Atos 9

Atos 9

Chart from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission THE EXPANDING WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT-EMPOWERED CHURCH Acts 9:1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, (NASB: Lockman) KJV Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Saul Acts 11-13,19-21; 7:58; 8:3; Acts 22:3,4; Acts 26:9-11; 1 Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13; Php 3:6; 1 Ti 1:13 Acts 9 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAUL STEPS ON CENTER STAGE TIME APPROXIMATION - When do the events in Acts occur in relation to the preceding events? There are a number of resources that give dates of the historical events in Acts, but the reader should understand that they are all approximations. One problem is that there is even disagreement on the date of Jesus crucifixion and resurrection, some sources saying A.D. 33 and others A.D. 30. That said, the dates listed are simply to give you a sense of the span of time of the historical events in the Book of Acts. Thus Pentecost would be 30-33, Stephen's stoning 31-33, Paul converted 33-34, Paul's meeting with Peter in Jerusalem 36-37, Paul ministers in Syria/Cilicia 37-45, Peter's witness to Cornelius 38. Thus the events in Acts 10 occur from 5-10 years after the Church is born in Acts 2. ESV Timeline - below is an excerpt from the larger chart. 33 (or 30) Jesus returns to Judea, is crucified, and resurrected. James the brother of Jesus becomes a believer after witnessing the resurrected Jesus (1 Cor. 15:7; Acts 12:17). Jesus ascends to the Father’s right hand (Acts 1). Jesus’ first followers receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and begin to proclaim the gospel (Acts 2). 33/34* Paul witnesses the resurrected Lord on the way to Damascus and is commissioned as an apostle to the nations (Acts 9; Gal. 1:15–16). 34–37 Paul ministers in Damascus and Arabia (Acts 9:19–22; 26:20; Gal. 1:16–18). 36 Pilate loses his position for incompetence. 36/37* Paul meets with Peter in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26–30; Gal. 1:18). 37–45 Paul ministers in Syria, Tarsus, and Cilicia (Acts 9:30; Gal. 1:21). 38* Peter witnesses to Cornelius (Acts 10). * The Asterisk indicates approximation. / The slash mark indicates "either/or" Biblehub Timeline Book of Acts Story and Structure BlueLetterBible Timeline - see excerpt below Event Reference Year (AD) Descent of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-13 30 Setting Up of the Church Acts 2:40-47 30 First Persecutions Acts 4:1-22; 5:21-42; 7:1-60 35 Philip at Samaria Acts 8:4-13 35 Conversion of Saul Acts 9:1-9 36 First Gentile Converted Acts 10:1-48 40 Founding of Church at Antioch Acts 11:19-30 43 Writing of Matthew's Gospel Matthew 43 Below is a Basic Acts Timeline (Ben Witherington - The Acts of the Apostles : A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary) A.D. 30—Jesus is crucified under Pontius Pilate. Resurrection appearances, Pentecost, initial growth of the church in and around Jerusalem. A.D. 31–33—The events of Acts 3–7 transpire with mounting concern on the part of Jews and especially the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. The rising tension results in vigilante action taken against Stephen, and then an authorized effort under Saul to disrupt and even destroy this new messianic sect, involving persecution and even the death of some Christians (cf. Acts 8:1–3 to Gal. 1:13). The persecution led various Christians such as Philip to go elsewhere, such as Samaria, and bear witness (Acts 8:4–40). THE FIRST EIGHT CHAPTERS OF ACTS COVER ONLY THE PERIOD FROM ABOUT 30 TO 33. A.D. 33 or 34—Saul is converted on the road to Damascus during his period of persecuting the church (Acts 9; Galatians 1). A.D. 34–37 or 38—Saul is in Damascus and Arabia; he returns to Jerusalem for the first time as a Christian in 37. A.D. 37–46—Saul sent off to Tarsus and home region. In the meantime, Peter has a notable ministry up and down the Mediterranean coast between Lydda, Joppa, and Caesarea, involving at least one notable Gentile and his family. This, in turn, leads to a report to the Jerusalem church (Acts 11). The precise timing is unknown. A.D. 43—James (brother of John) is killed, and Peter is imprisoned. A.D. 44—Agabus’s prophecy in Antioch; Herod Agrippa dies. NOTE THAT LUKE’S DATA FOR THE PERIOD A.D. 37–46 ARE CLEARLY SKETCHY. HE IS BETTER INFORMED ABOUT THE PERIOD AFTER THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL (49), IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE PAULINE PART OF THE STORY. A.D. 