“Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy — The Glorious Sweep of God’s Abundant Grace — The Great Transition Begins: Stephen is Martyred, Saul is Saved”

If they only had known it, Stephen’s death at the hands of Israel’s religious leaders was a signal to that nation that the advancing “Pentecostal” outreach to God’s people was now failing.  Perhaps God would now turn his back on Israel as Stephen had so strongly suggested in his great message in chapter 7 of the Acts.  For the one bringing the accusation against Stephen was a young man named Saul.  Today, we move ahead to see as chapter 9 records it how this same man Saul was traveling to Damascus with official papers from the high priest and Israel’s elders to continue arresting the believers.  But Saul was intercepted on the road by Christ himself who introduced himself with these words: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? … I am Jesus whom thou persecutest”.  Saul’s life was transformed by these words.  We finished our study by seeing how Saul’s life was radically transformed by the power of God as he in due time became a powerful witness for Jesus as Israel’s long awaited Messiah.  Saul also learned, in this case through a disciple named Ananias, how much he would soon begin to suffer for Christ’s sake, what would become the hallmark of his testimony as he then might rightfully proclaim in his letters, how through weakness God’s grace would now be made manifest.