I dont think these skeptics are paying very close attention when they say that there are irreconcilable discrepencies. He truly believed in the truth of the old testament and, most probably, was anxiously awaiting the jewish messiah. Those who were baptized were added to the church ac 2. In chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of pauls conversion. The book of acts, in three places, tells the story of sauls experience on the damascus road. Before his conversion, paul was a dedicated adherent to the jewish faith. Peters activities are described at some length, and john and philip are mentioned, but more than half of the book is about paul and his connection with the christian movement. The story of paul s conversion on the road to damascus is told in acts 9.
The lord opened her heart to respond to pauls message. Pauls conversion is recorded three times in the bible 1. The story of pauls conversion from a devout jew, violently persecuting believers in jesus, to a devout christian, fearlessly spreading the gospel against all opposition, is found three times in acts. Pauls conversion on the road to damascus was one of the most dramatic. Before he was converted, paul zealously persecuted christians.
Lydia acts 16 at philippi paul converted lydia of whom it is said, one of those listeningwas a woman named lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of thyatira, who was a worshiper of god. Paul had sat under the teaching of gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people acts 5. Sometimes a person gives the condensed version of the story. Jan 05, 2009 in chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of paul s conversion.
Pauls conversion was seminal in the church, but the stories differ. Now while most of us do not go through an experience exactly like pauls, theres a lot of things we can learn about conversion from pauls experience. Pauls conversion 1 chapter 3 pauls conversion acts 9 a. The book of acts is a revelation from god of his will for the church through the inspired activities of firstcentury christians.
In fact, i recently summarized the npps thinking about pauls conversion in this post. To begin, it is important to understand that the belief that the book of acts has a contradiction is not related to the apostle pauls personal conversion story. Like the discussion of pauls conversion, the new perspective on paul has had quite a bit to say here. So when luke records the conversion of paul, he doesnt record everything jesus said to paul you read pauls own testimony, he expands on it.
The book of acts says that paul was on his way from jerusalem to syrian damascus with a mandate issued by the high priest to seek out and arrest followers of jesus, with the intention of. Philip, peter and johns ministry to the samaritans as well as peters vision at joppa made it clear that they needed to take the gospel to the gentiles and confirms that the holy spirit is leading them to. Pauls conversion why three accounts, and how do they. If one genuinely wants to know what to do to be saved, he can read the book of acts and find the biblical answer. The book has been called the acts of the apostles, really a misnomer because acts has very little to say concerning most of the original twelve apostles. The book of acts says that paul was on his way from jerusalem to syrian damascus with a mandate issued by the high priest to. The conversion of saul 1992 all sermons by pastor john osteen. Conversions in the book of acts 3 conversions in the book of acts the 3000 on pentecost 2. This is an important point based on the fact that luke, the author of the book of acts, traveled with the apostle paul.
For most christians, pauls experience on the road to damascus in acts 9 is the classic story of the conversion of the chief of sinners. In the book of acts we have not one, not two, but three accounts of sauls conversion. There are some differences in how pauls experience is told. The apostles were justifiably dubious about his conversion and he disputed with them for the rest of his life on a variety of issues. Paul s conversion the most important event in human history apart from the life, death and resurrection of jesus of nazareth is the conversion to christianity of saul of tarsus. May 02, 2020 pauls dramatic conversion on the damascus road acts 9. The conversion of the apostle paul 1282 words bartleby. Choose volunteers to act for paul, a few men traveling with paul, jesus, and ananias as you read.
The corinthians acts 18 the story of the conversion of the people of corinth is to the point. Sauls conversion meanwhile, saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the lords disciples. The conversion of paul on the road to damascus acts 9 represents a critical point in the book of acts and in the history of christianity. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. While this was done for different contexts and audiences. The conversion of paul the apostle was, according to the new testament. Acts 9 conversion of saul object lesson for children. It picks up where the gospels leave off, and serves as the backdrop for the epistles b. The story of pauls conversion on the road to damascus is told in acts 9. Pauls conversion the most important event in human history apart from the life, death and resurrection of jesus of nazareth is the conversion to christianity of saul of tarsus. Baptism in the book of acts and throughout the new testament is always practiced by adults who have. The book of acts is not only a book of history, but also a book of conversions. At a young age his parents sent him to jerusalem to be instructed in the mosaic law under the greatest rabbi of.
The book of acts tells the accounts of paul s conversion on three occasions acts 9, 22, 26. Copeland conversions in the book of acts 6 3 thus poured out, one can now receive the washing of regeneration and renewal of the spirit in baptism, resulting in justification cf. Pauls road to damascus conversion bible study guide. Paul, still called saul at this point, has taken an active part in the persecution of the christian movement after the. After paul and silas began paul s second preaching trip, they came to lystra where they found a young man named timothy who joined them on their journey. Jesus himself appears to rabbi saul and confronts him with the truth of the resurrection and saul. Do the 3 accounts of pauls conversion in luke contradict. Pauls conversion bible story summary, study and lesson. The conversion of paul on the road to damascus acts 9 represents a critical point in. Saul of tarsus, a pharisee in jerusalem after the crucifixion and resurrection of jesus christ, swore to wipe out the new christian church, called the way. After his conversion he went to the opposite extreme of loving god and preaching his word with power and fervency in the spirit of the true and living god. In fact, i recently summarized the npps thinking about pauls conversion in this post traditionally, paul is described as struggling to keep the law perfectly and was in despair over his inability to do the whole of the law. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. A contrast of pauls conversion accounts 28 jun luke records pauls conversion three times in acts, first in chapter 9 where he simply narrates the event, and secondly, through pauls testimony in chapter 22 before the jews after they tried to kill him, and finally before festus and king agrippa in chapter 26.
