SAUL, THE ROOKIE…
Saul, proud Jew, dedicated Pharisee, committed to preserving the purity of his religious faith, on a mission to cleanse the outside world of this pernicious belief in a man who was executed on a Roman torture stake to appease the Jewish leaders.
This man, Jesus, had offended Jews by claiming to be God and Gentiles by declaring Himself to be a king. It was fitting to rid the earth of such blasphemy and treason, so they thought.
Neither group, Jew or Gentile, reckoned on what would happen next. Jesus said that He would rise again…and He did! Try as they might, the opposition could not disprove His resurrection, silence His followers, or put a lid on their testimony. The next best thing was to exterminate them!
Saul set about his task with gusto. Believing that he was helping God, he ranged far and wide, even beyond Israel, to flush out these indomitable believers and return them to Jerusalem for trial.
Then something unimaginable happened! He came face-to-face with the risen Jesus he was trying to obliterate. The proud Saul was dashed to the ground….face down in the dust before the one he was trying so hard to destroy. Jesus was not only real, He was alive…and He was in charge!
Acts of the Apostles 9:1-5 NLT
[1] “Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. [2] He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. [3] As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. [4] He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” [5] “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!”
Saul had to bend before Him, his blind prejudice and bitter hatred smashed before this majesty. The old Saul was done for, and a new Saul, reeling from the blows to his ego, rose from the dust.
Those with him were confused. Oblivious of this exchange in the spirit realm, they could not figure out why this anti-Jesus, fire-breathing antagonist of believers, was suddenly deflated, meekly entering the city of Damascus to seek out one of the hated followers of the Way.
For three days, this intense encounter continued. No light in his eyes, no food in his belly, Saul thought…and thought…and prayed. Then enter Ananias, sent by Jesus to gather Saul into the fold.
Acts 9:17-19 NIV
[17] “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” [18] Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, [19] and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.”
Saul’s enthusiasm for Jesus knew no boundaries. The light in his soul shone so brightly that he could not keep quiet. He set Damascus alight with the truths of the Tanach that has burst upon him.
So fierce was his onslaught on the dominion of darkness in Damascus that he became a threat to the very people he was now representing. Saul, the rookie, had some hard lessons to learn.
Acts 9:20, 22-23, 25 NIV
[20] “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God…
[22] Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. [23] After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him…
[25] But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.”
Next stop, Jerusalem. The gentle Barnabas was the only believer in Jerusalem who gave credit to Saul’s testimony. The other leaders of the church thought that Saul was setting up an ambush. However, Barnabas introduced Saul to the apostles, reassuring them of his credibility.
Acts 9:28-29 NIV
[28] “So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. [29] He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.”
Once again, Saul’s new-found passion for Jesus sent him into a flurry of preaching in Jerusalem, taking on the Greek-infused Jews in the hopes of persuading them to believe in Jesus as he did.
At this point, Saul was driven by passion and enthusiasm, making him a dangerous ally to the Jerusalem church. He had yet to learn the lessons of wisdom and experience. Once again, the church had to cool him down by sending him home to Tarsus to spend time processing his new-found faith.
Acts 9:30-31 NIV
[30] “When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. [31] Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.”
With Saul out of the way, the church in Jerusalem could enjoy a season of peace and growth without interference.
How often new believers become would-be evangelists without a calling, or without the equipping that would prepare them for fruitful service. Saul’s experience as a young believer should caution us to follow God’s pattern, call… equip… send…which is a far wiser pattern for ministry than our way….call…and, very often, burn out!