The conversion of paul on the road to damascus is found in three different places in acts of the apostles, but not in pauls own epistles and in fact his epistles seem to have ruled this out, so. On various occasions in his epistles, paul made either direct or. We know that pauls sisters son was in jerusalem after pauls conversion acts 23. Unlimited patience pauls conversion what do i need to know about the passage. Renan, the french atheist, said it was an uneasy conscious with unstrung nerves, fatigue from the journey, eyes inflamed by the hot sun, and a sudden stroke of fever that produced pauls hallucinations. Sauls conversion meanwhile, saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the lords disciples. Youre going to love watching your kids search their bibles to find answers about saul, paul, the road to damascus, and acts 9. Saul of tarsus, a pharisee in jerusalem after the crucifixion and resurrection of jesus christ, swore to wipe out the new christian church, called the way. The conversion of saul 1992 all sermons by pastor john osteen. In my opinion, acts of the apostles was actually written to make paul a lesser character in the early church. What efforts did saul go to in order to persecute christians vs. Pauls conversion showed that jesus himself wanted the gospel message to go to the gentiles, quashing any argument from the early jewish christians that the gospel was only for the jews. The death of stephen and the persecution that followed was a blow to the community of believers and it pushed many others to leave jerusalem for the surrounding towns. Support for this conclusion is based on the research of the classic scholar, dr.
Why are the three accounts of pauls conversion on the. This message has been included in this book because it can contribute to our understanding of the man of faith and what god looks for in a man. Fun for kids and an incredible learning resource, this pauls conversion activity is perfect for your upcoming acts 9 sunday school lesson. The story of pauls conversion from a devout jew, violently persecuting believers in jesus, to a devout christian, fearlessly spreading the gospel against all opposition, is found three times in acts. Therefore, we can conclude that the conversion story for saul of tarsus does not contain any contradictions.
It is not just in the book of acts that the importance of sauls conversion is evident. On various occasions in his epistles, paul made either direct or indirect references to his former life of opposition and his radical conversion. Although this study will focus on the conversion of saul of tarsus paul, let us first consider eight examples of conversions found in the book of acts. Thirteen of the twentyseven books in the new testament have. He went to the high priest 2 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.
This is an important point based on the fact that luke, the author of the book of acts, traveled with the apostle paul. The apostles were justifiably dubious about his conversion and he disputed with them for the rest of his life on a variety of issues. The book of acts says that paul was on his way from jerusalem to syrian damascus with a mandate issued by the high priest to seek out and arrest followers of jesus, with the intention of returning them to jerusalem as prisoners for questioning and possible execution. Pauls conversion bible story summary, study and lesson. Then, having completed this course of characterbuilding, he was ready to enter the second phase. In acts, saul paul is the key figure in the evangelization of the gentiles. There are three accounts of pauls conversion to christianity found in the book of acts. Luke recounts pauls conversion story three times acts 9, 22 and 26. He wants to pour himself into you so that you then pour yourself into others by loving and serving and sharing jesus with them. Jesus himself appears to rabbi saul and confronts him with the truth of the resurrection and saul completely changes everything about his life. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in damascus, so that if. Pauls road to damascus conversion bible study guide. Read the acts of the apostles and the epistles to gain a better understanding of pauls ongoing conversion to christianity.
What explanations can you give for sauls fanatic hatred toward christians. In acts 9, we pick up the story of saul, who was briefly introduced at the end of. Like the discussion of pauls conversion, the new perspective on paul npp has framed this discussion of pauls conversion in much different terms than the traditional view of paul would have allowed. It is not just in the book of acts that the importance of saul s conversion is evident. Without question, the story of sauls conversion is one of the most important events, if not the most important event, that luke records in acts. Paul was raised in a nice jewish home in tarsus, which is located in modern day turkey 21. Thirteen of the twentyseven books in the new testament have traditionally been attributed to paul.
Acts 9 niv sauls conversion meanwhile, saul bible gateway. One of the oftenthoughtof name changes in the bible is that of saul to paul. Secondly, the criticism fails to take into account the epochal nature of the conversion of saul, and its importance in the divine scheme of things. In the first place, the author reveals his own lack of knowledge of the facts. Sauls conversion is one of the most wellknown pivotpoint stories in the bible. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, saul, saul, why do. Acts 9 sauls conversion meanwhile, saul bible gateway.
