We will be picking up where we left off in Acts 9.

Last time we saw that after the Road to Damascus experience, Saul did not just hang around Damascus before starting on his missionary journeys. We discussed the 3 years immediately following his conversion. He traveled to Arabia and back. We discussed how this very short passage in Acts actually took a very long period of time.

So we should be patient in our work as well. Saul amazed the Jews with his preaching and his life was threatened. He had gained a following and his followers helped him escape the city of Damascus by lowering him over the walls in a basket.

I add this verse here as an overriding theme to keep in mind as we look at Saul's journey to becoming the great missionary and spokesman for the Gospel message. As we have seen, Saul spent several years preparing for his first missionary journey. It was in smaller steps than is apparent at first glance of Saul's early years as a believer in Christ that Saul worked his way to be trusted with much.

 Saul's conversion event on that road to Damascus took place in 36 A.D. From 36-39 A.D. Saul traveled to Arabia and back to Damascus, growing in his relationship with Christ. By 39 A.D. when he left Damascus and traveled to Jerusalem, he had grown in stature as a follower of Christ. Certainly, the news of Saul's conversion must have reached Jerusalem well ahead of Saul arrival there. We will look closely at Saul's knowledge of Christ, both before reaching Jerusalem and after he left.

We see in Galatians 1:11-24 that Saul received an independent knowledge of Christ before seeing the Apostles in Jerusalem. Perhaps this occurred during his wilderness experience in Arabia. In any case, in this passage, Saul makes it clear that the gospel message he preaches, he received not "from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

But Saul needed to meet with the Apostles, because there was another piece of knowledge that he did not have. This was the knowledge that only Peter and James could provide. Two men who knew Christ intimately while he was alive. Especially from Peter. Saul received intimate knowledge of Christ's ministry and teaching. He spent 15 days with Peter. I see Peter's significance is in part because he was one of the first to see Jesus alive again after the three days in the tomb. In Luke 24:33-35, the two disciples return to Jerusalem after having encountered Christ on the road to Emmaus. They are told that it is true that Christ has risen because he appeared to Simon. This is just before the passage where Christ appears to the rest of the group, all except Thomas. Note in I Corinthians 15:1-11 how significantly Saul places his encounters with Peter and James. In verse 5, Saul states that "He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that , he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born."

Another significant factor in meeting both Peter and James is the fact that in Jerusalem at that time, there were two major groups dominating the Christian church. Peter and James each led a distinct group of believers. Peter's group met at the house of Mary, mother of John and Mark (see Acts 12:12-17). Note in this passage how he tells his group to "Tell James and the brothers about this" before he leaves for another place.

We also see in Jerusalem shortly after Christ's Ascension, that there is discord among two prominent groups of Jews. Acts 6:1-6 reveals that the Hebraic Jews were not dealing fairly with their widows of the Hellenistic Jews. It is out of this discord that Stephen is chosen to be a deacon among the believers. This is the Stephen that was martyred as Saul held the coats of his fellow Hellenistic Jews and watched. Barabas, the rowdy militant, who's life was spared over the life of Jesus by Pontius Pilate was also a Hellenistic Jew.

Saul steps into a climate where, first of all, the intolerant Hellenistic Jews are persecuting the newly formed Church. These are the same Jews who were not too long ago his colleagues! But on top of that, Saul steps into a climate where believers are divided over their prejudices as well. There is enmity between the Christians who are of Greek heritage and those of Hebraic heritage. And he must speak to these people about his calling to preach the gospel to Gentiles! Remember in Acts 9:15, where Ananias is directed to seek out Saul. His message is clear. In Acts 22:17-21 we see the directive given to Saul when he was in Jerusalem, to go out and spread the gospel message to the Gentiles. Imagine the looks on the people's faces when he told them what was just revealed to him! Clearly he had gained standing among them, for we see in Acts 9:29 that his new friends take him to Caesarea for a ship to Tarsus.

Upcoming Preview =>

39-43 A.D. - Saul returns to his hometown of Tarsus and spends almost 5 years in Syria and Cilicia.

44 A.D. - He spends one year in Antioch

45 A.D. - He makes his second trip to Jerusalem

45 A.D. - Paul's first missionary journey begins.