ACTS 9

July 4th, 2025

ACTS 9

This week in Acts 9, we begin to focus on a man who was first mentioned in Acts 7 and 8. In Acts 7:58, during the stoning of Stephen, the scripture tells us:

“Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul."

And the beginning of Acts 8 scripture tells us more about this man named Saul:

“And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison."

In Acts 9, most of the chapter focuses on providing us with more information about this man named Saul.

Who is Saul?

As we start to explore Saul's life, we discover that he comes from Tarsus, a Roman city which granted him Roman citizenship. Saul was also a Pharisee who strongly persecuted the Christian Church. He was a highly educated Jew, having studied in Jerusalem under a famous rabbi. Saul viewed the followers of Jesus as a danger to Jewish customs and looked to end their movement. He was a man of strong beliefs, intelligent, influential, and undoubtedly a leader among people. Scripture tells us in the beginning of Acts 9:

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”

This illustrates that Saul was driven and had the power to persecute. He was convinced that he was targeting the Christian church in the name of God. However, what we discover is that he was persecuting Jesus himself. This is clear when Jesus reveals himself to Saul on the road to Damascus.

“Now as he (Saul) went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?””

Saul believed he was helping God, but he was doing the exact opposite. As followers of Christ, we do not perform favors for God that impress Him. He does not need our help, rather, we are the ones who need Him. Saul is living proof that when Jesus enters the picture, it changes everything. A thought-provoking question that arises while reflecting on Saul's conversion, is: Are we more focused on 'doing for God' or 'being with God'?

In this true event of Saul's transformation to salvation, we meet a man determined to dismantle the church, who becomes one of the most pivotal figures in scripture for establishing the church. A man driven by his convictions to persecute Christians is transformed into Christ's chosen instrument to usher in the new age of the church! This narrative of grace and salvation conveys a beautiful message: no one is too far gone for Christ to reach. The power of Christ through salvation truly alters every aspect of a person's life. When Jesus speaks into someone's life, it really does change everything.

"…He (Saul) is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Join us this Sunday for an inspiring message about how Christ changes everything. Reminding us that our salvation through Christ Jesus is only the start of our journey as Christians.

-Drake Whitworth-

Posted in Year One