46–48—famine in Judea. A.D. 48—Second visit by Paul to Jerusalem (with Barnabas, cf. Galatians 2) for famine relief to Jerusalem (Acts 11:29–30). A.D. 49—Claudius expels Jews from Rome; Priscilla and Aquila go to Corinth; Jerusalem council (Acts 15). A.D. 50–52—Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 15:36–18:23). A.D. 51 or 52—The Gallio incident in Corinth (Acts 18). A.D. 53–57—Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 18:23–21:26). A.D. 57–59—Paul in custody under Felix, and then briefly under Festus. A.D. 59–60—Paul goes to Rome (for a fuller discussion of the Pauline material for the period from 48 to 50, see below). A.D. 60–62—Paul under house arrest in Rome. William Marty introduces this section - Stephen’s message had convinced Saul that the new faith was a threat to Judaism. From his perspective the followers of Christ were apostate Jews who threatened to corrupt Judaism. With the zeal of a fanatic, he devoted himself to stopping this new faith. The fervor of his religious fanaticism is seen in his request to the Sanhedrin to extradite and punish believers who had sought safety in Damascus. (Borrow Moody Bible Commentary page 1692) William Larkin writes that “the most important event in human history apart from the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the conversion to Christianity of Saul of Tarsus.” (Paul's Conversion and Early Ministry Acts 9:1-31) J. Gresham Machen -"The Christian movement … in A.D. 35 … would have appeared to a superficial observer to be a Jewish sect. Thirty years later it was plainly a world religion. This establishment as a world religion, to almost as great an extent as any great historical movement can be ascribed to one man, was the work of Paul." (As quoted by Derek Thomas - Reformed Expository Commentary - Acts) Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord - Breathing threats is an idiomatic phrase meaning in essence to strongly threaten and coupled with murder means Saul was threatening to kill them! The present tense signifies he was continually passionately consumed with hatred for the followers of Jesus! This not a a case of just a touch of animosity! Paul himself after his conversion described this as with "zeal" he was "a persecutor of the church." (Php 3:6+, cf 1 Cor 15:9+, Gal 1:13+, 1 Ti 1:13). In Acts 26:11 he described himself as "furiously enraged at them" like a religious "bounty hunter!" Still is the adverb eti (again, still) which "expresses the continual action, indicating that Saul’s fierce opposition did not abate with time." (Barrett) Gilbrant adds that eti "can be used to indicate constancy, permanence (2 Sa 3:35), or action that goes on continually." (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Clearly still links Saul's present murderous mindset with his similar mindset in Acts 8:3. This desire to "snuff out" Christianity was not a passing paroxysm, but a persistent passion. Even witnessing the powerful testimony of Stephen being stoned did not dissuade him from his passion to persecute disciples of Jesus. Longenecker describes several OT precedents which might help understand how Saul might have been able to rationalize his vicious hatred of the followers of Jesus... In days when the rabbis viewed the keeping of the Mosaic law as the vitally important prerequisite for the coming of the Messianic Age (cf. b Sanhedrin 97b–98a; b Baba Bathra 10a; b Yoma 86b), Paul could validate his actions against the Christians by reference to such godly precedents as (1) Moses’ slaying of the immoral Israelites at Baal-peor (cf. Num 25:1–5); (2) Phinehas’s slaying of the Israelite man and Midianite woman in the plains of Moab (cf. Nu 25:6–15); and (3) the actions of Mattathias and the Hasidim in rooting out apostasy among the people (cf. 1 Macc 2:23–28, 42–48). Perhaps even the divine commendation of Phinehas’s action in Nu 25:11–13 rang in his ears....2 Macc 6:13 counsels that “it is a mark of great kindness when the impious are not let alone for a long time, but punished at once.” (Expositor's Bible Commentary) Saul (4569)(Saulos) is the Hellenized form of the Hebrew name Sauol (which is used by Jesus in Acts 9:4 - see below)(07586) which means "desired" or "asked for" (Heb verb - sha'al = ask something of someone). Luke describes the change of names to Paul after his conversion writing "But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, (Acts 13:9) Saul (in his heart) was guilty of murder of Stephen even though he did not literally toss a stone for Luke says "Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death." Matthew