Bible Study - Saul Under the Law to Paul Celebrating Grace - August 9, 2026

 

Bible Study – Saul Under the Law to Paul Celebrating Grace - August 9, 2026

Acts 9:1-2: Saul/Paul On The Road To Damascus

9:1 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to 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?”

Background:

[Saul, the Pharisee, changed his name to Paul about two years after his “on the road to Damascus experience.

The shift from “Saul” (meaning “asked for” or “praised”) to “Paul” (meaning “small” or “humble”) may have reflected his desire to present Christ as greater than himself GotQuestions.org+1.

I like this explanation--- Saul to Paul because he encountered JESUS in a mighty way and had a passion to present JESUS to the lost people. Thank you, Paul,]

Before Saul’s encounter with JESUS on the road to Damascus, he was a student of the well-known Jewish teacher, Gamaliel. Gamaliel was a first-century Jewish Rabbi, a respected leader of the Sanhedrin. Saul/Paul knew the Old Testament scriptures.

Saul/Paul likely knew about the coming of GOD’S Messiah and was likely expecting The Messiah to come to earth. Yet, when Saul was traveling to Damascus, JESUS had already come, been crucified, buried, raised from the dead, walked upon earth for 40 days after HIS resurrection, ascended into Heaven and took HIS seat at the right hand of GOD, HIS FATHER. Somehow, Saul/Paul did not connect the events of JESUS to the promised Messiah.

It is much like we are today. We are looking for the second coming of JESUS. FATHER, keep us focused.

Back to Saul/Paul – As Saul and the soldiers with him were enroute to Damascus to arrest Christians, Saul encountered a bright blinding light, and he fell to the ground.

But notice Saul’s first words recorded in the Bible account ----

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.

A thought came to my mind as I read that Saul was unable to see for three days. Anyone else think about JESUS being in the tomb and GOD resurrected JESUS on the third day.

Saul was unable to see for three days. This gave him time to ponder what had happened to him.

Did Saul reflect back to the time when, as a soldier, he guarded the garments of the Jews who stoned Stephen because he was a Christian?

We do not know but for sure GOD chose Saul/Paul to help establish the Christian faith.

A Christian group had already been establish called “the Way.” This was the reason Saul was enroute to Damascus to arrest those claiming JESUS as the promised Messiah.

Little did Saul know that GOD/JESUS had chosen him to carry the message of salvation through faith in JESUS to those to whom GOD led him by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Saul was fervent for GOD but headed in the direction he thought was the right direction under the Law. Saul had knowledge of the Scriptures but he needed a personal encounter with the resurrected JESUS.

Saul had the structural basis, but he needed the personal fulfilment of the law through faith in JESUS, WHO fulfilled The Law, by HIS atonement for all sin, by the shedding of HIS sinless blood.

JESUS’S sinless life, HIS physical death, HIS resurrection from the physically dead, fulfilled the Law and established Grace.

Saul’s conversion experience laid the foundation for him to be equipped to share this Good News with others as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Little did Saul know that GOD would use him to spread the “Good News” of salvation through the Way that he was enroute to Damascus to destroy.

JESUS is “the way” to the only way to salvation through faith in JESUS and Spiritual Birth.

Let’s reflect back to what Saul had experienced before going to Damascus -----

It is interesting that Saul was present when the stalwart Christian, Stephen, was stoned for being a Christian. Saul was guarding the clothes of those who stoned Stephen.

Saul most likely heard the testimony of Stephen -----

Acts 7:51-60: Testimony of the first Christian Martyr, Stephen:

Resisting the Holy Spirit

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. ⁵³ You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.”

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. (Yes, that was our Paul) 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 (physical death).

Did the testimony of Stephen resonate, educate and prepare Saul/Paul for his encounter with JESUS and service?

GOD has a plan for all who come to HIM through faith in JESUS. The Holy Spirit knocks on every person’s most intimate, secret place in the human body, his/her heart, to urge him/her to ask JESUS to forgive him/ her for all of their sins and for JESUS to come into his/her heart.

When we ask JESUS to forgive us for our sins and to come into our hearts, THE HOLY SPIRIT, consider as the divine sperm, unites with the human spirit, consider as the human egg and conception takes place quicker than the blink of the eye. That person is “born again” Spiritually and eternally and he/she becomes an eternal citizen of Heaven and GOD’S Son or Daughter.

GOD had a plan for Saul/Paul, Stephen and every person who is “born again” through faith in JESUS.

Stephen remained faithful to his faith in JESUS unto death.

GOD had a plan for Saul/Paul!!! GOD knew Saul/Paul’s heart.

About two years after Saul/Paul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus, Saul changed his name to Paul. What a difference a personal encounter with JESUS made in Saul’s life, as a Pharisee. Saul was determined to arrest all who were followers of Jesus Christ and who belonged to a Christian group known as “the Way.”

What a change JESUS made in Saul/Paul’s life. JESUS knew the heart of Saul soon to be called Paul. Saul/Paul was chosen by JESUS and Saul answered the knock on his heart’s door.

In Revelation 3:20

See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

JESUS knocks on every person’s heart’s door, but the latch to unlock our heart’s door is on the inside and only the person can open his or her heart’s door. Salvation is personal.

Has The Holy Spirit knocked or is knocking on your heart’s door?

I know some may say, if HE does, I would run. If HE does, just run to HIM. JESUS seeks those who are lost and destined for eternity in Hell.

Dear JESUS, please forgive me for all of my sins and I ask YOU to come into my heart and make me whole through the miracle of being “born again” Spiritually.

If you prayed this prayer or something similar, then thank JESUS for forgiving you for all of your sins and for the miracle of being “born again.” If you prayed this or a similar prayer not only, have you been “born again” Spiritually but your citizenship is eternally in Heaven.

