224 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 2 - Part 4 - Book 19 - Saul Changes to Paul - Part 2

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 2 * PART 4 * BOOK 19 SAUL CHANGES TO PAUL If you will get serious with God's Word, the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth to you. We saw the conversion of Saul on Gentile ground outside of Damascus. And we saw Peter in Chapter 10 go up to the house of Gentiles at Caesarea. Verse 19: Acts 11:19 "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only." It had been confined to Israel, and even these Jewish believers have no concept of going to Gentiles. Let's look at the persecution that arose about Stephen in Chapter 7 for a few moments. We call it Stephen's martyrdom. Now then verse 1 of Chapter 8: That is Stephen's death. Now when Paul writes in his letters that it just plagued him throughout the remaining portion of his life, that he had persecuted the Church of God, it was this Church at Jerusalem. Paul's conversion experience is rehearsed three times in the Book of Acts and this is one of them. Let's begin at verse 9: Paul takes full responsibility for his actions. Paul at that time was so glad to see these Jewish believers condemned to death that he thought he was doing God a service. Now back to Chapter 8. This is the persecution that arose about Stephen. Acts 8:1 "AND Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen's) death. Still in Jerusalem. Remember what it says in Zechariah Chapter 8? Zechariah 8:23 Now verse 20: Acts 11:20 "And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus." A Greek was a Gentile. We had Grecians back in Chapter 6. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch." Gentiles being saved! Now verse 23, and isn't it amazing how God always chooses the right man for the right place at the right time. Acts 11:23 "Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord." As an attribute of God, Grace has always been there. God did. Why? Grace! Because beginning with Paul, "It's the Grace of God that takes the pre-eminence" Before that it was just more or less mentioned as one of God's attributes. So now good old Barnabas saw the Grace of God in verse 23. Very few people today understand God's Grace. If you are not accused of teaching people they are free to do as they please with the liberties God gives us, then you are probably not preaching and teaching the Gospel of Grace. I have said it a thousand times that Grace is not license. But on the other hand, very few people comprehend that the Grace of God is greater than any person's sin. It's always Grace, and so here again these Gentiles no doubt had come out of immoral idolatry, and yet God saved them by His Grace, and Barnabas is seeing it happen. Now verse 24: Acts 11:24 "For he (Barnabas) was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord." That's at Antioch. When Barnabas saw the sudden influx of Gentiles into the assembly at Antioch, the Holy Spirit moves him and who does he go looking for? Acts 11:25 "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:" Why? Because he has the message for the Gentiles. So Barnabas, who had come from Jerusalem to Antioch, makes his way up the river valley on which Tarsus is located for the sole purpose of finding Saul. Now verse 26: Acts 11:26 God has opened their hearts. God has opened the door, and evidently God is going to move out into the Gentile world. Why not Jerusalem? The Jerusalem Church had been in operation for about twelve years already. The Bible never calls them Christians. Why? In other words Antioch is being presented with Paul's Gospel. I've always said, and I've been guilty of it also, that too many times we have reduced the Gospel to cliches. A little frame of words we use that's handy. For example, "Come and take Jesus into your heart," "Just believe in Jesus," or "Take Him as your personal Saviour." Just take Jesus into your heart. Folks that's not the Gospel by which you are saved according to the Apostle Paul. I don't hear the Gospel, I hear everything but the Gospel, so be aware of that. And no wonder the Church has become powerless. I'm afraid that too many people are reading too many books instead of The Book. Because how many books have I read, myself, where they neglect this part of the Gospel. I'm saying in general terms that Satan is infiltrating the Church with everything except what the Church needs. Let's try to finish the chapter. They were called Christians first at Antioch, because these are Gentiles who are being saved by Paul's beautiful message of God's Grace. Why the believers in Judaea? #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible