Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-07-14
LESSON FOR JULY II
THE CONVERSION OF SAUL.
1ssoN TEXT-Acts s:l-1sa.

ITS SNNN VT SNS@s
LESSON TRXT-Acts s:I-1sa.
GOLDEN TEXT-This is a faithful say
Ing. and worthy of all acceptatiOR. tina
Jesus came into the world to save sin
REFERENCE MATERIAL-ActS 22:l
Il; 26:l-23
PRIMARY ToPIC-Learning TO ODE
Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIC-sauI Becomes Chris
tan.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Pharisse Becomes a Christian.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A Study of Paurs Conversion.
!. SauI's Burning Hatred of Jesu:
wv. l, p.
Saul knew full well that unless the
movement set on foot by Jesus was
stopped 1t 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 Ia sealing his testimony with
his blood did not soften Saurs 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
tensity of his madness and the extent
of its operations are best set forth in
his own words (see Acts %: and
Acts 20 :10-12). He obtained authority
from the chief priests to carry on this
murderOus work.
n. Saul Kicking Against the Pricks
wv. 3-9). The figure here is that Of
the eastern oX-driver following the OK
with sharp iron fixed to the end
of a pole. The. animal is prodded on
with this instrument and if It is re-
fractOry it kicks against this sharp
iron and Injuries itself. This is a
picture of Saul as he was madly fight
ing against Jesus.
/. A light from heaven wv. 3, 4a).
The time had come for The Lord
to interfere. Saul is stricken with
blindness and falls to the earth. This
demonstration accentuated
the workings of his conscience which
doubtless were going on, quickened
by the Holy Spirit as He used Ste
phen's testimony.
.. A voice from heaven wv. 4b, 81. |
This was the Lords voice calling Saul |
by name and asking, "Why persecuteSt |
thou me?" This moved Saul to in
Iuire, ~Who art thou, Lord?" The
answer came, 81 am Jesus whom thou
as if to say persecution
IF the church is persecution of Jesus.
3. "What wilt thou have me to dor
". 6)). The dictator is now willing to
Ne dictated to. The Lord told him to
20 into the city where information
would be given him as to what he
must do.
4. Saul entering Damascus wv. 7-9).
Me naughty prosecutor goes quite
umbly into Damascus led by his
ttendants. For the space of three
avs he remained in blindness and
asting. What went on in his soul
4 those days no mortal can know,
Ut we may be assured that he, like
he Lord in the wilderness, was too
eep in meditation and prayer to de-
re food. Doubtless in this time he
OF hold of the truths which he later
reclaimed to the world; for his con
ersion was the basal fact of his ,,
leOlogy. -.
~. Ananias Sent to Saul wv. 10
)a).
Here appears upon the scene 9
thertO unknown disciple. i
l. Ananias' vision wv. 1O-12). In II
is vision the Lord appeared and in =
ructed him to go to Saul. He gave q
IN the name of the street and Sauls
st, and informed him that Saul was p
w praying man and that he had i,
epared Saul by the vision for the "
ming Of Ananias. I,
,. Ananias' fear and hesitancy wv. il
-1O. He knew of Saul's mission and
2 authority by which he came The
I'd encouraged him to go, assuring
n that Saul is no longer an enemy. 4,
l
'ore the Gentiles, kings, and the I'm
ldren of Israel. st
!. Ananias' obedience ". ~. His III
RS being removed, Ananias went to co
house where Saul was staying co
; his hands on him and affection ca
ly addressed him as "brother." The =
age prosecutor Is now a brother in
list. He Informed Saul that the
d had sent him with a twofod
sion; "a THAT thou miglItest
Give thy sight (2) "Be filed with
Holy Spirit" He received sight
hwth. 1t is not said as to whether
received the Holy Ghost then, but
life's work proves thar he did.
Saul baptized wv. Is, 19a). After
! received his sight Ananlas bap-