In the epistles, paul is the key new testament author to explain gods purpose for the evangelization of the gentiles see, for example, romans 911. Bible verses about sauls conversion bible verses related to sauls conversion from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order. Contradictions in the book of acts for the damascus road. The change is commonly linked to sauls conversion on the damascus road, when the lord jesus commissioned him to take the gospel to the gentiles acts 9. Immediately afterward, he endured the humbling that god intended as the first phase of his training.
The book of acts says that paul was on his way from jerusalem to. Jesus then told him that saul was a chosen vessel and that he would preach about him jesus to the gentiles, to kings and the children of israel. The apostles name change and narrative identity in acts. I summarized the npps thinking about pauls conversion in this post. Pauls conversion is a very dramatic conversion, where the lord personally intervened to capture his attention. The book of acts records pauls lifestyle before and after his. Ananias listened to god and healed saul and that was only the beginning of pauls conversion journey. Understanding pauls conversion and calling as an apostle. The book of acts is not only a book of history, but also a book of conversions. The conversion of paul on the road to damascus acts 9 represents a critical point in the book of acts and in the history of christianity.
Other writers say it was a thunderstorm that hit, and in fear, he imagined he saw jesus because he. Acts of the apostles discusses pauls conversion experience at three different points in the text, in far more detail than in the accounts in pauls letters. In comparison to pauls own account in the epistles, acts of the apostles has completely reversed the role of the apostle paul. Paul the apostle commonly known as saint paul and also known by his hebrew name saul of. Perhaps acts 9 will inspire us to trust in the leadership of the holy spirit more. The initial record of sauls conversion acts 9 is not paul s account. Ananias, according to the word of the lord, then went and restored pauls site through the power of god. Pauls conversion on the road to damascus was one of the most dramatic.
How many times is pauls conversion recounted in acts. Acts 9 new international version niv sauls conversion. The story line written into the book of acts is credible at the 99. Book of acts, contradictions for conversion of saul of tarsus. Do the 3 accounts of pauls conversion in luke contradict. Acts 9 conversion of saul object lesson for children. Acts 9 pauls conversion sunday school crossword puzzles.
Pauls conversion is recorded three times in the bible 1. If you have a new life in christ, then you are filled with the holy spirit as well. The story of pauls conversion on the road to damascus is told in acts 9. I dont think these skeptics are paying very close attention when they say that there are irreconcilable. Sauls conversion amazing bible timeline with world history. The first account, in acts 9, narrated pauls conversion when it actually happened. Scholars think he was probably a few years younger than jesus, which means he was in his 30s when he first appears as a young man 7. It is quite possible that saul was present for the trial of stephen a trial that resulted in stephen becoming the first christian martyr acts 7. This miraculous message was meant for one person only, saul. Zealous, brutal, and loyal to his religious heritagethis was how the book of acts introduced the man called saul of tarsus who quietly approved of and watched the death of christianitys first martyr, stephen. If saul had remained a jewish rabbi, we would be missing thirteen of twentyseven books of the new testament and christianitys early major expansion to the gentiles.
Now while most of us do not go through an experience exactly like pauls, theres a lot of things we can learn about conversion from pauls experience. Pauls conversion why three accounts, and how do they. Each version is different, and this fact has led some critics to say that the accounts are contradictory. Pauls conversion was seminal in the church, but the stories differ. The men with saul did not see the risen jesus, but saul did. Seven of the pauline epistles are undisputed by scholars as being authentic, with. The long by biblical standards story includes a programmatic statement that describes the course that sauls work will. After being a ringleader in persecuting christians in jerusalem and judea, paul obtained permission from the high priest, and then set out for damascus, hoping to find and arrest christians who had fled his persecution. The differences among the three accounts in acts of the apostles do not show that paul was confused, but that the author of acts was exercising some literary licence. A contrast of pauls conversion accounts 28 jun luke records pauls conversion three times in acts, first in chapter 9 where he simply narrates the event, and secondly, through pauls testimony in chapter 22 before the jews after they tried to kill him, and finally before festus and king agrippa in chapter 26. To begin, it is important to understand that the belief that the book of acts has a contradiction is not related to the apostle pauls personal conversion story. Luke and paul probably discussed the conversion story in depth.
Paul begins this passage by reminding his readers of the man he used to be. If one genuinely wants to know what to do to be saved, he can read the book of acts and find the biblical answer. A turning point in acts comes when saul of tarsus whose name is first given as paul later in acts. Approximately half of the book of acts deals with pauls life and works. Man of faith understanding pauls conversion and calling. The most important event in human history apart from the life, death and resurrection of jesus of nazareth is the conversion to christianity of saul of tarsus.
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