It is interesting when Saul had his encounter with JESUS on the road to Damascus, He said, “Who are you, Lord?”.

Saul was a student of Scripture. Copied below is an article exploring what was known or understood in that day regarding the use of GOD versus LORD:

What is the difference between "God" and "Lord" in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament?

["Yahweh" is the sacred, personal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush in the book of Exodus and is often translated as "the Lord" in English translations.

In the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament in Christian tradition, the terms "God" and "Lord" are used to refer to the divine figure, but they carry distinct meanings and implications. Understanding the difference between these terms provides valuable insights into the theological and cultural nuances of the ancient Israelite worldview.
The term "God" in the Hebrew Bible is primarily represented by the Hebrew word "Elohim," which is the general term for God and is used to describe the divine being in a broad sense. "Elohim" is used to signify the one true God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, and is often associated with the concepts of power, authority, and transcendence. It is frequently employed in reference to the divine in a universal and all-encompassing context, emphasizing God's sovereignty over all creation.
On the other hand, the term "Lord" in the Hebrew Bible corresponds to the Hebrew word "Yahweh" or "Adonai," which conveys a more personal and relational aspect of the divine. "Yahweh" is the sacred, personal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush in the book of Exodus and is often translated as "the Lord" in English translations. This particular name emphasizes the covenantal relationship between God and the people of Israel and signifies God's intimate involvement in the lives of the Israelites.
The distinction between "God" and "Lord" reflects the multifaceted nature of the divine in the Hebrew Bible. While "God" encapsulates the overarching divine authority and power, "Lord" highlights the relational and covenantal aspect of God's interaction with humanity. This nuanced use of language underscores the complex understanding of the divine within the Israelite religious and cultural context.
Furthermore, the differentiation between "God" and "Lord" is often reflected in the narrative and poetic elements of the Hebrew Bible. Depending on the context, these distinct terms are strategically employed to convey specific theological themes and aspects of the divine-human relationship. For example, passages that emphasize the universal nature of God's authority and creative power may predominantly use the term "Elohim" or "God," while accounts that underscore God's faithfulness to the covenant with Israel may prominently feature the name "Yahweh" or "Lord."
The significance of the terms "God" and "Lord" in the Hebrew Bible extends beyond linguistic variation and encompasses deeper theological implications. The interplay between these designations enriches the portrayal of God as both transcendent and immanent, universal and personal, and serves to elucidate the complex nature of the divine within the ancient Israelite religious worldview.]

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Saul’s road to Damascus experience -------

Saul and his troops were going to Damascus to arrest and bring to Jerusalem followers of the resurrected JESUS called “the Way.”  

Let’s explore -----

Who was Saul/Paul?

Paul was a Pharisee, who studied under the well-known Jewish teacher Gamaliel.

GOD knew the heart of Saul/Paul and his potential.

GOD knows the potential of each of us, and HE has a plan for our lives in HIS Kingdom through faith in JESUS.

Acts 9:1-

The Damascus Road

9 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, 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.”

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.”

Chosen – THE HOLY SPIRIT is the “born again”/”Spirit Born” person’s guarantee and assurance of salvation and there is a new name written in Glory and the “Lambs Book OF LIFE” and that is yours when you ask JESUS to forgive you for all of your sins and ask JESUS to come into your heart. Salvation is not difficult. I have heard of some people just saying “LORD, I give up, please come into my heart.”

John 3:17

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Back to GOD calling Ananias to go to Saul. GOD may ask HIS Children to go to HIS chosen to minister to them. Ananias knew Saul’s reputation and it was not good.

Back to Acts 9:17-

 

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.”

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.

Saul Proclaiming the Messiah

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. ²⁰ Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”

²¹ All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

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.

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶ When he 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.

The Church’s Growth

³¹ So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Acts 22:1-30:

Christian Standard Bible

22 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” ² When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic,^[a] they became even quieter. ³ He continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of our ancestral law. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. ⁴ I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail, ⁵ as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

Paul’s Testimony

⁶ “As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

⁸ “I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ ⁹ Now those who were with me saw the light,^[b] but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

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,^[c] 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.’

¹⁷ “After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance ¹⁸ and saw him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’

¹⁹ “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^[d] and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’

²¹ “He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul’s Roman Protection

²² They listened to him up to this point. Then they raised their voices, shouting, “Wipe this man off the face of the earth! He should not be allowed to live!”

²³ As they were yelling and flinging aside their garments and throwing dust into the air, ²⁴ the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be interrogated with the scourge to discover the reason they were shouting against him like this. ²⁵ 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?”

²⁶ 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.”

²⁷ The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes,” he said.

²⁸ The commander replied, “I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul said.

²⁹ So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.

Paul before the Sanhedrin

³⁰ The next day, since he (The Commander) wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him^[e] and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene. He brought Paul down and placed him before them.

 

 

 

 

 

I know in a previous lesson I wrote about a preacher who had completed preaching a revival in a town away from his hometown and he and his wife were taking the train back to their home.

The Pastor and his wife stopped in a town before their hometown. The Pastor told his wife “I feel led to get off the train and go where the LORD will lead me.” His wife told him to go but she was going home.

The Pastor got off the train and told the LORD to lead him. He followed the urging of the Holy Spirit and was led down a street that deadened. The Pastor said, LORD here I am now what? The LORD instructed him to look at the door at the end of the street and he noticed a light was coming from under the closed door. He opened the door to find people on their knees praying. When he opened the door those on their knees looked up and said, “We can stop praying, our preacher has arrived.”

GOD still works in marvelous ways -----