SAUL PREACHES CHRIST JESUS

Acts 9:19-22 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples, which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said, is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews, which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Within the past three days, Saul had seen Jesus and had been condemned by Him for his active role in the persecution of the body of Christ. He had recognized, believed, and confessed Jesus as the promised Messiah. He had repented of his past sinful life, had been baptized for the remission of his sins, and had become a child of God. Indeed, Saul had become a dedicated disciple of Christ Jesus; one that was willing to proclaim the gospel message of salvation to the world. Also, for the past three days, he fasted, having neither food nor drink. No doubt Saul's spiritual soul had been completely revived through his obedience to the miraculous call of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. He had been baptized into the body of Christ, and had received the gift of the Holy Spirit of God. This ordeal had totally changed the life of Saul of Tarsus. It had exhausted him and drained him of his strength, both mentally and physically. Therefore, the lesson text tells us that,when he had received meat, he was strengthened.

Then was Saul certain days with the disciples, which were at Damascus. Just how long Saul communed and had fellowship with these disciples is not known. One can imagine Saul spent much of this time agonizing and truthfully seeking forgiveness of God. And, no doubt, he had humbly asked for the forgiveness of all members of the church of Christ for his sinful past, for his persecution of Christ's church, and for the intended havoc he planned to raise at this particular body of Christ in Damascus. His association with the children of God at Damascus, and later, with all fellow Christians throughout the world, was necessary because one cannot become a true follower of the doctrine of Christ without accepting and fellowshipping with the saints that make up His body, the church of Christ.

Some bible scholars think that Saul spent his time communing with the saints at Damascus in order to learn the doctrine of Christianity that was given miraculously to the twelve apostles of Christ by the Holy Spirit of God. However, the immediacy of his preaching seems to prove otherwise. It is evident that the Holy Spirit of God had also descended on Saul because the lesson text continues by saying that straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues. That is, he immediately preached God's gospel message of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. Although the Jewish nation believed the Messiah would be the Son of God, most of the nation refused to accept the carpenter's son from Nazareth of Galilee - the one they called Jesus, as the promised Messiah and Savior. Coming face to face with Christ Jesus, Saul knew immediately that this was the Son of God. And, believing, he was converted and baptized into the body of Christ, and began at once to preach Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior, and the Son of God.

Indeed, the conversion of Saul was an amazing event in New Testament history. Even more amazing is the fact the he immediately became an ardent follower of Jesus, and by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, began to teach others about the hope of salvation that is found only in Christ Jesus. Because of this, all that heard him were amazed. All that heard his preaching of Christ were filled with surprise and astonishment. Questioning Saul's loyalty to the cause of Christ, the members of the church of Christ in Damascus asked, Is not this he that destroyed them, which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? Realizing that his past could possibly hinder his dedicated service to the cause of Christ, no doubt Saul looked to his Creator, his Heavenly Father, for both strength and wisdom in order to continue his mission of bringing Jesus Christ into the lives of all that have open hearts and are seeking the hope of eternal salvation. Because of this, Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews, which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. As did Saul, all Christians should look to God for spiritual guidance, so that they too can faithfully serve God by preaching Christ Jesus as the Savior of the world.