The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-07-12
l. Saul's Violent Hatred of tn

|. Sau's Violent Hatred of the
Lords Disciples wv. l, y.
Saul knew full well that unless The
movement set on foot by Jesus was
stopped it would supersede Judaism.
Vie was ignorant of the genius of
christianity. He did not know that
the blood of martyrs is the seed of
the church." 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. The intensity of his
madness, and the extent of its Oper-
atiOns are best set forth in his own
words, And l prosecuted this way un-
to the death, binding and delivering
Unto prisons both men and women"
i(Acts % ~. 81 both shut up many of
THE saints in prisons, having received
authority from the chief priests, and
when they were put to death, | gave
my voice against them, and punish
ling them oft in all the synagogues l
strove to make them blaspheme, and
being exceedingly mad against them,
II prosecuted them even unto foreign
lcities" (Acts &c :10-12, r. W.
u. Saul Kicking Against the Pricks
(vv. 3-9).
The figure here is that of the east
ern OK driver following the OK with
a sharp iron fixed to the end of
pole. Tile animal is prodded with this
instrument and if it is refractory it
kicks against the sharp iron and in
lures itself.
l. A light from Heaven wv. 3, 4a).
The time had come for the Lord to
interfere. Saul was stricken with
blindness and fell to the earth. This
physical demonstration accentuated
the workings of his conscience which
doubtless were going on quickened by
the Holy Spirit as He used Stephens
Testimony.
2. A voice from Heaven wv. 4b, 81.
This was the Lords voice calling
Saul by name and asking, ''Why per-
secutest thou me?" This moved Saul
to inquire, "Who art thou, Lord?" The
answer came, II am Jesus, whom thou
perSecuteSt."
3. Sauls inquiry ". g., "What wilt
Thou have me to do?"
The dictator is now willing to be
dictated to. The Lord told him to go
into the city where information would
he given him as to what he must do.
4. Saul entering Damascus wv. 7-9).
The naughty prosecutor went quite
humbly into Damascus, led by his at
PENDANTS. For the space of three days
he remained blind, and tasted. What
went on in his soul in those days no
mortal can know, but we may be as
sured that he, like the Lord in the will
dernesS, was too deep in meditation
and prayer to desire food. In these
days of deep meaning his whole life
was being reorganized by Jesus Christ.
III. Ananias Ministers to Saul wv.
1919.
l. Ananias' vision (vv. 10-12).
In this vision the Lord appeared
and instructed him to go to Saul. He
gave him the name of the street and
lSaul's host, and informed him that
ISaul was now praying man, and that
He had prepared Saul by the vision
for the coming of Ananias.
2. Ananias' fear and hesitancy wv.
1916.
He knew of Sauls ministry and the
authority by which he came. The
Lord encouraged him to go, assuring
him that Saul was no longer an en-
envy but a chosen vessel to bear His
name before the Gentiles.
3. Ananias' obedience ". ~.
His fears being removed, Ananias
went to the house where Saul was
lstaying, put his hand on him and af.
fectionately addressed him as Broth
er Saul" The hitherto savage perse-
cutor is now brother in Christ. An
anias informed Saul that the Lord had
sent him with a two-fold mission:
ID "That thou highest receive
thy sight"
(2) "Be filed with the Holy Spirit.
A. Saul baptized wv. Is, 19).
After Saul received his sight An
anias baptized him. Since Ananias
was not a church official, it is clearly
Implied that official rank is not neces
Isary for the administration of bap
ltism. The Lord bestows the gift Of
Ifhe Shirt upon whOmSoeve He will