8. READ: 8ACTS 9:1-318
[Acts 9:1] "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out
murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to
the high priest [2] and asked him for letters to the synagogues in
Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,
whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
[3] As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from
heaven flashed around him. [4] He fell to the ground and heard a
voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute
Me?'
[5] "'Who are you, Lord?' Saul
asked.
"'I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting,' He
replied. [6] 'Now get up and go into the city, and you will
be told what you must do.'
[7] "The men traveling with Saul stood there
speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. [8] Saul
got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see
nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. [9] For three
days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
[10] "In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias.
The Lord called to him in a vision, 'Ananias!'
"'Yes, Lord,' he answered.
[11] "The Lord told him, 'Go to the house of
Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul,
for he is praying. [12] In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias
come and place his hands on him to restore his
sight.'
[13] "'Lord,' Ananias answered, 'I
have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done
to Your saints in Jerusalem. [14] And he has come here with
authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your
Name.'
[15] "But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man
is My chosen instrument to carry My Name before the Gentiles and
their kings and before the people of Israel. [16] I will show him
how much he must suffer for My Name.'
[17] "Then Ananias went to the house and entered it.
Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 'Brother Saul, the
Lord--Jesus, Who appeared to you on the road as you were
coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be
filled with the Holy Spirit.' [18] Immediately, something
like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He
got up and was baptized, [19] and after taking some food, he
regained his strength.
"Saul spent several days with the disciples in
Damascus. [20] At once he began to preach in the synagogues that
Jesus is the Son of God. [21] All those who heard him were
astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised
havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this Name? And
hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief
priests?' [22] Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and
baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the
Christ.
[23] "After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired
to kill him, [24] but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night
they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. [25]
But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket
through an opening in the wall.
[26] "When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the
disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he
really was a disciple. [27] But Barnabas took him and brought him
to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the
Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he
had preached fearlessly in the Name of Jesus. [28] So Saul stayed
with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in
the Name of the Lord. [29] He talked and debated with the Grecian
Jews, but they tried to kill him. [30] When the brothers learned of
this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to
Tarsus.
[31] "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and
Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and
encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the
fear of the Lord."
a. What did the Lord say Saul would have to suffer for?
b. What did Saul do after Ananias helped him see again?
c. What did Saul begin proving?
d. In what name did Saul preach fearlessly and boldly?
e. Where did the church exist by now?
f. What did this church grow in?
