Lesson Notes

Introduction

• Studying the Book of Acts to see how the Holy Spirit empowered and propelled the early church out into a hostile world that it turned “upside down”
• I pray that will happen again now and that we’ll be part of it
• Key verse – Acts 1: 8 – the structure and plot of the book of Acts

First Taste of the Ends of the Earth

Read Acts 8: 26-40

• Verse 26 – Philip is told to walk away from a hugely successful ministry bearing tons of evangelistic fruit and go to – a low-traffic road in the desert near a ruined ancient city
• Verse 27 – He went and encountered an Ethiopian – in classical literature the end of the earth!
  • Not geographically identical to modern-day Ethiopia – Africa south of Egypt
  • A wealthy and powerful kingdom that had existed since 750BC – Rome settled for a peace treaty rather than conquest – in the Sudan region
  • A eunuch and high official of the queen of the Ethiopians – in charge of treasure
  • A “God-fearer” – not Jewish, but likes YHWH, the God of Israel
  • As a eunuch, could never become a baptized Jew or fully permitted into the temple – a permanent outsider
• Verse 28 – Reading Isaiah
• Verse 29 – Spirit told Philip to go and approach him – which had to be nerve wracking – there would have been security alert to a highway robbery
• Verse 30 – Philip’s evangelistic bridge – he listens and asks if he understands what he’s reading out loud
  • Verse 31 – He invites Philip to join him and help him understand
  • He’s reading Isaiah 53: 7-8 – a prophecy of the suffering servant
  • Verse 35 – Philip started there and told him about Jesus
  • Did they get to 56: 3-5? On the inclusion of eunuchs and foreigners? It’s such a close passage and so relevant!
• Verse 36 – The eunuch clearly embraces the good news of Jesus and asks to be baptized
  • A Spirit-driven and timed encounter – there isn’t generally much water in that part of the desert
  • Note the phrasing – what prevents me?
    • The Law prevented him from being included in Judaism
    • Nothing prevented him from being a Christ
  • Verse 38 – They go down in the water – no sprinkling in the Bible!
  • Verse 39 – Coming out of the water, the Spirit carried Philip away
  • The eunuch rejoices at it all and heads home to the end of the earth
• Verse 40 – Philip finds himself on the coast in Azotus, then preaches the gospel all the way north to Caesarea where he settles down permanently.

Saul’s Conversion

Read Acts 9: 1-9

• Verses 1-2 – sets the stage for this dramatic turn of events
  • Saul – still breathing threats and murder, even after church scatters – continues where Acts 8: 3 left off
  • Emphasizes just how sudden and dramatic Saul’s turnaround is
  • Seeks authority to clean house in synagogues of Damascus
  • To arrest members of “The Way” – men or women and bring them to Jerusalem
  • Note this early name of the church – before the use of “Christian”
• Verse 3 – A great light shines from heaven around him as he nears Damascus
• Verses 4-6 – Conversation with Jesus
  • Verse 4 – “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
  • Verse 5 – Saul recognizes it’s God speaking, but doesn’t know who He is
  • Jesus identifies Himself – note that in persecuting the church, Saul is persecuting Jesus – we are the body of Christ, He is in us, we are in Him
  • Rise and enter the city – you’ll be told what to do
  • A test of obedience for this humbled and blinded man used to wreaking havoc his way – to go and wait for instructions
• Verse 7 – Saul’s companions can hear the voice – but couldn’t understand it; can see the light, but can’t see anyone – implying that Saul was seeing Jesus as well as hearing HIm
• Verse 8 – Saul rose and could not see – instead of leading Christians away from Damascus in chains, he had to be led into Damascus
• Verse 9 – He’s sightless for 3 days and fasts – time to reflect on his encounter with Christ

