1
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,760
Speaker 1: Let us pray, and he fell to earth and heard

2
00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:10,680
Speaker 1: a voice saying, unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

3
00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:17,360
Speaker 1: Acts nine four. Thank you Jesus that through the life

4
00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,919
Speaker 1: of Saul, I can declare that no one is outside

5
00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:25,279
Speaker 1: the reach of our loving Savior. Thank you God that

6
00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:28,280
Speaker 1: you are constantly reminding me that no matter how far

7
00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,200
Speaker 1: I go, no matter how out of touch with you,

8
00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,800
Speaker 1: I seem that at any given moment, you can and

9
00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,159
Speaker 1: you will do whatever is necessary to grab my attention

10
00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:45,360
Speaker 1: to bring me back to you. Like Saul on his

11
00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,800
Speaker 1: road to Damascus. When I am off track, remind me

12
00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,160
Speaker 1: of who I am. Speak to me with the same

13
00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:57,320
Speaker 1: boldness that you spoke to him. For I now understand

14
00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:03,640
Speaker 1: that my purpose is more important than my comfort. Let

15
00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,560
Speaker 1: me carry the same mindset into everyday life. When I

16
00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,320
Speaker 1: see others being ridiculed by somebody because of who they

17
00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:17,240
Speaker 1: used to be. Let this story Enacts nine serve as

18
00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,440
Speaker 1: a reminder that no one is outside of the grasp

19
00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:26,600
Speaker 1: of your love. Continue to transform my heart not only

20
00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,520
Speaker 1: from the inside, but do a mighty work so that

21
00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,640
Speaker 1: it can be seen on the outside as a tribute

22
00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,840
Speaker 1: to who you are and the power that you possess

23
00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:42,760
Speaker 1: to turn a life around. Thank you for restoring my

24
00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,720
Speaker 1: sight so I can see that there is more in

25
00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:53,880
Speaker 1: store for me in Jesus name. Amen, Thanks for making

26
00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,280
Speaker 1: prayer a priority in your life. To hear the Bible

27
00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,240
Speaker 1: come to life, Stay tuned for the Bible in ye.

28
00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,560
Speaker 1: Brought to you by Bible in a Year dot.

29
00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:15,960
Speaker 2: Com Saul and the Light. In our last story, Philip

30
00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,960
Speaker 2: was used to preach the Gospel in Samaria. He preached

31
00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,440
Speaker 2: in the desert to an Ethiopian official and baptized him.

32
00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,920
Speaker 2: Now we peer into the dark heart of Saul. His

33
00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,359
Speaker 2: corrupt and evil mind was filled with hatred towards Jesus

34
00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,240
Speaker 2: and the Church. Yet no man is immune to the

35
00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,799
Speaker 2: loving touch of Christ. No amount of hatred could ever

36
00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:40,880
Speaker 2: darken the light of God's Son. Inspired by the Book of.

37
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:47,560
Speaker 3: Acts, welcome once again to today's episode of the Bible

38
00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,919
Speaker 3: in a Year. In yesterday's episode, we heard how Saul's

39
00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,800
Speaker 3: persecution of the Church had led to a great scattering

40
00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,840
Speaker 3: of believers, a dispersion of Christians. What the enemy meant

41
00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,280
Speaker 3: for evil to stop God's work in the world ultimately

42
00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:06,160
Speaker 3: led to the message of Jesus spreading far beyond Jerusalem

43
00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,240
Speaker 3: and even beyond Israel itself. We heard how Philip shared

44
00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,040
Speaker 3: the good news with an Ethiopian man, who then took

45
00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,560
Speaker 3: the message of salvation with him to the ends of

46
00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:19,480
Speaker 3: the earth. Today we'll hear how Saul, in the midst

47
00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,200
Speaker 3: of his campaign to destroy the Church and the message

48
00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,400
Speaker 3: of Jesus, encounters the very one that he is persecuting.

49
00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,600
Speaker 3: It is on the road to Damascus. He will be

50
00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,560
Speaker 3: physically blinded, but have his spiritual eyes open to the

51
00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,200
Speaker 3: truth of who Jesus is, and there receive the highest

52
00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,840
Speaker 3: calling of all, which is to take the very message

53
00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,600
Speaker 3: that he wanted to destroy to the ends of the earth.

54
00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,320
Speaker 3: Let's listen now to today's reading.

