Acts 9:19-31

Acts 9:19-31

The Life of a New Believer
19b - Intentional discipleship
20 - Immediate ministry involvement
21 - Authentic results

Why is it vital that the new believer immediately be discipled and involved in ministry?

What kind of church environment can provide this?

What are the results seen in Paul’s life?

22 - Growing in power
See Galatians 1:11,12
- Proving that Jesus is the Christ – How?

23-25 - Prophecy fulfilled – see 9:16

Three-year gap between verse 25 and verse 26
Galatians 1:15-18 – Was Paul preaching to the Arabs?

Back to Jerusalem
26-28 - Stuck between a rock and a hard place

The Jews saw Paul as a traitor
The Believers saw Paul as an untrustworthy persecutor

Barnabas – ‘son of encouragement’ validates Paul to the believers.

Trouble, again
29-30 - See Acts 22:17-22

“Paul recognized that the gospel was ‘for the Jew first’ (Romans 1:16), but he never did particularly well in evangelizing Jews. He was called as an apostle to the uncircumcision, and this word of Jesus in the Temple was a further confirmation of that call.” – C. Peter Wagner

Say goodbye to Paul for 10 years!

Church growth without Paul
31 - It seems that the Jerusalem church was better off not having Paul there than having him there on this early visit. Why would that be?