Conversion of paul pauls journey on the road to damascus. At his circumcision, he was given the hebrew name saul. Feb 11, 2015 study of the book of acts chapter 9 duration. In these writings, paul says something about his conversion because he believes he needs to. Saul received a vision of the resurrected christ while en route to damascus. This book, certainly, does not co ntain all of the acts of all of the apostles.
The lord told him to enter the city, and he would be told what he must do 9. Paul had sat under the teaching of gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in. By divine design the conversion of saul of tarsus is recorded three times in the book of acts chapters 9, 22, 26. Jan 25, 2015 paul would repeat the story of his conversion again and again throughout his life, including to the different magistrates and kings who judged his activities. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she. There are three accounts of pauls conversion to christianity found in the book of acts. Introduction to conversions the book of acts by luke is, among other things, a history of many efforts at converting both individuals and groups of people, both large and small. Saul doesnt know what will happen hes gotten permission from the high priests to hunt christians and imprison or kill them. On various occasions in his epistles, paul made either direct. 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.
The book of acts says that paul was on his way from jerusalem to syrian damascus with a mandate issued by the high priest to seek out and arrest followers of jesus, with the intention of returning them to jerusalem as prisoners for questioning and possible execution. Actually starts in verse 15, i am jesus, who you are persecuting. Others, searching for flaws in the sacred scriptures. On various occasions in his epistles, paul made either direct or indirect references to his former life of opposition and his radical conversion. You can be part of the movement that brings the greatest story of all time to everyone, everywhere, in every language. He told them, johns baptism was a baptism of repentance. The conversion of saulpaul is so important to the author of the book of acts that he presents the story three times acts 9, 22, 26. Now in acts 9, lukes writing switches to paul the central character of acts really, the holy spirit is the central character. Jesus himself appears to rabbi saul and confronts him with the truth of the resurrection and saul completely changes everything about his life. A pivotal point in the book of acts is when saul of tarsus the apostle paul meets jesus on the road to damascus and is converted. If saul had remained a jewish rabbi, we would be missing thirteen of twentyseven books of the new testament and christianitys early major expansion to the gentiles.
Luke and paul probably discussed the conversion story in depth. Acts of the apostles discusses paul s conversion experience at three different points in the text, in far more detail than in the accounts in paul s letters. Dec 19, 2011 pauls conversion was seminal in the church, but the stories differ. Hedrick observed that the three episodes supplement each other, for the first account is a healing narrative, the second features healing and call, and the third is a commissioning. The book of acts serves a unique role in the new testament and the history of the church. Paul and silas in prison introduction of luke jesus taken up into heaven matthias chosen to replace judas the holy spirit comes at pentecost. The book of acts records pauls lifestyle before and after his changeofheart, with acts 9 detailing his conversion. Paul, still called saul at this point, has taken an active part in. Paul, known as the apostle to the gentiles, was born in the city of tarsus, a roman city, thereby giving him roman citizenship. So when luke records the conversion of paul, he doesnt record everything jesus said to paul you read paul s own testimony, he expands on it. Sep 03, 2019 for most christians, pauls experience on the road to damascus in acts 9 is the classic story of the conversion of the chief of sinners. Contradictions in the book of acts for the damascus road. Fforts onversions book acts efforts at conversions in. It is not just in the book of acts that the importance of sauls conversion is evident.
Each version is different, and this fact has led some critics to say that the accounts are contradictory. Have saul walk along the road using angry body language. Although this study will focus on the conversion of saul of tarsus paul, let us first consider eight examples of conversions found in the book of acts. Jun 28, 20 a contrast of pauls conversion accounts 28 jun luke records pauls conversion three times in acts, first in chapter 9 where he simply narrates the event, and secondly, through pauls testimony in chapter 22 before the jews after they tried to kill him, and finally before festus and king agrippa in chapter 26.
Written by luke, whom paul called his beloved physician, all cases of conversion re corded in the. Activities for kids from the early church in the book of acts. Acts of the apostles discusses pauls conversion experience at three different points in the text, in far more detail than in the accounts in pauls letters. I am fairly certain i was of the mind that the bible is inerrant, so i would not have doubted that paul actually described his convernsion inconsistently and that his accounts differed from lukes which, somehow, must have derived from pauls own account which. Traditionally, paul is described as struggling to keep the law perfectly and was in despair over his inability to do the whole of the law. What about the multiple accounts of pauls conversion. Pauls conversion is a very dramatic conversion, where the lord personally intervened to capture his attention. The book of acts was penned by the apostle paul and teaches many concepts. If you have enough children, have a small group be angry jews and another group be disciples. After paul and silas began pauls second preaching trip, they came to lystra where they found a young man named timothy who joined them on their journey. Read the acts of the apostles and the epistles to gain a better understanding of pauls ongoing conversion to christianity. I wish i could remember how i reacted to the inconsistent retellings of pauls conversion in acts. It shows how the early church coped with pagan and jewish thought, the roman government and hellenistic society. Pauls dramatic conversion on the damascus road acts 9.
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