Acts 8:1-8 (Saul/Paul Character Study)

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Acts

Rusty's Notes

Acts 8
SAUL THE PERSECUTOR
1 Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house (probably more of the Helenistic Jews because they were easier to distinguish from native Jews), drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

• The Book of Acts and the epistles give sufficient data for a sketch of Saul’s early life.
• He was born in Tarsus in Cilicia (Acts 22:3 - …“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia[1]),
• a “Hebrew of the Hebrews” (2 Corinthians 11:22 - Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.[2]),
• the “son of a Pharisee” (Acts 23:6 - When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.[3]),
• and a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25–28 - As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?”
• When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”
• The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes,” he said.

• The commander replied, “I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul said. [4]).

• He was educated in Jerusalem by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3 - …but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors.[5])
• and became a devoted Pharisee (Acts 26:4–5 - “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.[6]).
• Measured by the Law, his life was blameless (Philippians 3:4-6 - If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.[7]).
• He was one of the most promising young Pharisees in Jerusalem, well on his way to becoming a great leader for the Jewish faith (Galatians 1:14 - I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.[8]).
• Saul’s zeal for the Law was displayed most vividly in his persecution of the church (Galatians 1:13–14 - For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.[9]).
• He really thought that persecuting the believers was one way of serving God, so he did it with a clear conscience (2 Timothy 1:3 - I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience[10]).
• He obeyed the light that he had and, when God gave him more light, he obeyed that and became a Christian!
• In what ways did Saul persecute the church? He “made havoc of the church,” and the verb here describes a wild animal mangling its prey.
• The stoning of Stephen, which Saul approved, shows the lengths to which he would go to achieve his purpose. He persecuted both men and women “unto the death” (Acts 22:4 - I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail[11])
• entering both houses and synagogues. He had the believers imprisoned and beaten (Acts 22:19-20 - “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.[12]).
• If they renounced their faith in Jesus Christ (“compelling them to blaspheme”) they were set free; if they did not recant, they could be killed. - Acts 26:9–11 - In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.[13]),
• He was a man with great authority whose devotion to Moses completely controlled his life, and almost destroyed his life. He did it “ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13-14 - even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.[14]),
• and God showed him mercy and saved him. Saul of Tarsus is the last person in Jerusalem you would have chosen to be the great apostle to the Gentiles![15]
• 1 Timothy 1:15-17 - This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen[16]

 
PHILIP IN SAMARIA
4 So those who were scattered went on their way preaching (evangelism – tell the Good News) the word. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria (half Jews/half Gentiles) and proclaimed (announced) the Messiah to them.

• The apostles were instructed not to go there. (Matthew 10:5-6 5 Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan town. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.[17]

6 The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing.

• Philip was one of the 7 chosen men that was to fulfill the administrative duties in the Church at Jerusalem (deacon). - (Acts 6:3 - 3 Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.[18])
• Philip not only preached but demonstrated God’s power first hand.
• Now Philip is doing the same miracles the Apostles were doing in Jerusalem.

7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

• The Gospel had just been multiplied to a city that was once ignored because of the persecution taking place back in Jerusalem.
• Was God responsible for the persecution in Jerusalem? Absolutely not.

Romans 5:1 – I have been justified (completely forgiven and made righteous) and am at peace with God.

Romans 8:1 – I am forever free from condemnation.

Romans 8:14,15 – I am a son of God (God is literally my “Papa”) (Galatians 3:26; 4:6).

Romans 15:7 – Christ has accepted me.

1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19 – I am a temple (home) of God; His Spirit (His life) dwells in me.

1 Corinthians 6:17 – I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – I am a new creation.

Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I am now living is Christ’s life.

Ephesians 1:1 – I am a saint (1 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2).

Ephesians 1:5 – I have been adopted as God’s Child.

Ephesians 2:19 – I am a fellow citizen with the saints and a member of God’s household.

Philippians 3:20 – I am a citizen of heaven.

Colossians 1:13 – I have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 22:3). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Co 11:22). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 23:6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 22:25–28). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 22:3). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 26:4–5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Php 3:4–6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 1:14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 1:13–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Ti 1:3). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 22:4). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 22:19–20). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 26:9–11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[14] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Ti 1:13–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 434). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[16] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Ti 1:15–17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[17] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 10:5–6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[18] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 6:3). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.