Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1921-07-14
LESSON FOR July
The CONVERSION OF SAUL.

= The CONVERSION or SAUL.
LESSON TExT-Acts s:l-isa. +
GOLDEN TEXT-This Il faithful say
Ing. and worthy OF all acceptation. that
Jesus came into the world to save sim
neis: OF whom l am chief.--l Tim i.1k Il
REFERENCE MATHEMATICIAN Ill
| a; 26:i-23 ISIS
PRIMARY ToPIc-Learnins to Obey
| Jesus sfk
JUNIOR TopIc-saui Becomes Chris
dan
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| The Pharisee Becomes q Christian.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC.
"A Study Of Paul's Conversion.
LissuPs Burning Hatred Of Jseus
| wv. l. -.
Saul knew full well that unless the
movement set on foot by Jesus was
stopped II would supersede Judaism,
but he was entirely ignorant Of the
| genius Of Christianity. Christianity
thrives on persecution. Prosperity may
ruin the church, but persecution
never.
The noble display of faith by
Stephen In sealing his testimony with
his blood did not soften Saul's spirit.
but rather intensified his hatred for
Jesus and His disciples 1t made him
more determined than ever to stamp
out this NaZarene heresy. The in
tenslty of his madness and the extent
Of its operations are best set forth in
his own words (see Acts %: and
Acts 26:10-l2) He obtained authority
from tile chief priests to carry on this
\ murderous work. {E#
n. Saul Kicking Against the Prieks.
| ivy. 3-J). The figure here is that of
the eastern ox-driver following the OK
with sharp iron fixed to the end
| Of Il pole. The animal Is prodded on
| with this Instrument and II it is re-
fractory 1t kicks against this sharp
iron and Injuries itself. This is q
| picture of Saul as he was mady tight
Ing against Jesus.
| !. A light from heaven wv. 3. 4a).
The time had come for tie Lord
to interfere. Saul is stricken with
L UtbuuHCSS anu luitb W TIC AHip
| physical demonstration accumulated
the workings Of his conscience which
| doubtless were going on, QuicEened
by the Holy Spirit as He used Ste
phen's testimony.
2. Al Yeice from heaven tyv. 4b. 81
This was the Lords voice, calling Saul
by name apd asking. "Why persecutest
thou meY' This moved Saul to, in
| quire, "Who art thou, Lord?" The
answer came, 81 am Jesus whom thou
1 persecutest::" as If to say persecution
| Of the church Is persecution of Jesus !
| g. "What wilt thou have me to doT'
| ". 6)). The dictator is now willing to-
he dictated to- The Lord told him to
| go into the city where information
would be given him as to what he
must do
\. Saul entering Damascus (vv. 79).
The naughty prosecutor goes quite
| humhly into Damascus led by his
attendants. For the space Of three
days he remained in blindness and
fasting. What went on in his soul
| In those days no mortal can know,
but we may be assured that he. like
| the Lord in the wilderness. was too
deep In meditation and prayer to 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.
| ~. Ananlas Sent to Saul wv. 10
19a).
Here appears upon the scene
hitherto unknown disciple.
| /. Ananias' vision (vv. 10-12). III
this vision the Lord appeared and in
structed him to go to Saul. He gave
him the name Of the street and Saul's
host, and informed him that Saul was
now praying man and that he had
prepared Saul by the vision for the
coming Of Ananias.
z. Ananias fear and hesitancy (vv-
1870. He knew Of Saul's mission and
|. the authority by which he came. the
Lord encouraged him to go, assuring
him that Saul is no longer an enemy.
but a chosen vessel to bear His name
before the Gentiles, kings, and the
children Of Israel.
/ 8. Ananias' obedience ". 10. His
fears being removed, Ananias went to
the house where Saul was staying,
nut his hands on him and affection
ately addressed him as brother" The
savage prosecutor Is now a brother IN
Christ. He informed Saul that the
Lord had sent him with a twofold
mission: N .sThat thou mightest
receive thy sights" ~, BE filled with
the Holy Spirit" He received sight
forthwith. II IS not said as to whether
he received the Holy Ghost then, but
!. his life's work proves that he did.
/ i. Saul baptized tvv. IL. l9al After
Saul received his sight Anan!as bap-
tized him.