Acts 9:1-6 “Now, Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And He said, “ I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but rise and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.”

Acts 9:7-12 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here am I, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying; and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”

Acts 9:13-18 “But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight and he arose and was baptized.’”

I. QUESTIONS ABOUT SAUL! A. WHO WAS THIS MAN, SAUL? Philippians 3:5 – Paul says about himself: “I was… *circumcised the 8 th day *of the nation of Israel *of the tribe of Benjamin *A Hebrew of the Hebrews *A Pharisee *A keeper of the Law (blameless)

I. QUESTIONS ABOUT SAUL! (Cont.)

I. QUESTIONS ABOUT SAUL (Cont.) C. HOW DID SAUL RESPOND TO THE EARLY CHURCH? *“But Saul ravaged the church, entering house after house, dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.” (Acts 9:3) *“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord…” (Acts 9:1) *“I persecuted them to death…” (Acts 22:4) *“I forced them to blaspheme…” (Acts 26:11) *“I pursued them to foreign cities…” (Acts 26:11)

I. QUESTIONS ABOUT SAUL (Cont.) D. WHAT HAPPENED TO SAUL? TRANSFORMATION!! *SAUL HAD HIS NAME CHANGED TO PAUL (13:9) *THIS ZEALOUS JEW BECAME A ZEALOUS CHRISTIAN JEW *FROM JEWISH RABBI HE BECAME A CHRISTIAN APOSTLE *HE WENT FROM PERSECUTOR TO BEING PERSECUTED! *HE WENT FROM HATING JESUS TO LOVING JESUS!

III. TRANSFORMATION: THE EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT

THE EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT (Cont.) Step Two: INFORMATION GIVEN GOD OFTEN PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR A PERSON TO THINK ABOUT THAT ONE DID NOT KNOW BEFORE! “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you Lord, (Sir)?” “I AM JESUS, WHO YOU ARE PERSECUTING….” (Acts 9:5)

THE EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT (Cont.)

Step Four: PREPARATION OF THE HEART God, by His Holy Spirit, prepares a person’s heart to receive the truth of God and come to a point of belief! “And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank;… and he prayed…and in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias come….” (Acts 9:9,11,12)

THE EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT (Cont.)

THE EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT (Cont.) What is the evidence of a changed life?

QUESTION:

THE END RESULT! WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE, A PERSON WHO MEET’S GOD AND HAS A TRANSFORMED LIFE ENDS UP ON A STREET CALLED “STRAIGHT!” “Arise and go to a street called ‘Straight…’” (vs. 11)