A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART IX - I
"I, Philip, have just received news about Saul, the man who was present at the stoning of Stephen... It is not good news.... He is planning to go to Damascus...I am very concerned about his plans.... For he intends to look for believers in that city.... I know too that he will not stop looking until he finds them... And he then plans to take them back to Jerusalem as his prisoners.... I know as well that he has the full support from the high priest for his actions.... He was even given letters from him to take to the synagogues over there....I and all the other believers must pray that the Lord will prevent that from happening.".. Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Saul's journey to Damascus....
ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART IX - I
One of the main persecutors of the Church was a man named Saul. He is first of all mentioned in Acts Chapter seven at the time of the stoning of Stephem as you can read in Acts 7:59 - Acts 8:1a
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
Saul, as a Pharisee, was one of the religious leaders, and he too was very opposed to the followers of Jesus as you can read in Acts 9:1-2
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the igh priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Saul firmly believed that these followers of Jesus were a threat to Jewish society. He was certain that God was very pleased with him for going after them and having them put in prison. Having learned that the teachings of Jesus had gone beyond Jerusalem and had even influenced Jews in Damascus, he felt it his God-given dutyto go there and to find these followers of the Way for he was totally convinced that God was as against these people as he was. And so he and some companions set off for Damascus. But then something happened he was completly unprepared for as you can read in Acts 9:3-4
As he neared Damascus on his journey,suddely a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the fround and heard a Voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"
Saul was stopped in his tracks in a way he never expected....Who could possibly be speaking to him?
Read Part Two HERE
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