Brother
That word “brother” is the gospel in one greeting.
Lesson 7 · Course 55
Acts Continued
Saul’s conversion, Cornelius, and the first missionary journey.
At a glance
Summary
Saul’s conversion, Cornelius, and the first missionary journey. Paul’s background has nine traits God later used: Jew of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5); Pharisee, blameless in the law; educated at Gamaliel’s feet (Acts 22:3); free-born Roman (Acts…
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Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Paul’s background has nine traits God later used: Jew of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5); Pharisee, blameless in the law; educated at Gamaliel’s feet (Acts 22:3); free-born Roman (Acts 22:27–28); a zealous persecutor; he voted for believers’ deaths (Acts 26:10); he stood at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58); he carried letters to Damascus (Acts 22:5); and he most likely saw Christ in the flesh (2 Cor. 5:16).
- Conversion on the Damascus road is light, voice, and command. A supernatural light blinded him three days; a supernatural voice said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting; and the command was, go into the city. Faithfulness in that first task is often the sign of long-range usefulness. Companions heard a noise, not the words — spoken in Hebrew (Acts 22:9).
- Ananias yielded three times: to the call, to the objection, and to the ministry. He laid hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul. That word “brother” is the gospel in one greeting. Saul then becomes the pattern new believer — healed, filled, baptized, strengthened, preaching, with hearers amazed (Acts 9:17–20).
- Paul’s desert years are Arabia, not a footnote in Philippians. Galatians 1:15–24 says God taught him, separate from men. Then the persecutor becomes the hunted — disciples let him down the Damascus wall in a basket (Acts 9:23–25; 2 Cor. 11:32–33).
- With Cornelius, God opens the doorway of salvation to the Gentiles. An honest seeker; an angel who does not preach but sends him to Peter; a sheet lowered three times — what God has cleansed do not call common (Acts 10). Gentiles receive the Spirit and baptism (Acts 10:44–48); Peter defends it in Acts 11.
- Oikos evangelism is reaching people for Christ through existing relationships — household, kin, the people already in the house. Cornelius’s house is the picture: the gospel walks in through a door God already opened.
- The first missionary journey begins about 45 A.D. from Antioch. The Spirit says, Separate Barnabas and Saul. The church fasts, prays, lays hands, and sends. They go Seleucia → Cyprus → Salamis, preaching in the synagogues, John Mark as helper. Foreign mission work begins with prayer and fasting — and John Mark does not stay to the finish.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
I gave my voice against them
Acts 26:10
I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting
Acts 9:5
Nine characteristics of Paul's background
Paul’s background has nine parts from the workbook. He was a Jew by birth — circumcised the eighth day, of Israel, of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews (Phil…
What Acts teaches about the First Missionary Journey
Acts 13–14 show how the first missionary journey began and what it teaches. It started around 45 A.D. from Antioch. While Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius…
Paul's conversion — before, during, and after
Before conversion, Saul was a zealous Pharisee who hated the church. He stood at Stephen’s stoning, voted against believers when they were put to death, and…
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Nine characteristics of Paul's background
- What Acts teaches about the First Missionary Journey
- Paul's conversion — before, during, and after
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz score | 100% (1 attempt) |
|---|---|
| Date | 45 A.D. from Antioch |
| Key claim | Paul’s background has nine traits God later used: Jew of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5); Pharisee, blameless in the law; educated at Gamaliel’s feet… |
| Key claim | Conversion on the Damascus road is light, voice, and command. A supernatural light blinded him three days; a supernatural voice said, I am… |
| Preach | Ananias yielded three times: to the call, to the objection, and to the ministry. He laid hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul. That word… |
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Saul then becomes the pattern new believer — healed, filled, baptized, strengthened, preaching, with hearers amazed (Acts 9:17–20).
- An honest seeker; an angel who does not preach but sends him to Peter; a sheet lowered three times — what God has cleansed do not call common (Acts 10).
- They go Seleucia → Cyprus → Salamis, preaching in the synagogues, John Mark as helper.
- They had a strategy — Seleucia, then Cyprus; at Salamis they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, with John Mark as helper (Acts 13:4–5).
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. Paul was both Jewish and a Roman citizen.
TrueJew of Benjamin and free-born Roman (Acts 22:27–28). God used both passports for the gospel.
