Application Point:
Each believer is called to share his or her testimony with others.
the instructions Paul received.
10 “I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’
The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus,
and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’
11 Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light,
I was led by the hand by those who were with me,
and went into Damascus.
12 Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law,
who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there,
13 came and stood by me and said,
‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’
And in that very hour I looked up and saw him.
14 And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you
to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth,
15 since you will be a witness for him to all people
of what you have seen and heard.
16 And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized,
and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’”
Ananias played an important role.
Note that his character would have been appealing to the Jewish audience,
and his directions to Paul set the stage for the apostle’s future.
examine verses 14-16 and
identify the plans God had for Paul.
share their discoveries.
Highlight the authority of Paul’s apostleship and the universal nature of his work.
Be baptized
Like all new believers, Paul needed to be baptized as a public demonstration of his faith in Christ.
Throughout the New Testament, writers used forms of the Greek word baptizo to describe baptism.
The word literally means to submerge, indicating that immersion is the proper means of believer’s baptism.
(22:14-16) Paul’s appointment involved three matters.
- God wanted Paul to know his will.
Paul thought he was doing God’s will by persecuting the church. His perspective completely changed as he followed Jesus.- Paul was chosen to see the Righteous One.
This is a messianic description of Jesus.
On the road to Damascus God had revealed to Paul the crucified, risen, exalted Righteous One.- Paul was chosen to hear the words from his mouth.
Paul had seen the risen Lord with his own eyes and heard the words of Jesus with his own ears.Later, Paul’s claim to be Jesus’s apostle was based on his personal encounter with Jesus (1 Cor. 9:1).
the phrase “wash away your sins” does not relate to salvation.
baptism by immersion is a public profession of faith in Christ.
Throughout the New Testament, writers used forms of the Greek word baptizo to describe baptism.
The word literally means to submerge,
indicating that immersion is the proper means of believer’s baptism.