55
00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,840
Speaker 2: His every breath was filled with hatred and murder, filled

56
00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,720
Speaker 2: with zealous rage towards the church. Saul stood under the

57
00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,960
Speaker 2: torch light in the courthouse. He watched as the temple

58
00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,560
Speaker 2: judge put pen to parchment. The words gave him complete

59
00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,640
Speaker 2: authority to drag any man, woman or child into the

60
00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,840
Speaker 2: city streets and end them. The letters were his license

61
00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,120
Speaker 2: to kill. Saul took the letters and shoved them into

62
00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,840
Speaker 2: his bag. He slung it over his shoulder and left

63
00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,960
Speaker 2: the temple In a fury, he mounted his horse and

64
00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,560
Speaker 2: rode in the night towards Damascus. There he would round

65
00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,680
Speaker 2: up every last Christian like cattle. He would put an

66
00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,599
Speaker 2: end to the life of Jesus once and for all.

67
00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,040
Speaker 2: The darkness was draped heavily over the skies as Saul rode.

68
00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:36,080
Speaker 2: The stars were hidden by thick clouds. Saul's heart was

69
00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,960
Speaker 2: as black as the night. He was held bent on

70
00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:43,880
Speaker 2: destroying the followers of Jesus. He despised their gospel. It

71
00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,200
Speaker 2: was a direct threat to everything he had built his

72
00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:52,039
Speaker 2: life upon. Piety, holiness, and perfection. These were Sal's goals.

73
00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:57,400
Speaker 2: He desired power, He desired holiness. He desired for God

74
00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,320
Speaker 2: to approve of him because of his actions, not some

75
00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:04,640
Speaker 2: act of grace or mercy. Saul wanted to earn God's love.

76
00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,839
Speaker 2: Saul's horse rode violently into the cold, dark nothingness. The

77
00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,240
Speaker 2: road ahead of him was barely seen by a small

78
00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,839
Speaker 2: torch Saul held in his hand. Damascus was not too

79
00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,760
Speaker 2: far away. All of a sudden, Saul's torch snuffed out,

80
00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:23,600
Speaker 2: and his horse stopped abruptly. With his light removed, Saul

81
00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:27,240
Speaker 2: could see nothing. The silent and dark night was maddening.

82
00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,520
Speaker 2: Saul breathed heavily, trying to restore the flames on his torch,

83
00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,000
Speaker 2: to no avail. Then, like the night was being pierced

84
00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,120
Speaker 2: by a blade, a bright light cut through the blackness.

85
00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,400
Speaker 2: The jagged light surrounded him. Saul's eyes could barely stand

86
00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,760
Speaker 2: the brilliance around him. As the light rushed forward, Saul

87
00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,320
Speaker 2: was bucked off of his horse. He hit the ground

88
00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:52,240
Speaker 2: with force, and his horse ran away. A voice as

89
00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:56,840
Speaker 2: clear as can be spoke through the light Saul Saul.

90
00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:02,039
Speaker 2: The voice said, why are you person acuting me? Saul

91
00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,440
Speaker 2: stood to his feet, trying to see who dwelled behind

92
00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:05,080
Speaker 2: the radiance.

93
00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:06,680
Speaker 3: Who are you?

94
00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,680
Speaker 2: He asked, with panic in his voice. Who is speaking?

95
00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,400
Speaker 2: The light danced in a hundred different directions, like a

96
00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:18,240
Speaker 2: weaved tapestry. It is I, Jesus, the one whom you

97
00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:23,080
Speaker 2: have persecuted. Why are you kicking against the goads? Why

98
00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,080
Speaker 2: do you deny who I have called you to be.

99
00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,000
Speaker 2: The men who were following Saul could hear the voice,

100
00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,920
Speaker 2: but could not see the bright light dancing around Saul.

101
00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,480
Speaker 2: They saw him on his knees, panicking as he listened

102
00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:39,839
Speaker 2: to the terrifying voice of Jesus. Saul fell to his

103
00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,640
Speaker 2: face and closed his eyes. Then the light vanished, silence

104
00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,560
Speaker 2: returned to the dark night, and flames were restored to

105
00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,840
Speaker 2: Saul's torch. However, Saul opened his eyes to discover he

106
00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:57,240
Speaker 2: was blind. Saul's companions led him by the hand to Damascus.

107
00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,960
Speaker 2: There he laid in bed for three days, silently seeking

108
00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:05,080
Speaker 2: answers from God. He neither ate nor drank. He simply

109
00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,920
Speaker 2: waited until God spoke to him about what he had

110
00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:13,000
Speaker 2: seen and heard. There was a believer in Damascus named Anonius.