Saul’s Baptism

Read Acts 9: 10-19a

• Verses 10-12 – Jesus appears to Ananias in a vision – telling him to go find Saul of Tarsus
  • Fun fact, the street called Straight in Damascus still exists
• Verses 13-14 – Ananias knows Saul’s past and fears him – wants nothing to do with him
  • He knows the evil he’s done, the hurt he’s caused, and the harm he came to inflict
  • He’s likely afraid for himself as well – he’ll be exposed as a Christian
• Verses 15-16 – Christ’s plan for Saul – the events of which are covered in Acts
  • His chosen instrument to take the name of Jesus before gentiles, kings, and children of Israel – basically the last half of Acts
  • Christ will show him how much he’ll have to suffer!
  • “Chosen instrument” is a great phrase – Saul was specifically selected by Jesus, because of his skills, talents, experiences, and even his persecution of the church!
  • Yet Jesus chose him to do great things for the Kingdom
  • All throughout Scripture we’re reminded that we’re also chosen  – maybe not for missionary travels, but chosen by God to do works He’s prepared for us!
• Verse 17 – Ananias believes Jesus and obeys
  • Addresses Saul as a brother in Christ – note that quick move from fear to acceptance – that’s the glory of the gospel!
  • Sent by Jesus so he could regain sight and be filled with Holy Spirit
  • Once again in Acts (contrary to the normal pattern in life) receiving the Spirit is a distinct act separate from conversion, because of the utter implausibility of Saul becoming a genuine believer
  • How could anyone believe Saul could become a Christian rather than a spy working undercover to destroy the church? The evidence of the Holy Spirit!
  • Verse 18 – presumably from the sequencing he received the Spirit before baptism
    • He regains sight (blinders come off – spiritually symbolic of his prior spiritual blindness being healed)
    • Then was baptized – an immediate act of publicly professing his faith

Saul’s Early Ministry

Read Acts 9: 19b-31

• Verse 20 – Saul immediately begins preaching Jesus as the Son of God in synagogues
  • He’d come to them to root out Christ, now he proclaimed Him
  • Didn’t wait for some lengthy training period to being sharing Christ – preparation will come, but don’t be afraid to share Christ at any point in your life
• Verse 21 – People are surprised, because of Saul’s past history
  • He was famous, but Christ can use anyone regardless of their past to serve Him!
  • This is an act of redemption that grows in significance to Saul throughout his life
• Verse 22 – Saul grew in his powers of argumentation, confounding his local opponents in making the case that Jesus was the Christ – we don’t know how long Saul is in Damascus
• Verses 23-25 – this wasn’t appreciated by his Jewish opponents – plotted to kill him
  • The first of many who would try to kill Saul over the years – God always made sure he found out about these plots or survived them
  • Saul found out and his followers snuck him out in a basket lowered through an opening in the wall at night
• Galatians 1: 17-18 probably happens here – 3 years! A time of necessary preparation – sometimes we want to rush things – let God’s timing work
  • Sometimes we even know what we’re called to do – but we need to prepare
  • We can be SO impatient in modern church life – looking at history we see what people are able to accomplish for the kingdom through long patient obedience
• Verse 26 – sometimes the established church struggles to embrace scary-looking new members!
  • And somehow we doubt the conversion of people who aren’t like us!
  • Disciples in Jerusalem were afraid of Saul – and didn’t believe his conversion
  • Verse 27 – Barnabas (From earlier in Acts) vouches for him with the apostles – telling the story of his encounter on the road and his bold preaching
    • The “Son of Encouragement” provides critical encouragement
    • Such a critical role in the church and all of history!
    • To vouch for the ultimate outsider who would become the greatest evangelist and church planter
    • Saul basically just interacts with Peter and James per Galatians
• Verse 28 – Saul checked in with the church throughout Jerusalem – preaching boldly!
  • Second mention of bold preaching – follows the Acts 4 prayer for boldness
• Verse 29 – As a Hellenist – a Greek-speaking Jewish Christian, Saul debated other Greek-speaking Jews
  • They too wanted to kill him
  • So the Christians took him to the seaport and shipped him home to Tarsus where he’ll stay for roughly 7-8 years
• Verse 31 – Summary statement – first 3 parts of Acts 1:8 now addressed
  • The church – unified – throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria
  • Had peace and was being built up – because Jesus flipped their main persecutor
  • Multiplied (like in Acts 6:7, but now as a regional movement, not localized to a single city) as it walked in fear (godly awe and reverence) of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Spirit – the habitual pattern = honoring God and embracing the Spirit who propels the church outward
  • A very healthy church and favorable situation
  • The stage is now set for the decisive move to the end of the earth!

Homework

Read Acts 10-11 in preparation for Ends of the Earth: Gentile Inclusion