Lesson 1: A Change of Identity

Luke wrote the Book of Acts between A.D. 60 and 70 to complete the narrative he began in his gospel. Whereas the Gospel of Luke contains a record of Jesus’ life and ministry, the Book of Acts tells the continuing story of the apostles and the early Church.

In Acts 7:54–8:3, Paul was engaging in activity that would haunt him for the rest of his life (Acts 22:19–21). He attended the murder of Stephen, who had been set apart for ministry by the fledgling Jerusalem church. Stephen’s bold witness, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, turned out to be a very costly personal act of faith. Because Stephen testified that Jesus was the Messiah, zealous Jews murdered him. Paul, as zealous for the Law as anyone, stood by, offering tacit approval to Stephen’s murder. In Acts 8, Paul’s role as persecutor grew; he began “destroying” the church by imprisoning those who claimed faith in Jesus Christ.

Those events make Acts 9:1–16 all the more amazing. While Paul was on the way to persecute believers in Damascus, Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light. Jesus convicted Paul of persecuting the Church, and Paul’s life would be forever bound to Christ. Paul would go on to be the most pivotal person in spreading Christianity throughout the ancient world.

This lesson is a vivid reminder that Jesus is God and Savior. In Acts 7, Stephen looked heavenward in his moment of greatest need. His words speak to the truth that Jesus is God: “‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God’” (Acts 7:56). As the crowd stoned Stephen, he cried out, “‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’” (Acts 7:59). Stephen recognized Jesus as Savior, as Lord, and as God’s Son. Paul would soon come to this same realization. In both these circumstances, Jesus was lifted up as God and Savior, the Creator and Deliverer of all of humanity.

Acts 7:51–54 Stephen was one of the Seven, a group of men set apart to care for Hellenist members of the Jerusalem congregation (Acts 6:1–7). As a member of the Seven, Stephen saw to the everyday needs of Greek-speaking Christians. Other believers knew him as a man of faith, filled with the Holy Spirit.

Leaders in the Jerusalem church had been proclaiming the gospel boldly in the Temple and synagogues. The Temple leaders had begun to take legal action against the apostles for their effective preaching to the Jewish populace (Acts 5:17–18). When he was brought before the high priest and the Temple council, Stephen explained that God had continually worked to bring His people back to Him through Moses and the prophets. God’s desire to be with His people had ultimately culminated in Jesus coming to earth. Finally, Stephen accused the Jewish leaders of betraying and murdering the promised Messiah. Stephen’s audience was “enraged,” a phrase implying that Stephen had inflicted a very personal injury. Stephen must have been aware that his words were having this powerful effect on his listeners.

Acts 7:55–60 Stephen ignored the angry response of the crowd. While they raged, he lifted his head and found himself face to face with Jesus, who was standing in the heavenly presence of His Father. Stephen revealed his vision to the crowd, and they became furious at what they considered blasphemy. They covered their ears while rushing forward to stone Stephen to death.

Verse 58 introduces “a young man named Saul,” whom God would later transform into the Apostle Paul. The crowd may have laid their coats at his feet because they knew him and trusted him. Those who stoned Stephen must have been quick and effective. Stephen fell to his knees, prayed that God would receive his spirit, asked for his murderers’ forgiveness, and died. By his death, he became the first Christian martyr.

Acts 8:1–2 Acts 8:1 tells us Saul approved of Stephen’s murder, though it does not say he threw stones. He seems to have carried the guilt of his participation for the rest of his life. He referred to this experience in a speech he gave in Jerusalem (Acts 22:20).

“That day” lets us know the following events also took place during the time of Stephen’s murder. The Jewish persecution of Christians seems to have been a direct continuation of that event (Acts 11:19).

Acts 8:3 After Stephen’s death, Saul began to persecute the early Church (Gal. 1:13; Phil. 3:6). This persecution seems to have been widespread, but it began with the remaining Christian population of Jerusalem. Saul went from house to house, probably to find and arrest those involved in house churches, which were common in the early Church. He even dragged women off to prison. It was a time of severe stress for the Jerusalem believers.

