“A Chosen
Vessel”
Acts 8-9
Trials for members of the
Church
Being committed
to prison (by the
hands of Saul)
Scattered
Acts 8:1-4
The good it brought forth:
Preaching the
word
Philip goes to
Samaria
Miracles
Acts 8:5-8
Joy in the city
Philip
One of the Seven Chosen
Visited by angel
Preached in cities and
ended up in Caesarea
Had 4 unmarried daughters
who had the gift of
prophecy (Acts 21:9)
Later Paul stays with Philip in
Caesarea
Sorcery of Simon
Bewitched
people
They give heed
to him
Acts 8:9-11
After Philip’s Preaching
People believed
Baptism
Even Simon
believed
Acts 8:12-13
Apostles Hear of Success
Peter and John
go to Samaria
Prayed for them
to receive the
Holy Ghost
Acts 8:14-17
Simon wants Power
Offers money
“…Thy money perish
with thee, because
thou hast thought that
the gift of God may
be purchased with
money.”
Acts 8:18-20
Repentance for Simon
“…for thy heart is not right
in the sight of God.”
Simon:
Acts 8:21-24
“…Pray ye to the Lord for
me, that none of these
things which ye have
spoken come upon me.”
Philip Goes South to Gaza
Man from Ethiopia (an
eunuch)
Hears man reading Esaias
Preaches about Jesus
baptizes
Preaches in all cities
Acts 8:26-40
Saul—son of Tarsus
Born a free Roman citizen
Brought up a Jew
Son of a Pharisee
Possible member of Sanhedrin
Tribe of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5)
Tentmaker (possible trade of his
father)
Sperry
Other family members of
Saul
Saul had a sister, and her
son saves the Apostle’s life
(Acts 23:16)
Sperry
Tarsus
Capital of Cilicia
One of 3 greatest centers
of learning during Saul’s
days.
Sperry
Training and Education of
Saul
Learned in the Sacred Law
Jewish upbringing with Greek
influence. Possible languages:
Hebrew and Aramaic
Taught by Gamaliel…a celebrated
Jewish teacher
It was an honor to study in the “Beth
Hammidrash” or “House of
Interpretation”
Sperry
Studies
Halachah---Precepts of the
law---legal code
Haggada---historical events of
the scriptures, using parables
and allegories
Possibly trained as a Rabbi
Sperry
Meeting Saul---Luke records
Young man present at the
stoning of Stephen
Acts 7:58
“…and a witnesses laid
down their clothes at a
young man’s feet, whose
name was Saul.”
Persecution of the Church
members
“And Saul was consenting
unto his (Stephen’s)
death.”
Acts 8:1-4
“As for Saul, he made
havock of the church,
entering into every house,
and haling men and
women committed them
to prison.”
Confession of Saul
“…and many of the saints
did I shut up in prison,
having received authority
from the chief priests; and
when they were put to
death, I gave my voice
against them.”
Acts 26:10-11
“And I punished them oft
in every synagogue…I
persecuted them even
unto strange cities.”
On the Road to Damascus
Light from Heaven
Falls to the earth
Acts 9:3-4
“…Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me?”
Are we waiting on the road
to Damascus?
“…They stand at the waters of
baptism but do not enter. They wait
at the threshold of testimony but
cannot bring themselves to
acknowledge the truth. Instead of
taking small steps of faith on the
path of discipleship, they want some
dramatic event to compel them to
believe.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Damascus
Present Day capital of Syria
A Roman Province of Syria in
days of Apostles
Terminating points for trade in
the Near East
By prophecy (Isaiah) it was
destroyed and then rebuilt
Present day…Christian quarter
located on street named
“Straight”
Life and Teachings….
Damascus
Street bazaars
Damascus Steel
Famous treasured cloth
“damask”
City wall surrounding City
where Paul escapes in a basket
(Acts 9:23-25)
Life and Teachings….
Who art thou, Lord?
“And the Lord said, I am
Jesus whom thou
persecutest…
Acts 9:5
Kick against the pricks
“Goud”
During the time of Jesus, many people were farmers and used oxen to
till the soil. A prick, or goad, was a pointed shaft sharpened to a point
on one end, much like a metalwork prick. This was held up to an ox by
the driver in such a way that if the ox turned in the wrong direction, it
would get pricked. Sometimes an ox would attempt to kick the irritant
away, which would only drive it in deeper.
A sharp spear used to
prick the hides of animals
to make them move
ahead
The tendency when kicked
is to “Kick back”, to
retaliate
Life and Teachings…Acts 9:5
What wilt thou have me to do?
“…Arise, and go into the
city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do.”
Men with him are
speechless
Acts 9:6
Blinded
Men lead him to
Damascus
3 days without sight or
food
Acts 9:8-9
Ananias a disciple
Has a vision
“Behold, I am here, Lord.”
Acts 9:10-11
“…Go into the street which
is called Straight, and
enquire in the house of
Judas for one called
Saul…”
Go thy way
Ananias has heard about
the persecution by this
man, Saul
Acts 9:13-15
“…Go thy way; for he is a
chosen vessel unto me, to
bear my name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and
the children of Israel:”
Using Priesthood Authority
“…Brother Saul, the Lord,
even Jesus, that appeared
unto thee in the way as
thou camest, hath sent
me, that thou mightest
receive thy sight, and be
filled with the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 9:12
Receive Sight and be filled with
the Holy Ghost
“And immediately there
fell from his eyes as it had
been scales…
Acts 9:18
“and he received sight
forthwith, and arose, and
was baptized.”
“Saul (saw) the resurrected Son of God,
received visions, (was) the recipient of
miracles wrought on his behalf, and yet
none of these sufficed to prepare him for
church membership or ministerial service.
Baptism is the gate for all—Christ, Paul,
every accountable person.”
Bruce R. McConkie
Sources:
The Life and Teachings of Jesus and his
Apostles pg. 246-247, 256-258
Paul’s Life and Letters by
Dr. Sidney B. Sperry
Doctrine of New Testament Commentary by
Bruce R. McConkie 2:91
“Waiting on the Road to Damascus” Dieter F.
Uchtdorf April 2011 General Conference