111
00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,000
Speaker 2: He was an older man and very attentive to the

112
00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,000
Speaker 2: will and direction of God. Early in the morning, he

113
00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,240
Speaker 2: sought the voice of Christ. As he prayed, the silent

114
00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:26,240
Speaker 2: prompting of God's spirit spoke to him. Rise, he said,

115
00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,400
Speaker 2: not too far from here, in the house of Judas,

116
00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:32,760
Speaker 2: there is a man named Saul. He is praying and

117
00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,880
Speaker 2: seeking God. You must go to him and tell him

118
00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:40,760
Speaker 2: of me. Anonaius shook his head. Lord, I have heard

119
00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,920
Speaker 2: of this man. He is the cause of much evil

120
00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,520
Speaker 2: to your people. His hands are stained red with the

121
00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,920
Speaker 2: blood of believers. Go for I have chosen him to

122
00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:54,000
Speaker 2: carry my name and proclaim me to the Gentiles, I

123
00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,400
Speaker 2: will show him how much he will do and suffer

124
00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:00,600
Speaker 2: in my name, the Lord answered. So Anonaus packed a

125
00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,440
Speaker 2: small bag and left for the home where Saul was waiting.

126
00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,720
Speaker 2: Saul was still shrouded in darkness in the night. He

127
00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,000
Speaker 2: closed his eyes and saw visions of a man named Anonius,

128
00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,840
Speaker 2: but all was a blur. To Saul, everything was confusing.

129
00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,160
Speaker 2: He did not know what the Lord was doing. As

130
00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:22,280
Speaker 2: Paul sat in darkness, his heart began to soften. Saul

131
00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,400
Speaker 2: heard the door creak open. Brother Saul. A voice said,

132
00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,400
Speaker 2: I am Anonius. I have been sent by Jesus to

133
00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,360
Speaker 2: heal you. Saul's heart ached when he heard the name

134
00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,600
Speaker 2: of Jesus. The words of the bright light still echoed

135
00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:42,520
Speaker 2: in his mind. Tears fell from Saul's blind eyes. Then,

136
00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,880
Speaker 2: as Anonius prayed over him, Saul began to regain his sight.

137
00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,520
Speaker 2: It was as if scales were peeling away. In that moment,

138
00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,160
Speaker 2: Saul's heart was changed. He not only saw the daylight,

139
00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,679
Speaker 2: but he saw the light of Jesus. He understood in

140
00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:01,559
Speaker 2: a moment all the things he had done. It was overwhelming.

141
00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,640
Speaker 2: After being baptized, Saul presented himself to some of the

142
00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,000
Speaker 2: disciples at Damascus. They were the ones he planned to

143
00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,440
Speaker 2: kidnap and kill. They watched as he entered the room

144
00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,560
Speaker 2: with his head held low. They were skeptical, but could

145
00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,520
Speaker 2: clearly see that something was different about him. Peter sat

146
00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,680
Speaker 2: among them. He was protective over the rest of the disciples.

147
00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,960
Speaker 2: He did not want a wolf among sheep. Who is Jesus,

148
00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:31,480
Speaker 2: he asked plainly. There was a long pause. Saul's face

149
00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,599
Speaker 2: was filled with anguish and regret. He remembered what he

150
00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:36,400
Speaker 2: had done and what he had said.

151
00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:38,520
Speaker 3: There was blood on his hands.

152
00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,520
Speaker 2: He is the son of God, Saul answered. As he

153
00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:46,439
Speaker 2: said these words, the entire room gasped. They were amazed

154
00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,240
Speaker 2: that Jesus had touched the heart of someone so dark

155
00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,760
Speaker 2: and so evil. Is this not the man who watched

156
00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:56,600
Speaker 2: as Stephen was stoned? Someone shouted, he has probably come

157
00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:00,240
Speaker 2: to kidnap us and bind us. But Saul remained with

158
00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,960
Speaker 2: the disciples for a long while and learned under them.

159
00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,880
Speaker 2: He listened to their words, He prayed with tenderness. Day

160
00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,120
Speaker 2: by day they watched this once evil man turn into

161
00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,240
Speaker 2: a minister of grace. Soon he appeared in front of

162
00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,280
Speaker 2: the Jews and Damascus and proclaimed the truth of Jesus

163
00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:21,319
Speaker 2: as the Christ so much that they plotted to kill him.

164
00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,880
Speaker 2: So the apostles lowered him down and sent him back

165
00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,520
Speaker 2: to Jerusalem with Barnabas. Thus began the epic journey of

166
00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:31,559
Speaker 2: the suffering servant of Christ. The man who once sought

167
00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:34,200
Speaker 2: the lives of Christians would lay his life down daily

168
00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,880
Speaker 2: for the advancement of the Gospel. Saul's life would prove

169
00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,280
Speaker 2: as a symbol to all those who feel like they

170
00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:43,800
Speaker 2: are too lost to come to God. He is proof

171
00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:47,840
Speaker 2: that nobody is outside the reach of a tender and

172
00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:48,760
Speaker 2: loving savior.