Acts 9:1–2 The young Church had been spreading beyond Jerusalem. Jesus had predicted that the apostles would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the far ends of the earth, and His words were coming true (Acts 1:8). Back in Jerusalem, however, Saul continued to give the believers a difficult time. The word still shows that this passage is a continuation of Saul’s cruel efforts against the disciples. Luke used strong language—”breathing murderous threats”—to show that Saul terrorized these righteous believers.

Saul went to the high priest at the Temple in Jerusalem. He sought the power to arrest Christians in Damascus and extradite them to Jerusalem. Amazingly, Saul’s passion for persecuting the Church gained the high priest’s respect.

Jewish leaders in Jerusalem must have believed there were Christians in Damascus. Saul seemed to expect that synagogue leaders there would be familiar with Damascan Christians. Believers may have continued to gather or even preach in the city’s synagogues. In his fanaticism, Saul even intended to arrest women he found following Christ. Saul’s passion and fervor had made him a brutal, cruel man.

Acts 9:3–4 In verse 3, Saul had been traveling and was just approaching the gates of Damascus. Just before he and his entourage arrived in this new city, a sudden light stopped them in their tracks. Although it was about noon (Acts 22:6), the light seems to have been far brighter than the sun. Saul heard a voice calling his name.

The Old Testament is full of many similar dramatic experiences. God visited many individuals, frequently calling them aloud by name and assigning them great tasks. Those called by God include Moses (Ex. 3:4).and Samuel (1 Sam. 3:10).

Acts 9:5–9 Saul responded quickly, surrendering himself on the ground. He knew God’s record of appearing to His people. Saul’s questioning response shouldn’t be seen as disrespectful. The word Lord shows that even if Saul did not know the identity of this messenger, he was fully aware that God was behind the encounter.

God was just as quick to answer. Imagine what Saul must have felt! He could not have been more committed to destroying the followers of Jesus. Now, the resurrected Christ blocked Saul’s way to Damascus and asked why Saul was persecuting Him. Saul was stunned, overwhelmed, silent, and blind. His companions led him, now helpless, into Damascus.

In his state of spiritual trauma, Saul could not eat or drink. He was completely broken. Only this kind of overwhelming experience could have transformed such a dedicated man. Saul must have heard Stephen’s sermon and testimony, and he still approved of the stoning. Saul had even confronted the apostles themselves and refused to hear their message. Before making a change, Saul needed to see Jesus.

Acts 9:10–14 Ananias was probably also surprised to hear his name spoken by the Lord. In a vision, the Lord told Ananias to go and minister to a man named Saul, who now resided at a particular house on a particular street in Damascus. In Ananias’ vision, he was told of Saul’s vision. He learned that Saul was anticipating Ananias’ arrival and ministry.

The Lord’s assignment to Ananias clearly seemed dangerous. Every believer had been warned about the terror of Saul, and the residents of Damascus already knew Saul’s intent for their city. It is understandable that Ananias was reluctant to go to Saul. It would be hard for anyone to imagine that the one who had done so much damage to the church in Jerusalem had been so drastically transformed.

Acts 9:15–16 To Ananias’ reluctance, the Lord replied, “Go.” Ananias had an assignment. He had heard the Lord call his name. Now, he had to go to Saul. The Lord also told Ananias that Saul had been called for a special mission: to be a “chosen vessel” to carry the Kingdom message to kings, Gentiles, and Jews. Ananias, through Saul, was to be part of God’s plan to reach the wider world with the gospel. And while Saul (later known to the world as Paul) would be a special implement of God, he would also suffer.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17). Paul understood the powerful difference Jesus makes in a person’s life. Thankfully, Luke recorded Paul’s dramatic change. The Book of Acts shows the kind of person Saul was before and after he met Jesus. While Paul is a dramatic example, this same type of change takes place in every believer. One cannot honestly encounter Jesus and remain unchanged.

Everyone who has professed faith in Christ as Savior and chosen to follow Him as Lord has experienced a fundamental identity change. When people look at Christians, they should see more of Christ and less of us. What do you see when you look at the students in your youth group? Do they reflect the amazing difference Christ has made in their lives? Cultivating a relationship with Christ should be the single most important pursuit in the lives of your students. How can you help them begin to understand this?