Bible Study - Mentoring (5) - Barnabas and Paul - Acts 9, 11 and 15 - July 2, 2023

 

 

Bible Study – Mentoring (5) – Barnabas and Paul – July 2, 2023

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled, “Mentoring: Investing in Others.”

Our focus scripture is Acts 9:26-28; 11:22-26; 15:36-40.

Expect mentoring relationships to change over time.

Who was Paul before his conversion to be a follower of JESUS?

In Acts 7:54- The First Christian Martyr

⁵⁴ When they heard these things, they were enraged^[o] and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

⁵⁷ They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. ⁵⁸ They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” ⁶⁰ He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.

It is believed that this young man named Saul was Paul. Was this the first witness to Saul about JESUS?

What else do we know about Saul?

In Acts 8:1 Saul agreed with putting him (Stephen) 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, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

In Acts 9:1 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest ² and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, (CHRIST followers were first called “The Way.”) he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. ⁴ Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.

“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So, they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. ⁹ He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

Saul’s Baptism

¹⁰ There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

“Here I am, Lord,” he replied.

¹¹ “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. ¹² In a vision^[a] he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

GOD calls those of us who know the truth to reach out to others who have just experienced truth. These are small steps of mentoring.

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Those who mentor gets to see those being mentored grow Spiritually and it is such a joy!

¹⁷ Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

How do you think Ananias felt as he entered the house where “Brother Saul was staying?”

¹⁸ At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

JESUS knew the heart of Saul and the value he would be to spreading the Good News of JESUS.

Acts 9: ²² But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

²³ After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, ²⁴ but Saul learned of their plot. So, they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, ²⁵ but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.

Paul’s escape from Damascus. Paul spent some time in the desert area being taught by the Holy Spirit/JESUS.

Let’s read Acts 9:26-28:

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶ When he (Saul) arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. ²⁷ Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Saul was a changed person. The disciples had to evaluate for themselves whether or not Saul had really been changed through faith in JESUS. Barnabas vouched for Paul therefore becoming his mentor. First, the one vouching for someone else must have a good repetition among the group.

Barnabas, became Saul/Paul’s mentor as we read on----

Why was Paul sent to Tarsus? That was Paul’s hometown.

Saul/Paul was a changed man and needed to share his testimony in his hometown. When we accept JESUS as our Savior, those who knew us are the ones to whom we need to witness a changed man through the transforming power of JESUS.

We are still building our reputation even after we become “born-again.” Often, our reputation precedes us, even if we have been changed.

Let’s read Acts 11:22-26:

 ²² News about them reached^[b] the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel^[c] as far as Antioch. ²³ When he (Barnabas) arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, ²⁴ for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

²⁵ Then he (Barnabas) went to Tarsus to search for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

WOW!!! The Holy Spirit is on the move and thanks to Barnabas, Paul witnessed the movement first hand.  When we witness truth at work it builds our faith and living by faith becomes a way of life.

Let’s read Acts 15:36-40:

³⁶ After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord. [TS1] [TS2] [TS3] [TS4] [TS5] 

Sometimes forming new relationships results in spreading the Gospel of JESUS.

Our Heavenly FATHER works in various ways to spread the Gospel of JESUS. We must trust HIM, even when churches split.

For those GOD calls to mentor, it may not seem like that is what we are doing. It may seem like we are just being helpful, which is what mentoring is all about. We may give a child or children or a family a ride to church. That is a way to mentor.

So, reach to others in their time of need be it physical or Spiritual.

Some of those to whom my wife and I have reached out to are now like family. A Spiritual bond is as enduring as blood kin. You know who you are and we love each of you with blessings. Blessings!!!

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 [TS1]

 [TS2]

 [TS3]

 

 

 [TS4]

 [TS5]