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Commentary on "Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles"
Day 4: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - Saul in Damascus
Overview
Today we are looking at Saul’s life at the time when he was converted and was led blind in Damascus. It covers a period of at least three years (probably longer) before the Holy Spirit was ready to send him out on his first missionary trip.
Observations
The lesson outline seems to get off the track of what was really happening during this period Saul’s life by bringing out the secondary topic of not judging the hearts of people, something only God can do. In doing so, it is implied that God could see something good in his life not apparent to those around him. After he took on the name of Paul, he made it clear there was nothing in his former life worthy of any merit, Phil. 3:1-11.
Paul was who he as God’s apostle for one, and only one reason, as testified by Paul himself in the epistle of Galatians where he speaks of his former life in Judaism:
But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. (Gal 1:15-17 ESV)
Before he was born and had done nothing good or bad he was set apart. Therefore, even if we could have seen into the heart of Paul in his former life it would have revealed nothing to us as to why God chose him.
Even though we are not told the details of what was happening in his life, the above passage gives us a basic understanding of what God was doing to remold Saul into the person we now know as Paul. First he was blinded, helpless, and totally dependent upon the very people he had been persecuting. Then those who had been his allies were seeking to kill him. Backing up in Galatians, we see where Jesus Christ personally instructed him in the gospel message he was to preach:
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:11-12 ESV)
We see in Gal. 1:18 where at least three years had gone by before he went up to Jerusalem. In Acts 13:1-3, we find him in Antioch of Syria where he is still called Saul. The Holy Spirit is now ready to send him along with Barnabas on their first missionary trip into new territory.
Summary
- Saul was set apart by God before he was born as his appoint apostle to the Gentiles.
- In God’s own timing, Saul was trained and brought to maturity before the Holy Spirit was ready to send him out as an apostle and missionary for the Lord Jesus Christ to the Gentile world.
- Never forget that Paul’s gospel message was always the same for both Jew and Gentile.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised September 19, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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