The conversion of paul the book of acts amazing facts. Saul doesnt know what will happen hes gotten permission from the high priests to hunt christians and imprison or kill them. Now in acts 9, lukes writing switches to paul the central character of acts really, the holy spirit is the central character. Book of acts the conversion of paul church of christ. Each version is different, and this fact has led some critics to say that the accounts are contradictory. I dont think so, and this article explains one of the reasons why. Jesus himself appears to rabbi saul and confronts him with the truth of the resurrection and saul completely changes everything about his life. 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. The remainder of the book of acts describes paul s visit to macedonia. Todd penner is the author of numerous essays on the acts of the apostles, including the book in praise of christian origins. The purpose of the book of acts is governed by the jews response to peter and paul. The story of paul s conversion on the road to damascus is told in acts 9. Luke recounts pauls conversion story three times acts 9, 22 and 26.
Conversion of paul pauls journey on the road to damascus. Lohfink believes that luke composed the narratives of pauls conversion. He told them, johns baptism was a baptism of repentance. The lord opened her heart to respond to paul s message. While conducting it, he personally cast into prison many christians acts 26. Acts 9 lukes recording of it as it happened, acts 22 and acts 26 pauls retelling of it.
Also, during this time luke recorded three accounts of pauls conversion and his witness to three rulers. This occurred three times, in acts, acts 18, and acts 28. After an earthquake shook the prison, they were released and at paul s insistence were given a police guard until they were safely out of the city. By divine design the conversion of saul of tarsus is recorded three times in the book of acts chapters 9, 22, 26. Paul was able to spread the gospel throughout the known world. Dec 19, 2011 pauls conversion was seminal in the church, but the stories differ. A comparative analysis of the three reports in acts, page 424, that the account in acts 22 assumes and builds upon the account in acts 9, hence, for the account in acts 22 to be logically consistent, it must be read in the light of acts 9. If one genuinely wants to know what to do to be saved, he can read the book of acts and find the biblical answer. Pauls dramatic conversion on the damascus road acts 9. There are two ways the title of this early church history can be understood. The book of acts says that paul was on his way from jerusalem to syrian damascus with a mandate issued by the high. 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.
The conversion of paul the apostle was, according to the new testament. On various occasions in his epistles, paul made either direct or indirect references to his former life of opposition and his radical conversion. Pauls conversion bible story summary, study and lesson. Baptism in the book of acts and throughout the new testament is always practiced by adults who have. Chapters 2728 narrate pauls fourth missionary journey through malta to rome. The conversion of saul might very well be the most famous conversion in all of the new testament. Actually starts in verse 15, i am jesus, who you are persecuting. Luke records the conversion of saul of tarsus, who became the apostle paul, three times in the book of actschapters 9, 22, and 26. In acts 8, we learned that saul was trying to destroy the church. Paul has traveled about 150 miles 242 kilometers from.
His conversion is related in detail three times in acts. The example i will focus on is that of the events surrounding paul s conversion and early ministry. It is not just in the book of acts that the importance of sauls conversion is evident. 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. The conversion of paul on the road to damascus acts 9 represents a critical point in the. Paul and silas begin by revisiting the locations in pauls first journey acts 15. Pauls road to damascus conversion bible study guide. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. The conversion of saul paul is so important to the author of the book of acts that he presents the story three times acts 9, 22, 26. In chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of pauls conversion. After his conversion he went to the opposite extreme of loving god and preaching his word with power, fervency and the spirit of the true and living god. 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.
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. 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. Pauls conversion why three accounts, and how do they differ. I dont think these skeptics are paying very close attention when they say that there are irreconcilable discrepencies. Theyre all a little bit different, and because of that, some critics have cried foul. Thirteen of the twentyseven books in the new testament have. Sometimes a person gives the condensed version of the story. Some might regard acts of the holy spirit to be the idea behind this simple one word title. 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. In acts 9, luke records the period between pauls conversion and his first missionary journey. When luke turns to pauls conversion experience, he places him on the highway, near damascus. It shows how the early church coped with pagan and jewish thought, the roman government and hellenistic society.
Paul, still called saul at this point, has taken an active part in the persecution of the christian movement after the. Acts 9 conversion of saul object lesson for children. The story line written into the book of acts is credible at the 99. But is the book of acts really reliable as a historical source. Aug 20, 2017 but is the book of acts really reliable as a historical source.
Pauls conversion on the road to damascus was one of the most. With caroline vander stichele, he cowrote contextualizing gender in early christian discourse. Pauls conversion is recorded three times in acts, as paul also recounts his experience to the jews of jerusalem in acts 22. Contradictions in the book of acts for the damascus road.
