730. ACT 9:19-30. THE APOSTLE PAUL. [NO. II.]

Act_9:19-30. The Apostle Paul. [No. II.]

"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."’97Act_9:19-30.

In our last discourse we followed the history of Saul of Tarsus to his conversion; and having seen him make a good profession of his faith in. Christ Jesus, we left him, to derive certain useful lessons from it.

We now have to witness the first step which he takes in that glorious course of apostleship, by which he becomes so eminently useful to the church, and so great a benefactor’97especially to the Gentile world.

Our text brings before us a variety of striking incidents, relative to the beginning of his ministry. By looking at it carefully, you will observe,

I. That he associated now with the friends of Jesus.

Act_9:19. The grace that unites the soul to Jesus, also unites the heart and spirit to his followers. Now, he is a shepherd of the flock, not a destroying wolf. Now a friend’97not an enemy. Now with Christ’97not against him.

Here we see him a personal adherent and disciple of the Lord Jesus.

II. He immediately entered on the ministerial work.

Act_9:20. He was very young in grace,’97had not had much Christian experience. No church-meeting had been held. No council of ministers. But then he had been converted in a most extraordinary manner. Most probably Ananias had told him of his heavenly commission; Act_9:15, &c. He refers to this, Gal_1:15, &c.

Immediately then did Paul become a preacher of that gospel which he had labored to destroy.

Observe,

III. The subject of his ministry was the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gal_1:20. "Preached Christ." He began with this,’97he ever held fast to this,’97he ended his theme only with his life. He made his boast of this. See 1Co_1:20; 2Co_4:5; Col_1:27. He says of this to the Romans, "I am not ashamed," &c. "To the Philippians, Col_3:8, "Yea, doubtless," &c. To the Galatians, "God forbid," &c. He studied, prayed, toiled, suffered, lived and died, to preach Christ. The one great object of his being, &c. In preaching Christ, he had especially one object to establish, and that was, his true Messiahship,’97"that he was the Son of God." He did this in the synagogue of Damascus,’97he did this before the crowds of astonished hearers, &c.

Observe, he did this most successfully; Col_3:22. The Jews intended to gainsay and oppose; but Paul increased in strength, in much power, in divine knowledge’97and proved the truth, that Jesus was the Christ.

Observe,

IV. The persecution to which he was immediately exposed.

Col_3:23, &c. Here we see the seed of the serpent rising to bruise the heel of the woman’s seed. Argument fails. Paul triumphs in that; so then they resort to persecution. Seek to take his life. These too were Jews, not barbarians, not infidels. Of all rancor and hate, that which has assumed the religious phase, has ever been most fierce and deadly. This spirit has been fearfully exhibited in the Church of Rome. Multitudes have been persecuted to death. How soon, in Paul’s case, is a complete reverse of conduct exhibited! The persecutor a few days ago, is now the persecuted. Observe how his life was in imminent jeopardy, Col_3:24. At length, means are adopted for his escape. The disciples of the Redeemer unite for his rescue. The gates are watched; and therefore, they go to a part of the wall distant from these, and let Paul down, under the cover of the night, in a basket; Col_3:25.

Thus, Paul is delivered, and that life extended, which was to be so honorably employed in the cause of Jesus.

We are now directed,

V. To the apostle’s union with the church of Jesus, at Jerusalem.

He now returns to Jerusalem, with the purpose of uniting with the disciples there. But he was only known in the city as a bitter enemy. They feared now that he designed to injure them, by treachery. They doubted the genuineness of his conversion; and hence, they were all afraid of him. But God raised up a friend for Paul in this emergency. This was the excellent Barnabas. He took the new convert by the hand, and brought him before the apostles, &c.; Act_9:27. Explained how Christ had met him by the way’97how he had preached at Damascus, &c. Thus he was received by the apostles’97had communion with the church’97enjoying all the freedom of the other disciples. "Coming in," &c.; Act_9:28. Here also he labored in the ministry; Act_9:29. He spake boldly in the name of Jesus. Disputing with the Grecians, that is, the class of Jews who came from the provinces, and used the Greek language.

Thus the apostle went earnestly on, in his great and blessed work, to exalt the Redeemer, and save souls.

Observe,

VI. The second persecution to which he is exposed.

Here again his life is exposed and attempted. They go about to slay him. And again the brethren have to interpose to save bin? This they do, by conveying him to C’e6sarea; and from thence to Tarsus, his native city.

Here the chain of history breaks off. We know not how long he continued at Tarsus. We next find him, after the lapse of four or five years, sought by Barnabas, to take him with him to Antioch, where they spent a whole year’97and taught much people; Act_11:25, &c. It is probable that Paul, during the interval, had been preaching the gospel, in Cilicia and Syria.

Application

1. Learn the connection between decided and elevated piety, and persecution.

It is through much persecution, &c. In the world we must have tribulation, &c.

2. The advantages of Christian fellowship.

We see how at Tarsus, and again in Jerusalem, Paul was comforted and aided by the brethren. This is one of the grand designs of a Christian church.

3. That the voice of duty and God must be regarded at all consequences.

So did Paul obey God, and persevere in the way of duty. "We are to endure hardness," &c. "In patience possess our souls," &c. "Not cast away our confidence," &c.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS