Saul's Conversion
Acts 9:1-19
Presented by
Rev. Augustine T. Sanwu
Certificate of Theology (CTh), BSc , MSc.
Founder: St Augustine International School – Ghana
Email: Augustines2003@Yahoo.co.uk
Passage
(the pharisees were determined to eliminate this new sect)
Acts 19:1-2
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out
murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.
He went to the high priest 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.
2
Introduction
The sermon is divided into 3 points
 Saul's background
 Saul's calling
 Saul’s conversion
3
Recap on Pentecost
(Jesus was crucified to halt this way)
In Acts 2:17, it reads:
"'And in the last days,'
God says, 'I will pour
out my spirit upon
every sort of flesh, and
your sons and your
daughters will
prophesy and your
young men will see
visions and your old
men will dream
dreams.
Manifestation of the Holy
Spirit.
Jesus is
Lord
3000 converted on Pentecost
4
Saul's background
His was born a Jew.
Both parents were Jews so he called himself a
“Hebrew of Hebrews”.
Born in Tarsus as a Roman citizen and as a free man
he had the right to travel freely through the Roman
world.
His knowledge about the Jewish traditions and Law
was extraordinary – he studied in Jerusalem under
Gamaliel.
5
Saul's background
The bible describes him as blameless with regards to
the righteousness of the law.
He was a man of no ill morals; but he terrorised the
early church.
He gave approval to the killing of Stephen. (Acts 7)
Saul agitated the Christian community – he could not
rest while Christians were living in peace.
He heard of a community living in Damascus and
decided to go there and give them some disturbance.
His mission was to enquire among the synagogues at
Damascus and bring them bound to Jerusalem as
criminals.
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Saul plotted with the high priest
Acts 19:1-2
He connived with the religious hierarchy to
destroy the early church.
He agreed with the high priest to go to
Damascus where the believers were and to
disturb their peace.
Damascus
Where
next?
7
Sin is rooted in all aspects of society
What would cause a religious man to kill another in
the name of religion? Sin.
What is it that causes families to fall out? The
answer is Sin.
What is it that motivates a young man to stab
another young man? Sin.
What causes one human race or a tribe to persecute
another human race or a tribe? Sin.
Story of a disgruntled woman attack on an innocent
missionary.
Story of the immigrant baker.
God is calling for repentance where ever there is sin
– Amen!
8
Sin is rooted in all aspect of society
In Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Nigeria, we
hear of religious crimes.
On the news last week a Muslim woman was
jailed in Sudan for converting to Christianity
and marrying a Christian.
The root cause of these religious extremes is
sin. What is sin? Sin is unbelief!
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Sin is rooted in all aspect of society
What is sin? Sin is unbelief!
Unbelief is sin because it is an
insult to the truthfulness of God.
Sin incurs a penalty – The wages of
sin is death but the gift of God is
eternal life.
1
Saul's calling
God uses a variety of ways to call
man back to the fold.
In Isaiah 6 – God called Isaiah from
the temple.
In Exodus – He called Moses from a
Burning Bush. Are you been called
this morning?
Are you been called this morning?
God uses a variety of ways to call
man back.
In Isaiah 6 – He called Isaiah in the
year King Uzziah died.
God called Isaiah from the temple.
Are you been called this morning?
When Isaiah heard the voice that shook the
foundation of the door post, he cried; woe is
me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of
unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a
people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen
the King, The Lord of hosts.
In this passage, He called Saul in shining
light. Are you been called this Morning?
Why are
you
persecuting
me?
It is hard for you
to kick against
the goads
Oh! What a
Light! I
need some
help.
“Eh! the man
up there never
use pyjama for
Suit u know”
Saul's Calling
Acts 9:7
The light from heaven symbolizes the
appearance of Jesus in glory.
The light was visible only to Saul.
Don't expect everybody around you to see or
hear what God is saying to you.
Saul's companions did not fully comprehend.
God’s Calling and Man's Conversion:
Two-Way communication Process A good relationship requires Active Listening
Pay attention
Show you are listening and empathetic
Provide feedback – respond to God
Don’t defer
Respond appropriately
Relationship with God requires effective
communication?
 Motivational – feel part of the God family.
 Easier to give direction, control and create a
single direction – working towards the same
goals.
 Makes decision making easier – accurate and
complete information.
 Improves our relationships with the Lord and
fellow believers.
A
A good relationship requires
Effective Communication
As part of your Christian life . . .
Who do you communicate with? God,
people – important to communicate with
God and people.
How do you communicate with them?
Lifestyle, verbal discourse, body
language, fasting, prayer
Effective Communication includes
Listening
Critical
Listening
Sympathetic
Listening
FACTS v
Don’t talk,
OPINIONS
Listen
Separate the
Don’t give
Two
advice, Listen
Creative
Listening
Open mind
Supplement
your ideas with
Conclusion
 God calls in various ways -Your calling may
be different from Moses, Isaiah or Saul but it
is still a call.
 Sin is unbelief – The wages of sin is death but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus.
 Communication with God is a 2 way process;
learn to listen and respond instantly when
you hear from God just like Moses, Isaiah and
Saul.