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General

The Great Wind of God’s Spirit

Selections from the book of Acts

The Great Wind of God’s Spirit

Selections from the book of Acts Week 4

How Shall We Then Live?

The Great Wind of God’s Spirit

Selections from the book of Acts

Week 6

Changed!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

• Jerusalem: Stephen
• Judea and Samaria : persecution from Saul
• Damascus: Saul’s conversion through Ananias

The Great Wind of Change - Acts 1:8

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

The Great Wind of Change - Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17

Jerusalem: Signs and Wonders

In Jerusalem: Signs and Wonders - Acts 5:12, 14-16

12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the

people by the hands of the apostles.

14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord,

multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried

• ut the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that

as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of

• them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around

Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Wise Counsel - Acts 5:34, 38-39

But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. … 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan

• r this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you

will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found

• pposing God!” So they took his advice,

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders

and signs among the people. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of

• God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the

Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Acts 6:8, 7:55-58

Greek convert First Deacon Full of Grace and Power Performed great wonders and signs Spoke with wisdom Radiated God’s presence

Stephen (Crown)

Vision of Jesus First Christian Martyr

But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Acts 7:57-58

Judea and Samaria: Saul & Persecution

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

Acts 8:1-4

Saul’s/Paul’s Story

• Acts 9:1-18 (from Luke’s perspective)
• Acts 22:1-16 Paul testifying in Jerusalem when he is arrested
• Acts 26:9-18 Defence before King Agrippa

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city,

educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner

• f the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are

this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

Acts 22:3-5

9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in

• pposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in
• Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after

receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11And I punished them

• ften in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme,

and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Acts 26:3-5

Roman citizen Studied under Gamaliel Pharisee Zealous for God Persistent Raging Fury

Saul (Asked of God)

Confronted by Jesus

Damascus: Conversion

Conversion of St. Paul Michelangelo

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Acts 9:3-19

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The

Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of

mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Acts 22:12-16

Devout Good Reputation Disciple Obedient Heals Brother Saul Prophesies

Ananias (Favoured of the Lord)

Baptizes Saul

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also

received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. …8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 8-9

I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

Acts 26:19

Your Story?

• Saul, the persecutor
• Saul, the new Christian (desired of God)
• Ananias, the Lord’s favour on you
• Stephen, wearing the crown of victory

Where do you want to be?