SS2 CRS
2nd Term
Saul’s
Conversion (Act 9:1-30): Saul was a devout of Judaism. As a religious
exclusivist, he detested every other religion. So, he perceived the advent of
Christianity as a movement that would contaminate the sacredness of Judaism.
Thus, he was determined to eliminate those “enemies of God”. In order to do
this legally, he asked the High Priest to give him a letter to the Synagogue at
Damascus so that he can catch the believers and drag them in chains to Jerusalem.
On his way to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him and said “Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting me?” Saul asked “who are you?” and Jesus replied “ I’m Jesus whom
you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city and you will be told what you
are to do.” The sudden brightness of Jesus’ appearance got Saul blind. He rose
from the ground and was led by the hand into the city of Damascus. For 3 days,
he couldn’t see, eat or drink anything. Then, one believer named Ananias was
directed in a vision to go to the street called Straight where he would see
Saul praying. He was to lay hands on Saul for him to regain his sight. But
Ananias replied that he had heard a lot about how Saul had been persecuting the
Christians. God assured Ananias that he has chosen Saul to carry the Gospel to
the Gentiles. So, Ananias went, laid his hand on Saul, and Saul regained his
sight. He was baptized, and immediately, he started preaching. Then, people who
knew him were surprised. After some days, the Jews started plotting to kill him.
Saul got to know about their plot, so while they waited at the gate, his
disciples passed him though an opening in the wall, and lowered him in a
basket. Getting to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the company of believers
there, but they were all afraid of him because they didn’t believe he had been
converted. So, Barnabas presented him to the believers assuring them he is now
one of us. Being accepted in the fold, he went with them preaching in
Jerusalem. Paul’s message caused a dispute between him and the Hellenists. They
planned to kill him. When the believers learned about this, they brought him
down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
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