From Persecutor to Fearless Witness

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 9:20-31

 

Acts 9:20-21

 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” ²¹ And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”

(ESV)

 

Even in the middle of a pandemic and churches restricted to gathering online instead of in person, there are signs of revival.  The recent baptism of nearly 1000 people at a beach in California is a sign of revival occurring during this pandemic.  (1)  While the host Church has a mass baptism each year at Corona Del Mar Beach, the typical turnout is around 300.  This turnout of nearly 1000 indicates that many were still connecting with God and making professions of faith online during the shutdown of churches.  No matter how much the enemy may attempt to silence the Church and the spread of the news that Jesus is Christ, the message goes on and lives are changed.

 

Saul has had an experience with God on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19).  Saul, who would later be renamed Paul now begins his ministry beginning in the synagogues of Damascus (Acts 9:20).  These would be the same synagogues Saul was sent to gather and arrest those believing in Jesus, but instead of gathering up believers, Saul amazes those gathered in the synagogues by declaring his belief in Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 9:20-23).  Saul’s strength in declaring the Gospel confounded the Jews as he proves Jesus was the Christ (Messiah) (Acts 9:23). 

 

Angered by the failure of Saul to gather up believers in Jesus at the synagogues in Damascus, the Jews plot to kill Saul.  However, the plot becomes known to Saul and the Jews wait at the gates of the city day and night to kill Saul (Acts 9:23-24).  The fact that the Jews did not go into the synagogues and bind Saul and take him to Jerusalem like Saul was sent to Damascus to do indicates many may have become believers and they did not want the message of Saul’s conversion to spread beyond the city.  However, God has bigger plans for Saul, arranging for the disciples to lower Saul down through a wall outside the city so he could escape safely to Jerusalem (Acts 9:25). 

 

Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Saul attempts to join the other disciples, but they are afraid of him (Acts 9:26).  Understandably, the disciples in Jerusalem would have doubts for in an age without mass media and social media, they had not heard of what happened in Damascus and remembered Saul the persecutor (Acts 8:3).  While Saul may not have had the benefit of mass and social media to tell of the events in Damascus, he had Barnabas who shared about the conversion of Saul and how Saul had declared the Gospel in the synagogues in Damascus (Acts 9:27).  While mass and social media provide a platform for getting a message out instantly, the media of Barnabas had more credibility as it comes from someone held in high esteem in the Church who sold a field belonging to him, bringing the proceeds to the Apostles (Acts 4:36-37). 

 

Comforted by the testimony of Barnabas, Saul can be with the disciples preaching boldly in the name of the Lord (Acts 9:28).  Saul then begins disputing with the Hellenists.  The Hellenists were a group of Jews who read the scriptures in Greek rather than in Hebrew.  Some speculate that Stephen may have been a Hellenist who succeeded in leading the conversion of Hellenistic Jews to Christianity.  (2)  If Stephen were a Hellenist, it would be understandable that they may have sought to kill Saul as he was among those that stoned Stephen for his faith (Acts 7:58).  However, God has plans for Saul and arranges for the disciples in Jerusalem to send him to Caesarea and later off to Tarsus (Acts 9:30).  The Church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria now experiences a time of peace and is built up, and multiplying as the Church walks in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31).     

 

The conversion of Saul from the persecutor of the Church to a fearless witness even when facing death should give hope as the Church faces unprecedented challenges like Covid19 and restrictions on gathering together.  The 1000 baptisms in California illustrate that while the method of delivering the Gospel message may change, its power to transform lives has not.  If you are reading this post and have not made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, know that it is not necessary to go to a Church to do so and that you can do so now by praying with me, 

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage those that just prayed to follow through on their commitment by being baptized.  While this may prove difficult with many churches still locked up, the baptisms in California illustrate that all one needs to be baptized is water and a minister to perform the baptism (Acts 8:35-36). 

 

Revival during these unprecedented times is possible and begins with our willingness to be as Saul and boldly declare the Gospel to a lost, dying, and even hostile world.  The chaotic world today needs more fearless witnesses for Christ.  The question is, will you be one of them. 

 

1. Foley, Ryan. Nearly 1,000 people baptized in California’s latest ‘spiritual revival’. christianpost.com. [Online] The Christian Post, September 16, 2020. [Cited: October 7, 2020.] https://www.christianpost.com/news/nearly-1000-people-baptized-in-californias-latest-spiritual-revival.html.

 

2. Oxford University Press. Hellenists. oxfordbiblicalstudies.com. [Online] Oxford University Press. [Cited: October 7, 2020.] http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/article/opr/t94/e857.