The Dolores star., 1921-07-22

GOLDEN TEXT-Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.-Matt. 1916.
REFERENCE MATERIAL - Acts B:
N-2S
PRIMARY roP1c-saul Telling Others
About Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIc-SauI Winning Others
to Jesus
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Getting Ready for a New Career.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Saul Begins His Ministry.
!. Saul Preaching Christ in oamaa
;us (vv. 19b-22).
After Saul was baptized he remained
certain days with the believers In Da-
nascus ". l9b). How beautiful to
think OF the transformation which
took place !-One who was so passion
ately bent on the destruction of the
disciples was now enjoying fellowship
with them.
l. Straightway preaching In the syn.
agogue ". ~ SAUL like every one
who is really converted. begins to tell
Of the newly found Savior. Every Chris
:ian should be taught that 1t Is his
business as soon as saved to help to
save others.
2. The people amazed ". Ply. They
knew that the very one who had been
ringleader in prosecuting the Chris
tians in Jerusalem and had come to
Damascus for the express purpose Of
bringing them bound to the chief
priests, was now passionately advo-
eating that which he had so vehe-
mently sought to destroy.
3. The Jews confounded ". 22). Saul
retired into Arabia for three years.
During this time he was taught the
full truth Of his mission (Gal. 1:17,
lS). Saul Increased In spiritual
strength and confounded the Jews
proving that Jesus was not only the
Son of God. but their Messiah. His
proof, no doubt. was by citation from
the Old Testament prophecies, show
ing that the life, death and resurrec-
ton of Jesus exactly paralleled them.
That Christ died and rose again from
the dead, no one then could deny; the
transformation of Saul from hater
to an ardent witness was a proof
which could not be gainsaid.
u. Saul Escapes From the Jews
wv. 2325).
He used the Scriptures with such
skill that the Jews could not answer
him. Finding that the argument was
against them, the Jews took counsel
how they might destroy Saul. So in
tent were they upon killing him that
they watched the gates of the city day
and night that they might take him.
When this was known to the disciples
they let him down at night In bas-
ket by the wall.
III. Saul Visits Jerusalem (vv. 26
29a).
| This journey to Jerusalem was In
strange contrast with the one from
Jerusalem to Damascus. The one
was the leader of an important expe-
dition under the authority Of the Jew
ish officers with the prospect Of
place of distinction in the councils Of
the Jewish nation. Now he Is an out
cast, disowned by his countrymen, and
fleeing for his life.
!. Suspected by the disciples
". 26). The believers at Jerusalem
had not heard fully about Saul's con-
version. They knew nothing of his so
!
Damascus after his return, so they re-
garded him as spy. Part of the
penalty Of wrong-doing Is the difficulty
of restoration in the good opinion of
honorable men," But 1t is infinitely
better to be regarded with suspicion
when genuinely true than to be trust
ed rs genuine when a hypocrte.
2. Barnabas confidence in Saul
". 2D. He was "A man filed with
the Holy Spirit (Acts IL :24); there
fore, able to discern the reality of
Saul's conversion. He was in reality
IL "son of consolation" and in this
instance showed his kindly spirit.
3. Saul in fellowship with the disci-
pies ". 2S). They went in and out
together. Peter received him into his
home, since his object in going to
Jerusalem was to see Peter (Gal. l :lS).
He abode with him Is days.
4. Saul disputing with the Grecians
". 29). He was not content to merely
visit with the brethren; he spoke
boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
". Saul Sent to Tarsus tvv.
29b. BOY.
A conspiracy similar to the one az
Damascus was formed against Saul.
When the brethren knew of it they
sent him to Tnrsus. Saul's life Is in
danger everywhere except among the
Gentiles. He is now back to the place
| of his birth. The first and best place
for ones testimony is In his home.
|