173
00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:57,120
Speaker 3: Saul is relentlessly pursuing the followers of Jesus, determined to

174
00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,959
Speaker 3: destroy once and for all this new movement the Christian

175
00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,880
Speaker 3: in faith that is threatening everything that he holds dear,

176
00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:07,440
Speaker 3: all of his traditions, all of his religion. Saul was

177
00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:12,800
Speaker 3: zealous for God, but he was misguided. He's still stuck

178
00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,920
Speaker 3: in the chains of legalism and good works, unable to

179
00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:19,400
Speaker 3: understand who Jesus is despite his years of studying the

180
00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,360
Speaker 3: law and prophets. So Saul asked the High Priest for

181
00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,840
Speaker 3: letters to the Temple in Damascus, authorizing him to round

182
00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,080
Speaker 3: up as many Christians as he could people known as

183
00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,000
Speaker 3: followers of the Way and then to throw them in

184
00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:37,560
Speaker 3: jail are worse. But God had other plans, and in

185
00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:41,200
Speaker 3: today's reading we hear how God went to supernatural lengths

186
00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,720
Speaker 3: to reach Saul and to stop him in his tracks.

187
00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,360
Speaker 3: For there on the road to Damascus, on his way

188
00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:51,080
Speaker 3: to destroy the Church, Saul was blinded by the light

189
00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:55,520
Speaker 3: of heaven. This is the resurrected Christ himself. There on

190
00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,240
Speaker 3: the ground, Saul could see nothing but the glorious light

191
00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,840
Speaker 3: of Christ and the voice that came to him. This

192
00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:07,600
Speaker 3: is Jesus asking Paul, why are you persecuting me? Jesus

193
00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,640
Speaker 3: asks Saul, why are you fighting against me? And what

194
00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,600
Speaker 3: I am telling you to do? You see, though Saul

195
00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:17,120
Speaker 3: did not yet know it, God had a heavenly high

196
00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,440
Speaker 3: calling and purpose for him. God would not take away

197
00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:25,600
Speaker 3: this man's zeal or deep understanding of truth and scriptures. Rather,

198
00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,959
Speaker 3: he would fulfill the scriptures in the life of Saul,

199
00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,400
Speaker 3: and he would become the great missionary of the Church. So,

200
00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:36,320
Speaker 3: after being knocked off his horse, Saul then blindly stands

201
00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,840
Speaker 3: to his feet, and already God is changing him. Jesus

202
00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,720
Speaker 3: is changing him. For when he opens his eyes, he

203
00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:47,280
Speaker 3: found that he could not see. Saul is now physically blind.

204
00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,240
Speaker 3: And for many years he had lived in spiritual darkness

205
00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:54,319
Speaker 3: and blindness and had physical sight. But now the tables

206
00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,840
Speaker 3: are turned. God had begun to open his spiritual eyes,

207
00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,559
Speaker 3: but he is blind and helpless. His companions lead him

208
00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,560
Speaker 3: to Damascus, where he stayed for three days, fasting and

209
00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:09,679
Speaker 3: drinking nothing. As Saul waited, not knowing what would come next,

210
00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,640
Speaker 3: God was working behind the scenes, as he always is.

211
00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,280
Speaker 3: He appeared at a vision to a believer in Damascus,

212
00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:19,480
Speaker 3: a man named Ananias, and God told him that he

213
00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:25,440
Speaker 3: was to go to Saul. Understandably, Annius was concerned because

214
00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,959
Speaker 3: he had heard about Saul, how vicious he was, how

215
00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,920
Speaker 3: he was attacking Christians and attempting to destroy the Church.

216
00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:36,520
Speaker 3: Did God really want Anonius to go talk to this man?

