Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. The speeches in Acts so far have been mainly in the form of deliberative rhetoric, the purpose of which is to make people change their minds and lives in view of the future. In chapters 22-26, however, the speeches are forensic rhetoric, designed mainly for defensive and apologetic purposes. (Constable)

2. Paul was arrested under the false charges of preaching against the Jewish people, their Law, and the Temple (Act 21:28-29 cf. Mar 14:57-58; Act 6:13).

B. Brethren and Fathers (1)

1. Brethren and Fathers may have been the common address or “defense” (apologia) before Jewish dignitaries, high priests, and council of elders.

2. However, the only other time this address was recorded in Scripture was when Stephen began his address (Act 7:2). Perhaps Stephen’s testimony was on Paul’s mind.

C. Hebrew dialect (2)

1. Like Ac 21:40, the phrase “Hebrew dialect” (dialektos – characteristic speech of a people or province) would refer to the common tongue of the day (Aramaic).

2. He spoke this address to his fellow-countrymen in that Hebrew dialect, the Syro-Chaldaic or Aramaic, the mother-tongue of the Jews in Judea at that time. (Schaff)

3. The crowd became even more quiet because they heard their own vernacular. Paul was attempting to show them that he was one of them.

D. Birth, Education, and Zeal (3)

1. Stating his birthplace at Tarsus of Cilicia, Paul identified with the Hellenistic Jews of Asia (Ephesus) (cf. Trophimus the Ephesian, Act 20:4; 21:29).

2. Declaring that he was brought up in this city, Paul identified himself with the Jews in Jerusalem, most likely the majority.

3. Acknowledging that he was educated under Gamaliel, one of Israel’s greatest teachers, Paul identified himself as a scholar in the law of our fathers (Php 3:4-6).

4. Asserting that he was zealous for God, Paul was relating to the very Jews who beat and delivered him over to the Romans (Gal 1:13-14).

E. Persecuted False Teaching (4)

1. Paul was so zealous that He persecuted the Way (Christians); a group that he then believed was teaching false doctrine and causing Jews to become apostate.

2. There was no limit to Paul’s aggressive zeal, for he bound and imprisoned both men and women (cf. Act 9:1).

F. Traveled to Persecute (5)

1. Paul was not fabricating these things and they could all be verified by the “high priest and all the Council of the elders.”

2. He had “received letters” from them to travel outside Jerusalem and apprehend any Christians who were in “Damascus” (Act 9:2).

II. PAUL’S POST-RESURRECTION APPEARANCE (6-11)

A. Bright Light (6)

1. From a Jewish apologetical perspective, visions, theophanies, and manifestations were a divine means to communicate divine revelation. To the Jew, attention and credibility had to be given because such revelations occurred throughout Jewish history (Gen 18:1; Exo 34:5-7). However, this was more than a Theophany or even a Christophany, for this indeed was a post-resurrection appearance of the Lord Jesus Himself (1Co 15:8).

2. Paul was going to persecute Christians, until a bright light from heaven flashed all around him. This bright light was the glory of the resurrected Lord (Act 9:3)

B. Voice of Christ (7)

1. Even as the Lord had spoken to various individuals and prophets in Israel’s history, the Lord spoke to Paul.

2. The Lord called him by name (“Saul”) and exposed Paul’s false doctrine of persecuting Christ by persecuting Christians (Act 9:4).

C. Jesus the Nazarene (8)

1. Though Paul knew it was an appearance of a Divine Being (“Who are You, Lord”), he did not know who that Divine Being was.

2. Jesus revealed Himself as “Jesus the Nazarene,” not just any Jesus, but the Jesus from Nazareth, called the Nazarene on the cross (Mat 2:23; Joh 19:19; Act 2:22).

3. It was this Jesus who Paul previously rejected as a charlatan, blasphemer, and false Messiah.

D. Others not understand the voice (9)

1. Those with Paul were unable to understand what was being said by Jesus. Not because they did not understand the language but because the message was intended only for Paul (cf. Joh 12:28-29 cf. Luk 24:16-17).

2. Furthermore, Paul’s companions only saw a light. Paul saw the light and the Person of Jesus (Act 9:7; cf. Act 9:17, 27; 22:14; 26:16; 1Co 9:1; 15:8).

E. Instructions to go to Damascus (10)

1. Paul’s first response was a response of submission to the Lordship of Christ (“What shall I do, Lord?”).

2. Paul was to go into Damascus and receive further instructions (Act 9:6)

F. Paul led into Damascus (11)

1. Straining to the see Christ in the midst of the brightness of His glory, Paul was blinded for three days (cf. Act 9:8-9).

2. Therefore, Paul had to be led by the hand into Damascus and situated to wait for Ananias to restore his sight and give him instructions (Act 9:12).

III. PAUL’S CALLING AS AN APOSTLE (12-15)

A. Devout Jew Ananias (12)

1. Ananias, obviously a follower of the Way (Act 9:13-14), is shrewdly described by Paul in regard to his Jewish piety and popularity.

2. Ananias was called by the Lord to find Saul, restore his sight, and confirm the Lord’s calling on his life (Act 9:10-14).

B. Ananias healed Paul’s sight (13)

1. Ananias came to Paul and not only restored his sight, but laid hands on him whereby he was filled with the Holy Spirit (cf. Act 9:17).

2. Scales fell off Paul’s eyes and he was able to see Ananias (Act 9:18).

C. Appointed to See and Hear Righteous One (14)

1. Ananias related to Paul that he had been “appointed” (procheirzō – lit. handpicked beforehand, chosen in advance) by the “God of our fathers,” a particularly Jewish reference for his hearers (cf. Exo 3:15; Act 3:13; 5:30).

2. Paul was appointed to 1) “know His will,” 2) “see the Righteous One,” and 3) “hear an utterance from His mouth”). These were Jewish concepts familiar to his listeners. But they also explain Paul’s salvation (Gal 1:15), his apostolic calling (Act 9:15a), and the knowledge of what that calling entailed (cf. Act 22:10; “appointed” tassō). The entailment would be “a witness for Him (15)” to the Gentiles and Jews. Paul would also suffer for the Lord’s sake, which in a sense just begun.

IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS.

A. Sincere But Sincerely Wrong (Php 3:7-9)

1. Discarded his Jewish Pedigree

B. Sync with Your Audience

1. Beeline for cross, gospel, your testimony – no question

2. Apologetic age

3. Christian re to be equal to task (1Pe 3:15)

C. Salvation Experience

1. Transitional periods, one coming up – Rapture.

2. Apostle - Saw resurrected Christ, commissioned by resurrected Christ, empowered by resurrected Christ.

3. Word is more valid than experience - Luk 16:27-31; 2Pe 1:17-21 (19)

D. Sequence of Testimony

1. Your Life Before Christ,

2. How you came to Christ,

3. Your Life After Christ.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516