In this week’s story, we meet Cornelius, a God-fearing Roman soldier. The term “God-fearers” is a technical term for a Gentile who attended the synagogue and followed the Jewish laws but remained uncircumcised.[1] As we begin the story of Peter and Cornelius, some translations will use the word devout, and others will say Cornelius was …
Going back to Tarsus must have felt like a demotion to Saul. He had left years earlier to study under Gamaliel in Jerusalem. His fanaticism for Judaism led him to persecute the followers of Jesus. But meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus turned Saul’s life upside down. He realized that Jesus was the Messiah. …
In Jerusalem, Saul got into a dispute with Greek-speaking Jews. The local Jerusalem Jews would have spoken Hebrew, while the Greek-speaking Jews were from outside Jerusalem. Saul, himself, had grown up in Tarsus and spoke Greek. The language and cultural differences caused friction between the two groups. The History Earlier, there had been a clash between …
We are better together. This became especially evident during the recent pandemic when people were isolated from family and friends. We need each other to share our day, to give and receive encouragement, and to love. We need people to pray for us when we struggle or have battles that are difficult to overcome. Others …
The good news faces opposition because our enemy, satan, opposes Jesus’ saving grace. Satan does not want anyone to receive salvation and have their lives changed so they have eternal life. Satan cannot get at God, so he works to destroy the people He has created. As Saul began to proclaim the good news of …
Why did Saul go to Arabia after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus? Scholars think this is the area around Mt. Sinai. Luke doesn’t give us this fact in Acts; Saul (Paul) writes this himself. Galatians 1:17b I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.[1] Mt. Sinai …
God gave Saul divine revelation to Saul on the road to Damascus. Contrary to what Saul believed, Jesus is the Son of God. Saul thought he was doing the will of God by persecuting followers of Jesus. He did this because he thought they were heretics. Suddenly, Jesus confronted Saul. Acts 9:4 Saul fell to the …
God’s surprising plan for Saul shows us that He can shape and mold any person to fulfill His plan for humanity. Saul was a strict Pharisee and a persecutor of believers until he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus came as a bright light shining on Saul and his companions. Acts 9: 4 He …
The power of a changed life is seen in the life of Saul after he placed his faith in Jesus and was baptized. Saul, who we know as Paul in the Bible, was a Pharisee who thought believers in Jesus were heretics who deserved to be persecuted. Then Saul met Jesus on the road to …
Saul, who we know as Paul, found out on the way to Damascus that it is not religion but relationship that is essential. Stephen Covey writes, “If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster.”[1] Saul built his life by climbing a …