217
00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,400
Speaker 3: Notice that God did not chastise him or get angry

218
00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:44,120
Speaker 3: for his questions. He simply affirmed the command and explained

219
00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,840
Speaker 3: his purpose, saying in Acts nine, verses fifteen and sixteen,

220
00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,480
Speaker 3: go for he that is Saul, is a chosen instrument

221
00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,360
Speaker 3: of Mine to carry my name before the gentiles and

222
00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,200
Speaker 3: the kings and the children of Israel. For I will

223
00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,480
Speaker 3: show him how much he must suffer for the sake

224
00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:06,439
Speaker 3: of my name. Anonius, what a great man. Then obediently

225
00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,480
Speaker 3: fulfilled his calling, and he went to Saul, and he

226
00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,720
Speaker 3: laid hands on him, and immediately he embraces him and

227
00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,880
Speaker 3: calls him brother. This man who was an enemy of

228
00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,920
Speaker 3: the church is now being called brother, a part of

229
00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,600
Speaker 3: the family of God. Don't miss the importance and the

230
00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,760
Speaker 3: significance of this. Not every one of us would have

231
00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,640
Speaker 3: been so quick to embrace Saul. But Anonius, knowing that

232
00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,440
Speaker 3: God had a great purpose for this man, and trusting

233
00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,960
Speaker 3: in God's will, welcomed Saul and prayed for him to

234
00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:41,440
Speaker 3: receive the Holy Spirit. In that instance, Saul's eyesight was restored,

235
00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,160
Speaker 3: the scales of his eyes fell, and he now sees again.

236
00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:50,200
Speaker 3: Saul was then baptized, and immediately is transformed into a

237
00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:54,040
Speaker 3: force for the Gospel, a fearless, faithful evangelist who had

238
00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,400
Speaker 3: spread the gospel, pointing others to Jesus everywhere he went.

239
00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,760
Speaker 3: The disciples were confounded and confused and a little uneasy.

240
00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,920
Speaker 3: But as they heard this man preached, as Saul witnessed

241
00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,720
Speaker 3: of the good news, they were sure now that he

242
00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,880
Speaker 3: is a changed man. And the murderer becomes a missionary.

243
00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,640
Speaker 3: Soon Saul returned to Jerusalem, but when he tried to

244
00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:20,200
Speaker 3: join the disciples there again, he was faced with some

245
00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,520
Speaker 3: fear and skepticism. But a man by the name of Barnabas,

246
00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:29,320
Speaker 3: just as Antonius had done, welcomed his new brother in Christ.

247
00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,240
Speaker 3: He stood up for Saul before the disciples, and then

248
00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:37,280
Speaker 3: Saul was accepted, joining those in Jerusalem, boldly preaching Christ

249
00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,840
Speaker 3: to all who would listen. It wouldn't be long that

250
00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:43,400
Speaker 3: Saul would face the same oppression and opposition and persecution

251
00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,480
Speaker 3: that he had brought to the church. Now he was

252
00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,760
Speaker 3: the hated and hunted one. But nothing would stop this man.

253
00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:55,120
Speaker 3: He was unstoppable. Saul is an incredible testimony to God's

254
00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,760
Speaker 3: power to redeem and change even the most lost and

255
00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,680
Speaker 3: hopeless person. Saul would carry God's grace to the ends

256
00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,240
Speaker 3: of the world, fueled by the power and the passion

257
00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,640
Speaker 3: of the Spirit within him, and both Jews and Gentiles

258
00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:12,280
Speaker 3: everywhere would believe the saving message of Christ because the

259
00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:16,360
Speaker 3: man who hated Christians is now becoming the greatest Christian

260
00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:21,480
Speaker 3: who ever lived. Let's pray together, Dear God, thank you

261
00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:25,200
Speaker 3: for today's scripture. Which reminds us of your great grace,

262
00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,400
Speaker 3: your amazing grace that can take us when we're going

263
00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:31,640
Speaker 3: the wrong direction and turn our lives around so that

264
00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:34,600
Speaker 3: we can become your followers. We know this is all

265
00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,360
Speaker 3: true because Jesus is alive, because you are risen Lord,

266
00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,640
Speaker 3: and we follow you and trust in you and obey you.

267
00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,640
Speaker 3: And may we be bold in our witness, using our

268
00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:50,000
Speaker 3: own testimonies to tell the world who Jesus is. For

269
00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:54,040
Speaker 3: we pray in Christ's name. Amen. Thank you for listening

270
00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,280
Speaker 3: to Today's Bible in a year. I'm Pastor Jack Graham

271
00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,040
Speaker 3: from Dallas, Texas. You can download the Pray app and

272
00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,439
Speaker 3: make Bible study in prayer the priority of your life.

273
00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:08,239
Speaker 3: And if you appreciate this podcast, please share it with

274
00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,239
Speaker 3: someone else. I also want to encourage you to go

275
00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:15,640
Speaker 3: to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack Graham dot org

276
00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,920
Speaker 3: for we have resources that are free and available for

277
00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,280
Speaker 3: you so that you may know Christ and grow in him.

278
00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:24,040
Speaker 3: God bless you.