June 28-July 4: Apostle Paul

SUNDAY: PAUL'S BACKGROUND

1. What was Paul’s Background?

• Rom. 11:1 - An Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin (where first king, Saul came from)
• Acts 22:3 - Jew, born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia
• Acts 22:3 - Learned from Gamaliel (one of the great teachers at that time)
• Acts 22:3 - Taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers
• Acts 22:3 - Zealous toward God
• Acts 22:4-5 - Persecuted the followers of Jesus, arresting them to be punished
• Acts 22:25-29 - Roman citizen by birth
• Phil. 3:5 - A Pharisee
  

MONDAY: PAUL, HIS CONVERSION AND CALLING

1. When Paul talked about his background, what aspect of himself did he emphasize the most in Acts 22:2-5?

• Acts 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons
• Acts 22:5 … went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

ANSWER: A Persecutor

2. How did doctor Luke introduce Saul/Paul in the book of Acts for the first time? Acts 7:58 to 8:3

• Acts 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
• Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great
• Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

ANSWER: A persecutor.

3. What did Jesus say about Saul/Paul when He met him on his way to Damascus? Acts 9:4

• Acts 9:4 … Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

ANSWER: Persecutor

4. When Paul shared his testimony to King Agrippa, how did he explain who he was before and after conversion? Acts 26:9-18

• Acts 26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
• Acts 26:16 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;

5. What did Paul become after his conversion?

• Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and
  religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
• Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
• Acts 18:13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
• Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of
  three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
• Acts 19:26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost
  throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
• Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
• Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him
  into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

ANSWER: Persecutor of the gospel became Persuader of the gospel.

CONCLUSION: According to the wisdom of God, He led a persecutor of the gospel to meet Jesus face to face. The conversion of Paul was unquestionable evidence that there is power in the gospel. All Jews and Gentiles may argue against Paul’s teaching but they weren’t able to deny the transformation of Paul’s life. It is true that his Jewish and Roman background gave him advantage in proclaiming the gospel. However, due to his conversion, he became very effective minister of the gospel at that time.

6. What key texts describe the point of Paul's conversion? What can we learn from that? (Discuss first before giving Bible texts) Acts 9:6-7, 22:9-11

• Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
• Acts 22:10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord?

CONCLUSION: Paul’s point of conversion is very clear because we can see his total submission and surrender to Jesus when he asked the question; “What shall I do, Lord”?

(You can make personal application as well)

7. What made Paul to surrender to Jesus so fast? What led him to believe beside seeing the light and hearing the voice? Acts 7:55-8:1

• Acts 7:55 But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
• Acts 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
  Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my
  spirit.
  Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

ANSWER: It is possible that Paul was greatly touched by the martyrdom of Stephen. Paul witnessed Stephen’s joy, when Stephen saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God for him. Paul could have doubted the vision of Stephen at that time however he was having convictions in his heart as he witnessed Stephen’s Christ-like character when stones were thrown at him.

8. Why was Paul sent to the Gentiles and not so much to the Jews in Jerusalem? Acts 13:47, 22:17-21

• Acts 13:47 I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles
  
• Acts 22:18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

CONCLUSION: The Jews in Jerusalem did not accept Paul. A prophet is not welcomed by his own people. Henceforth Paul was sent to the Gentiles.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY

1. What message did Jesus commission Paul to give?

(Discuss and ask for Bible text first before giving answer) Acts 22:14-18

• Acts 26:18 (1)To open their eyes, and (2) to turn them from darkness to light, and (3) from the power of Satan unto God, (4) that they may receive forgiveness of sins, (5) and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

ANSWER:

1. To open their eyes
2. To turn them from darkness to light
3. To turn them from the power of Satan unto God
4. To receive forgiveness of sins
5. To receive inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in
   me.

CONCLUSION: Paul’s true conversion made him to be a giant defender of the truth. Jesus told him exactly what to teach in Acts 26:18. The whole message of the gospel and the steps to salvation can be seen in this verse. We can summarize it this way. Our eyes need to be opened to see the light of the power of God that we may receive forgiveness of sin and sanctification by faith of Jesus that we may receive eternal inheritance at the end.

2. Observe how Paul expounded the above message through out his epistles.

a. To Open Their Eyes

• Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

b. To Turn Them From Darkness to Light

• Rom. 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now
  is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
• Rom. 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
• 2Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
• Eph. 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
• 1Th. 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
  1Th. 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

c. To Turn Them From the Power of Satan Unto God

• 2Th. 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
• Heb. 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil
• Rom. 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
• Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
• 1Cor. 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
• 1Cor. 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
• 1Cor. 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
• 1Cor. 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
• 1Cor. 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
• 2Cor. 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left
• 2Cor. 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of
  God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
• 2Tim. 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
• Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
• Phil. 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death
• Eph. 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
  Eph. 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

d. To Receive Forgiveness of Sins

• Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
• Acts 13:37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
  Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
  Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
• Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
• Col. 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
  Col. 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

e. To Receive Inheritance

• Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
• 1Cor. 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
  deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
  1Cor. 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
  1Cor. 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
• Gal. 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
  Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
  Gal. 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
  Gal. 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
• Eph. 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
  Eph. 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
  Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
• Eph. 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
  Eph. 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
  Eph. 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
  Eph. 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
  Eph. 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
  
• Col. 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
  Col. 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
  Col. 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
  
• Col. 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
  Col. 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
• Heb. 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a
• Heb. 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
• Heb. 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.