Without question, the story of sauls conversion is one of the most important events, if not the most important event, that luke records in acts. In the book of acts we have not one, not two, but three accounts of sauls conversion. An insight analysis into the book of acts project topics. Luke retells the conversion of acts and the narrative compares jesus to an old testament theophany of yahweh. 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. While in the city of philippi, paul and his companion, silas, were thrown into prison. Approximately half of the book of acts deals with pauls life and works. Acts second telling of paul s conversion occurs in a speech paul gives when he is arrested in jerusalem. Acts 9 sauls conversion acts 16 pauls adventures in philippi acts 28 ministry of paul in rome what is acts named for. 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. Do the three accounts of pauls conversion in acts contradict. Paul himself speaks of this period in acts 22 and 26, as well as galatians 1.
From pauls letters we know who his companions were and that only luke could write the we when he was the eyewitness of the events recounted. The disciples were empowered by the holy spirit to be his witnesses in jerusalem chapters 1. Terms in this set 18 state the author and dates covered by the book of acts. The book of acts provides three narratives of the conversion of paul to answer this query acts 9. 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. As regards the date and place of composition of the book the following information can be deduced. Exposition of the book of acts mp3 series monergism. The story of pauls conversion on the road to damascus is told in acts 9. In this article i will give just one example that i think raises some important questions about the new testament. Saul of tarsus the apostle pauls conversion in acts.
Luke does not record the date of pauls conversion, but a reasonable estimate is c. Acts, chapter 9 united states conference of catholic bishops. 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. May 02, 2020 pauls dramatic conversion on the damascus road acts 9. Pauls conversion is recorded three times in the bible 1. The corinthians acts 18 the story of the conversion of the people of corinth is to the point. Why are the three accounts of pauls conversion on the.
One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews e. On various occasions in his epistles, paul made either direct or. A critical charge that supposedly nullifies the harmony of the book of acts is the fact that there are differences in the three accounts of pauls conversion. Conversion in the book of acts part four livingston. Pauls conversion why three accounts, and how do they.
Saul received a vision of the resurrected christ while en route to damascus. There are three accounts of pauls conversion to christianity found in the book of acts. After stephens death, saul led a campaign of persecution against the church. Papers were granted and saul, and some other men, set off. Therefore, we can conclude that the conversion story for saul of tarsus does not contain any contradictions. Pauls conversion was seminal in the church, but the stories differ. Acts 9 new international version niv sauls conversion.
The book of acts records pauls lifestyle before and after his changeofheart, with acts 9 detailing his conversion. Acts 15 concerns the first major controversy in the early church, although the issue seems strange to modern readers. Another new testament illustration of this literary phenomenon is the record of pauls conversion, as set forth three times in the book of acts chapters 9, 22, and 26. The book of acts is not only a book of history, but also a book of conversions. The book of acts is an adventure thrill ride from start to finish, but we tend to skip over a lot of the incredibly compelling details. Pauls conversion 1 chapter 3 pauls conversion acts 9 a. The book of acts records three accounts of his conversion.
Luke, the historian, chronicles the event of when pauls. 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. Skeptics and nonchristians, such as the islamic apologist. What about the multiple accounts of pauls conversion.
Scripture tells us that he breathed threats and murder against the church. The first account, in acts 9, narrated pauls conversion. Sauls conversion meanwhile, saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the. 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. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament.
Acts 9 niv sauls conversion meanwhile, saul bible gateway. Ananias was sent to paul to restore his sight miracles were worked during the early church as revelation was not yet complete. Do the 3 accounts of pauls conversion in luke contradict. 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. The example i will focus on is that of the events surrounding pauls conversion and early ministry.
Sauls conversion meanwhile, saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the lords disciples. The service of the apostle paul in the whole world. Sproul the book of acts the street called straight dr. To download, right click and save to your hard drive. List a few other possible names for the book of acts 4 the acts of the apostles the acts of peter and paul the acts of the resurrected christ. Gospel against all opposition, is found three times in acts. Stephen and the hellenists in lukan apologetic historiography bloomsbury, 2004. Pauls first encounter with jesus is his conversion on the road to damascus. Nov 27, 2017 the conversion of saul paul is so important to the author of the book of acts that he presents the story three times acts 9, 22, 26. Jan 05, 2009 in chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of paul s conversion. Support for this conclusion is based on the research of the classic scholar, dr. Why are the three accounts of pauls conversion on the road. 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.