ACTS 26:12-23
Ac 26:12 ¶ Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
For the 3rd time, Saul (Paul) is giving his testimony of when he was converted from Judaism to Jesus (Acts 9.3-19 and 22.5-16). It happened while he was on his way to arrest Jewish Christians for their belief that Jesus is their Messiah.
When Paul met Jesus Christ, a revolution took place in his heart and life. According to his own testimony in Phil 3, his religious pedigree and zeal for the rules and regulations of Judaism were now counted as a loss for the sake of Jesus Christ.
I find it very encouraging when I read how the love and power of Jesus Christ can turn His most vehement enemies into holy instruments set apart for His glory and honor.
Interestingly, an emissary of the Sanhedrin was known as an apostolos, or sent out one of the Sanhedrin. Paul began his journey as an apostle of the Sanhedrin and ended his journey being an apostle or sent out one of The Lord Jesus Christ.
Here we have Christ Himself speaking from the heavens to Paul at the very beginning of the Apostle’s course, and if any one asks us where did Paul get the doctrines which he preached, the answer is, Here, on the road to Damascus, when blind, bleeding, stunned, with all his self-confidence driven out of him — with all that he had been crushed into shivers — he saw his Lord, and heard Him speak. Alexander Maclaren
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
William Barclay tells us that travelers usually rested during midday due to the intense heat. The fact that Paul was on the move during this time of day reveals how driven he was to wipe out the Name of Jesus Christ.
Question? In this account of Paul’s conversion, did Jesus find Paul or did Paul find Jesus? Who found who my friend? Beloved, Jesus wasn’t lost, Paul was; God isn’t lost, we are.
As we come to The Lord’s Supper this morning, we need to remember that Jesus is The Good Shepherd Who has come to seek and save the lost. Christ Jesus came into the world to die for sinners.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
When Paul was converted, The Lord Jesus said that it was hard for him to be kicking against the goads. Goads were sticks farmers used to prod their oxen into submission.
I am sure that some of those goads were the testimony of Stephen and other saints that reflected Christ like peace and grace in the midst of being mistreated for the cause of Christ.
From his adversarial actions and words, outwardly it appeared that Saul was about as far away from believing in Jesus as anybody could possibly be. However, as Jesus so wonderfully tells us, while all of this was going on the outside, there was a war going on in his heart about making a commitment to follow Christ as Lord and Savior that nobody else could possible see.
Beloved, may that truth spoken by The Lord Jesus about what was going on in Paul’s heart prior to his conversion encourage both you and me to continue to pray for the lost, no matter what they say or do. In some cases, a person that is the most vehemently opposed to Christ is actually the closest in coming to Christ.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
Note here that Jesus is very much alive. I am Jesus! Paul thought Jesus was dead and buried, not risen and glorified. The Jewish religious leaders public response to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was that His disciples stole his body out of his own sepulcher and placed Him somewhere else. To say the least, Paul was amazed to hear Him speak from heaven, to see Him surrounded with all this glory
I am Jesus. Around 90 AD, Jesus told the apostle John on the isle of Patmos Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
The Name Jesus. Or more accurately Yeshua indicates His mission; Jesus came to deliver people from the debt and bondage to sin.
Secondly, note how Jesus identifies with the infirmities of His people. He felt whatever form of persecution the Christians were going through.
2Co 1:3 ¶ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Our faith in Christ doesn’t always promise us deliverance out of times of persecution, but it does promise us His presence and peace in times of persecution.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Jesus tells Paul that He is going to make him (implying a process) a minister (servant) and witness. This is the call of God upon each one of His children. We have been saved to be servants and witnesses of Jesus Christ.
The Greek word for the English word translated servant here means an under rower, or one that helps another in any work. (Mark 10.44; John 13; Phil 2). The highest calling that any human being can ever have is to be a servant of The Lord Jesus Christ.
The English word translated witness comes from the Greek word martus, which means a martyr. Witnesses both speak and walk in ways that glorify The Lord Jesus. To be a witness and servant of The Lord Jesus, self must die.
Die before you die. There is no chance after.
C. S. Lewis (1898–1963)
In coming to Christ we do not bring our old life up to a higher plane; we leave it at the Cross. The corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die.
A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)
17 Delivering thee from the people (Jewish people), and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me (cp. Luke 4.18).
Note the message that Jesus told Paul to proclaim to the lost.
· To open their eyes (which before were shut against the light). Satan blinds the eyes of unbelievers to the truth. 2Corinthians 4:4. The first work of the Spirit of God in our lives is to open our eyes to the truth. The truth about God and the truth about ourselves.
o Paul’s religion blinded him from the truth about salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The new birth enables us to see things differently than we did before. We have a Christ centered, Biblical view of life, instead of a secular, self centered, view of life.
· To turn them from darkness to light. The world today is wrapped up in the kingdom of darkness. Even though religious, Paul was dominated by the flesh and walking in darkness. Paul’s religion could do nothing to set him free from the power of darkness.
o When Paul was writing to the Colossians, he thanked God for making us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light by delivering us from the power of darkness, that He might translate us into the kingdom of His Son. We were the children of darkness, but now are light in The Lord Eph 5.8.
o Jesus said in John 3.19 that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Only Jesus Christ can free you from the hold that sin has on your life.
· To turn them from the power (mastery, authority) of Satan unto God. The gospel of Jesus Christ delivers a person from the control of Satan to the control of God. Most people only associate the power of Satan with things like dabbling in the occult, substance abuse or sexual immorality. But demonic control is also manifested by pride and materialistic, worldly attitudes and actions.
· Forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me
· How are sinners forgiven, sanctified and recipients of a divine inheritance? By faith that is in Jesus. We are forgiven and sanctified by faith in Christ as the Incarnate Son, the perfect Man, the atoning Sacrifice, the risen Lord, the ascended Intercessor.
· We receive an eternal inheritance (Heb 9.15) through faith in Jesus Christ.
o 1 Pet 1.4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
o To those on His right hand, Jesus will say, “Come, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you.” Matt 25.34.
§ Paul’s life was never the same after meeting Jesus, and that is because the gospel of Jesus Christ is the transforming power of God unto salvation to all that believe. As Christians, we receive the same gospel, the same Spirit, the same Jesus as did Paul.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Repentance is changing one’s mind; it is a change of direction. True repentance involves sorrow for sin with a fixed resolve to change my way of living for God’s way. True repentance is not a mere mental assent to a creed about the meaning of repentance, but a transformed heart that results in a changed life or works of faith for the glory of God. True repentance is not a head realization that I have broken God’s law, it is a heart realization that I have broken God’s heart.
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
Why did the Jews want to kill Paul? Because he preached that people were to repent of their sin and trust in Christ alone for salvation.
1 Cor 1.23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock (offensive), and unto the Greeks foolishness (nonsense)
Beloved, if you read about the lives of Noah, Jeremiah, Daniel and John the Baptist to name a few, you see that like Paul, each one of these men of God were persecuted or martyred because they preached a message that went against the grain of society ….repent of your sin.
The gospel message of repentance is not a popular one beloved because it declares that people who think that they have got it all together really don’t. It declares that people who think that they are right with God really aren’t. It declares that people who think that they are heaven bound because they are good people or religious won’t. The gospel provides comfort when we repent of our sin, it provides no comfort at all if we insist on believing our own gospel and living in our sin.
Acts 17.30 God now commandeth all men (how many people is that?) every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
22 Saving therefore obtained help of God (It was now above twenty years since Paul was converted), I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great (young and old, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, obscure and illustrious for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God), saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come (Luke 24.25-27; 44, 45): 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
In other words, God’s only plan of salvation for mankind as found in the OT law and prophets was fulfilled by The Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen again from the dead. This it the gospel that saves us, delivers us, transforms us.
Call servants up to platform and to get communion elements
As we prepare our hearts to observe The Lord’s Supper, I feel compelled to say something to my brothers and sisters in Christ (myself being at the top of the list) this morning about this phrase, “To kick against the pricks.”
God is sovereign. The only time that you and I will have difficulty in our walk with Jesus Christ is when we grieve the Holy Spirit of God by compromising or striving with Our Maker’s providential dealings in our lives. (Isa 45.9).
Scripture asks the question, Who hath hardened himself against
Him and hath prospered? Job 9.4 Answer? Not a single soul.
Beloved, listen to me…resisting truth is miserable. Resisting conviction is miserable. Resisting the call of God is miserable.
How sad to read the epitaph of King Saul, “I have played the fool.” 1 Sam 26.21
Solomon was miserable trying to find real purpose and meaning in things under the sun. His conclusion? Eccl 12.13 Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
David was miserable resisting the conviction of the Spirit in Psalm 32,51. His conclusion? Psalm 51.9,10 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Jonah was miserable running away from the call of God to preach to the Ninevites. His conclusion? Jonah 2:7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. 8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
The prodigal son was miserable after he spent his inheritance in the world and ended up in the pigpen. His conclusion? Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
It is miserable living in sin; it is miserable living for the world and the things of this world; it is miserable having a divided heart, or being a double minded saint.
If your flesh is getting between you and Jesus, be prepared to pay a heftier price by resisting His conviction or truth than you would by simply denying yourself and following Him. What shall it profit a man…?
If your fears concerning the call of God on your life are keeping you from totally submitting to Jesus, than you will be miserable until the day that you say, Not my will but Thy will be done Jesus…Here am I Lord.
Perhaps you are with us this morning and have never received forgiveness for your sin by bowing your heart to The Lordship of Jesus Christ. Paul was miserable resisting the will of God about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and that misery was manifested by being angry with people who were telling him that his religion couldn’t save him, but Jesus could. He was angry with people who were telling him that unless he was born again, he would not enter the kingdom of God.
My friend, if your religious traditions or self righteousness is keeping you away from making a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior like Paul’s self righteousness and zeal for Judaism was keeping him from coming to Christ, than your pride and religious traditions are blinding you from the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Today my friend….Jesus said Come unto Me..follow Me.