220 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 1 - Part 4 - Book 19 - Saul's Conversion

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 1 * PART 4 * BOOK 19 SAUL'S CONVERSION We are dealing with Saul's conversion in Acts Chapter 9. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul writes this letter to the Galatians concerning his tremendous turn-around. So turn to Galatians Chapter 1. Other than Christ Himself, I think that Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul), and Moses were two of the greatest human beings that ever lived. Here in Galatians Chapter 1, Paul has been explaining his past, and how God called him by His Grace, brought him from Damascus, and took him down into Arabia as we explained in our last program, probably to Mount Sinai. Now verse 18: Galatians 1:18-20 Paul goes on to say) I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days." "Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not." Now it's rather interesting that throughout Paul's Epistles he has to constantly defend his Apostleship. Let's turn back to Romans Chapter 11. "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles (Paul doesn't share his Apostleship with anyone else. When it came to going to the Gentiles, he was the Apostle. So Paul is defending his Apostleship and says, "I lie not." Now Galatians 1:21: Galatians 1:21 Verse 22: Galatians 1:22-24 "And was unknown by face unto the churches (assemblies of Jewish believers) of Judaea which were in Christ:" Remember all believers are in Christ. Let's look at Chapter 2. Look at verse 2 of Galatians 2: Galatians 2:2 "And I went up (that is from Antioch to Jerusalem, and Antioch is where Paul is dealing with Gentiles and the believing Jews didn't like it. So Paul is called on the carpet and the Lord instructs him to go) by revelation, and communicated (when you communicate something, you get things across, and that is what he is saying here, that he got some things across to those people at Jerusalem) unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles," There would be no need for language like that if he was preaching the same Gospel message that Peter did. But Paul is not preaching the same thing that Peter did. Now verse 5. Galatians 2:5 When Paul was under subjection, what's he talking about? Gentiles. Do you know what Paul is really saying? That if these Jewish believers at Jerusalem would have succeeded in putting Paul down and stopping his ministry among the Gentiles (which was what they really wanted to do), what would have happened for our chances of Salvation? So everyone of us ought to thank the Lord that the Apostle Paul was true to his commission of taking the Gospel to our Gentile forefathers as well as to us. Galatians 2:6 Galatians 2:7,8 Oh, he had so much to tell them that they had never heard of) when they saw (but it took awhile) that the gospel of the uncircumcision (Gentiles) was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision (Jews) was unto Peter;" Do you see that? God never changes. Galatians 2:9 "And when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars (Paul won't let us forget that), perceived the grace that was given unto me (when they finally saw that, yes, God was doing something special through this Jew, Paul), they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship (they shook hands on the deal. Now verse 10: Paul says they only put one requirement on Barnabas and himself. Galatians 2:10 Remember back in Acts Chapter 2 and 3, what did all those Jewish believers do with their material goods? Now come back to Acts Chapter 9 and we will study Galatians more in detail when we study Acts Chapter 15. Now verse 30: Acts 9:30 From there he went up to the area of his home city of Tarsus and began his ministry to the Jews and Gentiles. Never do you see The Bible call these Jewish believers in Jerusalem Christians. So Gentiles were the first to be called Christians. Verse 31: Acts 9:31 Now in verse 32 we leave Paul, he's had his seminary experience and is back home in Tarsus. And we pick up with Peter again. Peter is ministering to Jews and performing miracles). Then Peter arose and went with them. When Peter goes up to the house of Cornelius and witnesses the Salvation of that Gentile household, he goes back to Jerusalem, and there is no indication that now he's had his eyes opened and he can go to Gentiles. But on the contrary, he forgets about it until twelve years later in Acts Chapter 15 when Paul is called on the carpet by the Jewish leadership (The twelve) for going to Gentiles. Finally, after a lot of disputing and arguing that Paul was wrong and that he was a heretic, we find old Peter coming to Paul's defense. And what does Peter say? Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, `Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago (twelve years ago) God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.'" #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible