Bible ReadingActs 9:1-31 “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. Now as he 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?' And he said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.' The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, 'Ananias.' And he said, 'Here I am, Lord.' And the Lord said to him, 'Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.' But Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.' But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he 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.' So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 'He is the Son of God.' And all who heard him were amazed and said, 'Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?' But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
[01:59]Revelation 12:11 “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
[18:02]Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
[55:53]Observation questions- In Acts 9, what happens to Saul before he goes back into the synagogue to preach, and what does the order of those events show? [14:25]
- What details in the passage show why the believers in Damascus and Jerusalem were afraid of Saul and slow to trust him? [41:35]
- What unnamed actions helped keep Saul alive and moving forward in the work God gave him? [32:11]
- In Acts 9:31, what does the church experience after Saul is handled by God, and how is that peace described? [57:13]
Interpretation questions- Saul already knew the Scriptures before meeting Jesus. What changed after Damascus that made the same Word come alive in a different way? [16:03]
- The people in Damascus spoke true facts about Saul’s past, but those facts were no longer the whole truth about his life. How should that shape the way believers think about repentance and change? [22:02]
- Barnabas does not pretend Saul’s past never happened, but he still makes room for Saul to be received. What does that show about how trust, caution, and grace can work together in the church? [45:57]
- Acts 9 ends with peace in the church after God deals with the persecutor. What does that suggest about the difference between a problem merely being removed and a problem being transformed by God? [58:08]
Application questions- Saul did not go back to old surroundings until he had some strength. What old setting, relationship, habit, or pressure might require more spiritual strength before stepping back into it? [14:25]
- Some people can only see old receipts and old failures. When that happens, is there a temptation to go quiet, get defensive, or give up? What would it look like to keep walking in the new reality Christ has given? [27:55]
- God’s work kept moving because some no name folk were willing to hold the rope. Where might God be asking for quiet faithfulness instead of visible recognition right now? [36:48]
- Barnabas used his credibility to help make room for someone whose change was real but still hard to believe. Is there anyone who may need that kind of help, advocacy, or steady encouragement right now? [43:13]
- Galatians 6:1 says spiritual people should restore others gently, while also watching themselves. When trying to help someone else, how can a person tell whether they are strong enough to step in or whether they need to step back and let someone else help? [56:11]
- Saul needed help from people he knew and people he did not know yet. Who are the people God may already have placed in life for support, correction, strength, or covering, and is there willingness to receive that help? [06:31]
- The church had peace after God handled a major problem. Is there a hard situation that needs to be handed over to God instead of being managed in human strength? What might trusting Him with the outcome look like this week? [58:40]
