Two weeks ago we looked at Saul who had persecuted the Christians miraculous conversion. In today’s passage it is recorded what this converted Saul did. The result is summarized in verse 31.
The church’s work doesn’t just move forward. There is always a reason that it moves forward. This can be seen in the words, “Then the church…” (31) In other words, by the things that Saul did after he was converted, and by the work of the church that he was involved, the secret of the peace of the church, and the moving forward of the church can be found. Therefore, today let’s look at why the church moved forward.
I. Jesus is the child of God, the Savior (vs. 20,21)
Saul who was converted in Damascus boldly proclaimed that Jesus is the Savior. In verse 21 “this” refers to Saul’s proclamation that Jesus is the son of God. Saul had Annanias pray for him and something like scales fell from his eyes and he was able to see again. Then he began to proclaim that Jesus was the son of God in the synagogues. This is the only place in Acts where it is written that Jesus was the son of God. That is because at that time the people thought that the Messiah was the son of God. Therefore, Saul’s proclamation meant that Jesus had the same characteristics as God. And that he was the only son of God. He has eternal fellowship with the father from heaven so he is able to show us God. In verse 22 we are told that Saul was witnessing to the fact the Jesus was Christ. This is basically the same meaning. Christ is the king that has been anointed with oil, the Messiah, the Savior. Therefore, Saul’s witness was a statement of faith that Jesus had the characteristics as God, the Savior. The name Jesus Christ is actually a statement of faith that Jesus is the Lord that God has anointed and the Savior. Jesus Christ is a statement of faith that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior. Before Saul never imagined that Christ could be the Messiah and therefore, he severely persecuted the Christians who thought that way. However when something like scales fell from his eyes and he was able to see clearly, he realized that Jesus was Christ, and he shared that with others. Even so, why did he share this so fervently right away?
1. This was because for a long time he had been against Christianity and had persecuted the Christians. He had consented to Stephen’s stoning and there were many people in the church who were hurt by him. For someone that had been so much against the church, and then repented and was converted, it was necessary before God, and others, that he have more zealousness and show and say that he had really changed.
2. I think he also had within himself such a joy that he felt driven to share the Gospel. This is faith. If we really believe, it is natural that we will want to share that. Saul tells us this in II Cor. 4:13. In the same way we who have the same faith should share our faith because we believe. This is a characteristic of faith.
Amos 3:8
If a lion roars, there is no one that doesn’t become fearful. It’s a natural response. It’s the same with a person who has received the Word of God. It is a natural response that he speak. If a person has received the word of God, then he can’t be quiet about it. If he does try to not speak about what he has received, then Jeremiah 20:9 tells us what will happen. He will become tired and it is not good for him psychologically. The Word of God will burn in his heart like a fire and he will be weary of holding it in. It is unnatural to not speak about the Word of God that we have received. Speaking the Word of God that we received is a natural response, and healthy.
However, we often don’t share about Christ. We are ashamed to. We are afraid that other people will think that we are strange. In fact, Saul also had these same feelings. Therefore in verses 27 and 28, Saul says that he preached fearlessly, and boldly. Probably he mentions this because in reality he had fear and felt shame about sharing the Gospel. Even so he controlled that fear and shame and spoke the Word of God fearlessly and boldly.
There are some Christians who feel shame because they don’t know how to present the Gospel. However, verse 22 says, “Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving the Jesus is the Christ.” The word “proving” means “to tie together”. In other words, Saul showed that Jesus was Christ by tying together the Old Testament prophecy and each event of Jesus’ life. Therefore, evangelism is just reading the Bible to others. No matter how poor verbal skills a person has, he can do that.
“Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.” (22) If we share about the Word of God, we too will grow more and more powerful and bold. By evangelizing, we learn more about the Word of God, and we become more powerful. Saul when he was converted preached that Jesus was the Son of God, Christ and therefore the church moved forward.
II. He tried to join (vs. 26-28)
Another thing that Saul did when he was converted was to try to join the disciples. According to verse 28 the Jews tried to kill Saul who was evangelizing powerfully in Damascus. Therefore, his followers put him in a basket and lowered him down in basket through an opening in the wall. Then he went to Jerusalem. When he arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples. This was the same thing that he did in Damascus right after he was converted. According to verse 19 “Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. He really tried to join and be part of the church. The church had a hard time believing that Saul was really converted and was afraid that he was a spy and so it took some time before he could really be a part of the church. Even so, Saul tried hard and waited patiently to become a part of the church. As a result of his evangelism in Damascus, he had many followers. However, he didn’t try to form his own group. He tried to enter into the fellowship of believers.
On the other hand, we are also moved by the attitude of the church. It is only natural that the church would be afraid of Saul who persecuted the church and who is now trying to join them. However, according to verse 27 Barnabas tried to bring Saul into the church. Barnabas accepted Saul, “took him and brought him to the apostles.” He explained to the apostles about how Saul had been saved, what had happened in Damascus, etc. and so they were able to accept Saul into the church there. The words “took him” in verse 27 means to take care of him. He didn’t just take him because he felt he had to, but from his heart Barnabas accepted Saul, and with a warm heart he tried to help him become part of the Jerusalem church. People like Barnabas that help Christians and Christians to come together are doing a great work.
Not only that, but the apostles in Jerusalem that heard Barnabas’ petition on Saul’s behalf were also great. According to verse 28, they not only believed Barnabas’ testimony of Saul, but they opened their hearts to Saul and accepted him and allowed Saul to freely move about with in the Jerusalem church. They didn’t have any fear about letting Saul join them. The fact that Saul moved around freely shows that they had completely forgiven Saul.
When we look at Saul and Barnabas and the church we can see that they all had a strong sense of acceptance. They saw a converted person as someone that should be included within the church no matter what their past had been. The church didn’t judge but, had an open heart, was warm towards all who were saved. This was because they all feared God.
Romans 14:4
The Lord’s will is that we love each other and build each other up. This is made possible by being strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. (31) As a result the church will move forward.
III. Living in fear of the Lord (vs. 31)
The church moved forward because of Paul’s evangelism and because the church accepted Paul into the church. However not only that, but it was a result of Paul’s and the church’s thinking and the basic characteristics of their faith. In other words, both Paul and the church believed that the church should be built up and move forward. They lived in fear of the Lord. The final line is that for the church to move forward and for the number of believers to increase, depends on the kind of faith that each individual has and the kind of thinking that each person has.
If that’s the case, then it’s important that we seek the Lord’s will more and more and follow the Lord’s will. We need to try to join together with the church. We need to like Barnabas, help others to become a part of the church. We need to believe that the church should be built up and move forward. We need to live in fear of the Lord. Let’s follow the Lord, be encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and continue to move forward.