Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-07-14
LESSON FOR JULY II
THE CONVERSION OF SAUL.

LEoSON TEAV-ActB S:l-lsa-
GOLDEN TExT-This IL a faithful say
.ng. and worthy Of all acceptstlon, that
Jesus came into the world 10 save sin
ners; Of whom lam chief.-l Tim. 1:I.
REFERENCE hATERIAL-Acts nj
I q; $:1-2s g. .
PRIMARY. %ToPIc-Learnins to Obey
Jesus.
JUNIOR TOPIC saul Become. Chris
uan. ~. .'''
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Tho Pharises Becomes . Christian.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A Study Of Paul's Conversion.
|; I. sauPs surains Hatred Of Jesus
wv. !, p. as.a.t To-.
Saul knew full we'll 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 in sealing his testimony with
his blood did not soften Saul's spirit,
but rather intensified his hatred ter
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
mnrderons work. -. ..,.....s-..., -..,... ..-
u. Saul. Kicking Against the Prieks
wv. ,3-9). The figure here Is that OF
the eastern o1-drlver following the OK
with a sharp iron fred to the end
Of q pole. The animal Is prodded on
with this instrument and II 1t Is re-
tractory it kicks against this sharp
iron and Injuries itself. This Is .
Dicture Of Saul as he was madly fight
'ng against Jesus.
l. A light from heaven wv. 8, 4a).
The time had come for the Lord
o interfere. Saul Is stricken with
blindness and falls to the earth. This
physical demonstration accentuated
he workings Of his conscience which.
doubtless were going on. Quickened
" the Holy Spirit as He used Ste
phen's testimony.
2. A voice from heaven wv. 4b. 81.
This was the Lords voice calling Saul
Iy name and asking, "Why persecutest
hou me?". This moved Saul to In
IuIre. "Who art thou, Lord?" The
,nswer came, 81 am Jesus whom thou
,ersecutest," as If 20 say persecution
4 the church Is persecution Of Jesus.
3. "What wilt thou have me to dor
". 6)). The dictator Is now willing to
re 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 ,(vy. 7-9).
rhe naughty prosecutor goes quite
humbly 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 knew.
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.
~. AnanIas Sent to Saul wv. 10
19a).
Here appears upon the scene
hitherto unknown disciple.
1. Ananias' vision wv. 1922. In
this vision the Lord appeared and In
structed him to 60 to Saul. he gave
him the name of the street and Saufs
host, and informed him that Saul was
now q praying man and that he had
prepared Saul by the vision for the
coming Of Ananias.
2. Ananlas' fear and hesltancy wv.
1919. He knew Of Sauls mission and
the authority by which he came. The
Lord encouraged him to 60, assuring
him that Saul Is no longer an enemy.
but q chosen vessel to bear His name
before the Gentiles, kings. and the
children Of Israel.
8. Ananias' obedience ". ~. His
fears being removed, Ananias went to
| the house where Saul was staying,
put his hands on him and affection
ately addressed him as brother" The
savage prosecutor Is now brother In
Christ. He informed Saul that the
Lord had sent him with a twofold
mission: 1) THAT thou mightest
receive thy sight," (2) "Be filled with
the Holy Spirit" He received sight
forthwith. 1t Is not said as to whether
he received the Holy Ghost then, but
his life's work proves that he did.
/. Saul baptized wv. ". 19a). After
L IL. IL harn