!
    •  As a RESULTS of the SALVATION of Saul – and his acceptance into the CHURCH…
    • ALL of the churches: Judea – Galilee – and Samaria [that is as far as they had spread]
    • Had [imperfect] PEACE [εἰρήνη] – the man who led the persecution was now saved…
    • EDIFIED [οἰκοδομέω] – meaning to build [δῶμα] a home [οἶκος]

• They were BUILT up – because God had done the IMPOSSIBLE…
• God had taken their greatest ENEMY – and make him a BROTHER!
• When we realize that God can make a murderer – into a righteous saint…
• When we see that NOTHING is too difficult to God – no one too hard to save…
• Then we will have PEACE in life – because we understand Jesus has it all under control!
• Multiplying…
  • Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit – they were multiplied!
  • And because the church was WALKING [present]
  • In the FEAR of the Lord – whom they saw could do ANYTHING…
  • And the COMFORT [παράκλησις] of the HOLY Spirit – who could change ANYONE…
  • The Lord [passive] was continually [imperfect] MULTIPLYING the church!
  • When the church BELIEVES – that NOTHING is impossible for God…
  • When we understand – that He can save ANYONE…
  • We are going to step out in FAITH – and reach out to EVERYONE…
  • And the results is going to be the Lord [passive] MULTIPLIES His Church!

• 3^rd – Nothing is impossible… vs. 32-43
  • 1^st – Encouraging churches… vs. 32-35
    • Seeing the need… vs. 32-34
      • Now it came to pass as Peter went through all parts of the country.
      • That he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.
      • There he found a certain man named Aeneas.
      • Who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him:
      • Aeneas Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed. He arose immediately!
      • After the departure of Saul – the story shifts back to Peter – Acts 10-12
      • Who went down to visit ALL [πᾶς] the churches…
      • AND [καί] – when he came to the city of Lydda [near Tel Aviv]
      • There he met AENEAS [praise worthy] – he had been PARALYZED [passive] for EIGHT years…
      • Peter said to him – Jesus is healing [present] you [indicative] – STAND up [imperative]
      • IMMEDIATELY – the man stood up – and was HEALED!
      • We are NOT told HOW Peter knew Jesus was healing this man…
      • What we do know is that Peter was out walking – so he saw the NEED!
      • We do NOT know WHO or WHEN God might want to do a work…
      • But we do know that as we are LOOKING – going out to encourage others…
      • We will be ready and available whenever and whenever God comes calling!
    • Turning to God… vs. 35
      • So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord!
      • EVERYONE [πᾶς] who lived in Lydda and the surrounding region of Sharon [שָׁרוֹן]
      • TURNED to the Lord [κύριος] when the SAW [εἶδον] the miracle!
      • It ONLY takes a SPARK – to set a forest on FIRE…
      • In the same way – ONE miracle – can start a REVIVAL!
      • People go about their lives with MUNDANE routine [wake up – work – sleep]
      • What they need is for someone to help them SEE – that there is MORE to this life…
      • As we step out in FAITH – see the NEED – and believe God does MIRACLES…
      • We can be used to OPEN their eyes – bring REVIVAL to a dying world!
  • 2^nd – A good woman… vs. 36-37
    • Disciple… vs. 36
      • At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha – which is translated Dorcas. 
      • This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did!
      • In the city of JOPPA [יָפוֹה] – meaning beautiful [modern day Tel Aviv]
      • There was a DISCIPLE [μαθήτρια] – only women given this title in NT…
      • Here name was TABITHA [צְבִיָּה] or DORCAS [Δορκάς] – both mean gazelle…
      • She was ALWAYS [imperfect] going GOOD [ἀγαθός] – and showing MERCY [ἔλεος]
      • HELPING out the poor – she even knitted clothes for all the women!
    • Death… vs. 37
      • But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. 
      • When they had washed her they laid her in an upper room!
      • BUT [δὲ] – Tabitha got sick – and then DIED…
      • They washed her body [preparation for burial] – and put her in an UPPER room – Acts 1:13
      • I am sure many people asked – why did God let such a GOOD woman die!
      • If an ELDERLY person dies it was their time – if a BAD person dies they deserved it…
      • Yet if the person is YOUNG or KIND dies – we tend to think of it as a tragedy!
