Page 51 - Acts Student Textbook

middle of the day, and yet the light that appeared was brighter than the sun. How could anyone in
any day, let alone that day, have faked such an appearance?

Note that Jesus accused Saul of having persecuted Him. Opposing and persecuting the people of
Jesus is the same as persecuting Jesus Himself. In other places He taught that helping and
encouraging His people is the same as doing that for Him (Matt. 25:31-46; 10:40-42). Jesus identifies
with His people such that, in His view, the treatment we give His people is the treatment we give
Him.

Saul naturally wondered who was speaking to him in such an amazing manner. Though he did not
know who it was, yet he recognized that it must be someone important and powerful to appear in
such an awe-inspiring manner, so he addressed Him as “Lord.”

What was Saul’s new assignment? (9:10-19)

In the process Saul’s change, God would use the very people Saul was to arrest and kill, to help Saul’s
salvation and assignment of ministry. One leading figure was Ananias, God instructs him, "Go for he
is a chosen instrument of Mine before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel, for I will show
him how much he must suffer for My name's sake” (9:15-16).

What an awesome greatness of the grace and election of God! Paul does not fit the evangelical
model of voluntary, volitional conversion. He was dramatically drafted! What a startling statement
for a Jew to be told (cf. Eph. 3:7)! Yet, this has always been God's plan (cf. Gen. 12:3; Exod. 19:5-6;
Eph. 2:11-3:13). Israel was only an instrument to reach the world, made in the image of God (cf. Gen.
1:26-27), but fallen (cf. Gen. 3:15).

Did Paul accomplish this new task?

Yes he did! As regards to being an instrument to the Gentiles, he covered a great deal of the Middle
East and the Europe of his day. In relation to kings, Paul spoke to governmental leaders, small and
great, and finally to Caesar! Pertaining to the sons of Israel, Paul's regular missionary pattern was to
preach first at the local synagogue (cf. Rom. 1:16) in every city. This allowed the Jews and the God-
fearers who knew the OT a chance to respond first to the gospel. Then he would turn to the pagans.
He eventually spoke at the fortress stairs in Jerusalem. But let me not go ahead of myself, all these
experiences will be covered.

How about the sufferings of Paul? (9:16-19)

In His assignment, Jesus promised Paul that he would suffer for His name’s sake (9:16) Suffering is
not the exception, but the norm for Christians in a fallen world (cf. Matt. 5:10-12; John 15:18-21;
16:1-2; 17:14; Acts 14:22; Rom. 5:3-4; 8:17-18; II Cor. 4:7-12; 6:3-10; 11:24-33; Phil. 1:29; 1 Thess.
3:3; 2 Tim. 3:12; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12-16). Paul initially was enjoying the privilege of persecuting
Christians, but now he will undergo the privilege of being persecuted for Christ’s sake.

There is a theological relationship between the sufferings of Christ and the sufferings of His followers
in this fallen realm. The book of 1 Peter shows this parallel. Jesus' suffering (1:11; 2:21,23; 3:18;
4:1,13; 5:1), His followers' (1:6-7; 2:19; 3:13-17; 4:1,12-19; 5:9-10). If the world rejected Him it will
reject His (cf. John 7:7; 15:18-19; 17:14).

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