2. For new believers, faithfulness in their first task is often indicative of long range usefulness.
TrueThe first command was go into the city. Faithfulness in that first task often marks long-range usefulness.
3. Paul's desert experience is described in the book of Philippians.
FalseThe desert years are Arabia, recorded in Galatians 1 — not Philippians. God taught him apart from men.
4. With Cornelius, God was opening the doorway of salvation to the Gentiles.
TrueActs 10–11 is the open door. Cornelius’s house is Gentiles receiving the Spirit and baptism.
5. Angels do not preach, but serve as God's messengers.
TrueAn angel sent Cornelius to Peter. Angels serve as messengers; they do not preach the gospel.
6. People are tested in respect to their obedience to God's will.
TrueAnanias, Peter, and Cornelius all had to obey. People are tested by whether they will do God’s will.
7. Oikos evangelism is reaching people for Christ through existing relationships.
TrueOikos is household and existing relationships — the gospel through the people already in the house.
8. Foreign mission work begins with prayer and fasting.
TrueAntioch fasted, prayed, laid hands, and sent (Acts 13:1–3). Foreign mission work begins there, not with a map.
9. Paul was a natural leader.
TrueThe lesson names him a natural leader. The same drive that hunted the church later planted it.
10. John Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey from start to finish.
FalseJohn Mark went as helper from Antioch and Cyprus, then left. He did not stay from start to finish.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Nine characteristics of Paul's background
Paul’s background has nine parts from the workbook. He was a Jew by birth — circumcised the eighth day, of Israel, of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews (Phil. 3:5). He was a Pharisee, blameless as touching the righteousness of the law (Phil. 3:5–6). He was well educated, brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). He was a free-born Roman citizen (Acts 22:27–28). Zeal made him persecute the church (Phil. 3:6). He voted for believers’ deaths — “I gave my voice against them” (Acts 26:10). He was there at Stephen’s stoning; the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of the young man Saul (Acts 7:58). He was an official persecutor, taking letters to Damascus to bring believers bound to Jerusalem (Acts 22:5). And he most likely saw Jesus in the flesh, for he said we have known Christ according to the flesh (2 Cor. 5:16). All of this God later used for His glory after Saul met Christ on the road.
What Acts teaches about the First Missionary Journey
Acts 13–14 show how the first missionary journey began and what it teaches. It started around 45 A.D. from Antioch. While Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, and Saul ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to (Acts 13:1–2). Mission work starts with the Spirit’s call, not mere human planning. The local church confirmed it: they fasted, prayed, laid hands on them, and sent them away (Acts 13:3). The sending church has a real part. They had a strategy — Seleucia, then Cyprus; at Salamis they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, with John Mark as helper (Acts 13:4–5). They began where people already knew the Scriptures, then moved toward Gentile cities. Their authority was the Great Commission and the Spirit’s leading. They went as a team, not alone; and John Mark later left them — mission work is not easy, and it needs faithful workers.
Paul's conversion — before, during, and after
Before conversion, Saul was a zealous Pharisee who hated the church. He stood at Stephen’s stoning, voted against believers when they were put to death, and took letters to Damascus to arrest them and bring them bound to Jerusalem (Acts 7:58; 26:10; 22:5). He thought he was serving God. During the Damascus-road meeting, three things came together: a supernatural light from heaven — and he was blind three days (Acts 9:3, 9); a supernatural voice — “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5); and a command — go into the city, and you will be told what you must do (Acts 9:6). Conversion here is conviction, faith in Christ, and surrender: Lord, what do You want me to do? The men with him heard a noise but not the words; the Lord spoke to Saul in Hebrew. Afterward Ananias came, called him Brother Saul, and laid hands on him. Scales fell from his eyes; he was filled with the Holy Spirit, baptized, strengthened with food, and immediately preached Christ in the synagogues — that He is the Son of God (Acts 9:17–20). Hearers were amazed: this was the man who had destroyed those who called on that name. He then had a desert time in Arabia, taught by the Lord and separated from men before public work (Gal. 1:16–18). Later the persecutor became the persecuted, and the disciples let him down the wall in a basket (Acts 9:23–25). Saul is the pattern of a new believer: cleansed, filled, baptized, witnessing, and growing.