      • But for the believer that could not be farther from the truth…
      • Sometime God lets GOOD people die – because he wants to bring them HOME…
      • He knows that life in heaven – is far better than anything here on earth!
      • Isaiah 57:1 – “The righteous pass away. The godly often die before their time… no one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil.”
  • 3^rd – Bold prayer… vs. 38-40
    • Come quickly… vs. 38
      • Since Lydda was near Joppa – and the disciples had heard that Peter was there.
      • They sent two men to him imploring him not to delay in coming to them!
      • The DISCIPLES [μαθητής] heard that Peter was in the nearby city of Lydda…
      • So they sent two men to ask [παρακαλέω] for him to come QUICKLY…
      • Tabitha had LOVED the people – so the people were willing to do anything for her!
      • Often we look for others to take care of our needs – but there is no connection…
      • It is when we care for others – that then in turn care for us!
    • Everybody out… vs. 39-40
      • Peter arose and went with them. When he had come they brought him to the upper room. 
      • And all the widows stood by him weeping.
      • Showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
      • But Peter put them all out!
      • When Peter came into the UPPER room – where Tabitha has been laid…
      • ALL [πᾶς] of the widows showed him the CLOTHES she had made for them…
      • BUT [δὲ] – Peter kicked them ALL [πᾶς] out – perhaps DOUBTING what would happen!
      • There was an evangelist named Smith Wigglesworth [early 1900s]
      • He was asked to pray for a DEAD man – he picked him up out of his coffin…
      • Commanded him to STAND – he slumped to the ground [two times]
      • The THIRD time the man slumped down half way – then stood up!
      • I am NOT sure I would have the confidence to pray for someone who has DIED…
      • Much less try a THIRD time – if the first TWO did not work…
      • But praise God – it does not take perfect faith for God to do a work – just a step of faith…
      • If we have the faith of a mustard seed – nothing is impossible – Matthew 17:20
    • Seen this before… vs. 40
      • [He] knelt down and prayed – and turning to the body he said: Tabitha arise.
      • And she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up!
      • Peter knelt down and PRAYED – then turned to the BODY [she was dead]
      • He commanded her to RISE [imperative] – it was not a question – there was NO more doubt…
      • And she OPENED her eyes – saw Peter – and say up!
      • If I has been Peter – I would have come to COMFORT the church for their loss…
      • But Peter came and PRAYED for Tabitha to come back to LIFE – and she DID…
      • Why did Peter believe she could be resurrected – because he had seen it before…
      • When Jesus went into the house of Jairus and said – little girl get up – Mark 5:41
      • It is easy for us to DOUBT what we have NEVER seen…
      • We can look at the circumstances and conclude it is IMPOSSIBLE…
      • Jesus had given us VICTORY over DEATH – I Corinthians 15:57
      • But if we do NOT know His WORD – we will NOT have FAITH – and miss out on the miracles…
      • It has been said SEEING is believing – but that is NOT true…
      • It is when we BELIEVE God can do the IMPOSSIBLE – that we get to SEE!
  • 4^th – Greater work… vs. 41-43
    • Many believed… vs. 41-42
      • Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up.
      • And when he had called the saints and widows he presented her alive.
      • It became known throughout all Joppa – and many believed on the Lord!
      • Peter called for the SAINTS [ἅγιος] – and presented Tabitha ALIVE…
      • EVERYONE heard what happened – and MANY came to the Lord…
      • But what was even more amazing – was what happened NEXT!
    • The tanner… vs. 43
      • So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon a tanner!
      • It came to pass that Peter STAYED [μένω] in the house of a TANNER…
      • According to the Law – a tanner was an UNCLEAN profession – Leviticus 11:35
      • Therefore it was VERY unusual for Peter [a Jew] to choose to stay in his home…
      • The reason was God was preparing Peter for an even GREATER work…
      • God had used Peter to heal a lame man – and even to raise the dead…
      • Now God was going to use Peter to bring the Gospel to the unclean Gentiles!
      • John 14:12 – “He who believes in Me the works I do he will do also – and greater works than these he will do.”
      • God wants to do a GREAT WORK through our lives…
      • What could be greater than healing the sick – raising the dead…
      • If you heal they will get sick again – if you raise the dead they die again one day…
      • The greater work – is giving the Gospel – bringing eternal life that never fades away!