The Arvada enterprise., 1921-07-14
LESSON FOR JULY
THE CONVERSION OF SAUL.

THE CONVERSION OF SAUL.
LESSON TEXT-Acts s:l-lsa
GOLDEN TEXT-This IL a faithful say
ing, and worthy OF all acccptation, that
Jesus came into the world to save sin
ners: OF whom l am chief..-l Tim l:l5
REFERENCE MArERlAl--Acts sai-
Il: 3s:l-23
PRIMARY ToPlC-learnins 10 Obey
Jesus
JUNIOR Toplc-saul Becomes q Chris
tan.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Pharisee Becomes . Christian.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A Study Of Paul's Conversion.
!. sauI's Burning Hatred Of Jesus
tvv. l, y.
Saul knew full well that unless the
movement Ne, Oh foot by Jesus was
stopped 1t would superscds Judaism.
but he was entirely ignorant Of the
genius Of Christianity. Christianity
thrives on persecution. Prosperity may
ruin the church. but persecution
never.
A"S "oe'V uhSp'us vi lulNI W
Stephen In sealing his testimony with
his blood did not soften Saurs spirit.
hut rather intensified his hatred for
Jesus and His disciples. II made him
more determined than ever to stamp
out this Nazarene heresy. The In
tensIty OF his madness aud the extent
Of Its operations are best set forth In
his own words (see Acts %: 4 and
Acts 28:1O-l2). lie obtained authority
from the chief priests to carry on this
murderous work.
u. Saul Kicking Against the Prieks
(vv. 3-9). The figure here In that OF
the eastern ox-driver following tho OF
with sharp iron fixed to the end
Of a pole. The animal liz protided on
with this instrument and II II In re-
fractory II kicks against this sharp
Iron and Injuries itself. This In
picture, Of Saul as he was madly fight.
Ing against Jesus.
I. A light from heaven wv. 3. 4a).
The time had come for the Lord
to interfere. Saul Is stricken with
blindness and fills to the earth. This
physical demonstration acccntunted
the workings Of his conscience which
doubtless were going on. quickched
by the Holy Spirit as He used Ste
phen's testimony.
2. A voice from heaven (vv. Al. -.
This was the Lords voice calling Saul
by name and asking, "vhy persecutcxt
thou mel" This moved Saul 10 In
quire. "WhO art thou. I.Ord?" The
answer came, II am Jesus whom thou
persecutest." as " to say persecution
Of the church In persecution Of Jesus.
3. "What wilt thou have me 10 dor"
". O). The dictator In now willing to
be dictated to. The Lord told him to
60 into the city where information
would he given him NJ to whit he
must do.
4. Saul entering Damascus tvv. 7.O).
The naughty prosecutor goes quite
humbly Into Damascus led by his
attendants. For the space Of three
days lie remained In blindness and
fasting. Whnt went on In his soul
In those days no mortal Gun know.
but We may he assured that he. like
the Lord In the wilderness. WAS too
deep In meditation and prayer 10 de-
sire food. Doubtless In this time he
got hold Of the truths which he later
proclaimed to the world; for hIs con-
version was the basal fact Of his
theology.
~. Ansnias Sent 70 Saul tvv 10
l0s).
Here appears upon the scene .
hitherto unknown disciple.
!. Ananias' vision (vv. iO.i2). In
this vision the Lord appeared and In
structed him 70 20 70 Saul. lie gave
him the name Of the street and Ssul's
hest. and informed him thsi Saul was
now q praying man and tl'at he had
prepared Saul by the vision for the
coming Of Ananixs.
2. Ananiss' fenr and heAitancy wv.
1870. lie knew Of SauI's mission and
the authority by which he came. Tho
Lord encouraged him 10 60. assuring
him that Saul In no longer IN enemy.
but Q chosen vessel to hear His name
before the GentiIcs. kings. and the
children Of Israel.
3. Ananias' obedience ". ~. Iiis
fearx being removed. AnsnISs went TO
the house where Saul was staying.
put his hands Oh him and affection.
ateIy addressed him as brother" The
savage prosecutor II now . brother in
Christ. lie Informed Saul that the
Lord had seni him with n twOfOld
mission: ~ THAT thou miEis.*t
receive thy sight," t2) BE filled with
the Holy Spirit" lie received sight
forthwith. II In not said m to whether
he received the Holy Ghost then. but
his life's work proves that he, did.
l. Saul baptized tvv. ~. Iaa). After
Saul received lls sight Ansnlas bsp.