Text: Acts 9:18-26
He Took Food and was Strengthened (v. 19)
- Had been fasting & praying (v. 9,11) — sign of godly sorrow
- After baptism, his fast ended (v. 19) — Why? … his sins were forgiven in baptism (Acts 22:16)
- Important — this came after baptism, not after prayer
He Began to Proclaim Jesus (v. 20)
- This shows conviction
- Also shows a desire to save others (Romans 10:1)
- We must be able to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15)
He Suffered Consequences (v. 23-26)
- Becoming a Christian does not guarantee an easy life (Luke 9:23)
- Saul faced persecution from his former brethren (v. 23-25) — others will notice that we are different (1 Peter 4:3-4)
- Saul faced skepticism from his new brethren (v. 26)
He Tried to Associate with the Disciples (v. 26)
- Saul was already a member of the universal church (v. 18; Acts 2:47)
- But it was important that he be part of this local church (Ephesians 4:16; Hebrews 10:24-25)
Read the article: What Happened After Saul’s Conversion?
