Saul’s Mission

00:00:00 Speaker 1: I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives. In me Galatians two twenty, Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of freedom through Christ, who has crucified our sins and shame on the cross. We are no longer bound by the weight of our past, but walk has free people, redeemed and renewed by your grace. Lord, We acknowledge our deep need for you and ask that you guide our hearts to fully embrace this freedom, living in a way that honors You. Strengthen us to pursue what is right, to seek Christ daily, and to be a light in this world. Empower us to live boldly in this new life, reflecting Your love and truth in all we do. In Jesus name, Amen, thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast. Remain here for another dramatized story inspired by the Book of Acts and the birth of the Church. If this podcast has blessed you, make sure to follow so you never have to miss an episode. Every step leading up to the gates of Jerusalem was heavy and filled with angst. Saul A once heralded Prince of the Hebrews entered the Holy City as a pariah and outcast. The condescent hues of sunrise bouncing off the temple rooftop no longer sent chills up Saul's back. He was not filled withal but anxiousness. He was unsure if any friends were awaiting it in Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin weren't safe, and the people of the way only knew Saul as an inquisitor. Before me, a lord grant me favor in the city, The newly risen sun splashed the city in brilliant orange. People exited their homes and into the market places, and Saul could not feel more alone. It would only be a matter of time before someone recognized him. He kept the hood of his cloak over his head and weaved through the busy streets. The morning was still young, meaning the city's believers were most likely enjoying prayer with one another before departing to their work. Saul navigated the streets of Jerusalem, taking steps leading down to the city's eastern side. Come together with several other homes, was the dwelling place of James, the half brother of Jesus himself. Saul knew how to get there, because his intention one day was to break down the doors and drag every believer into the streets. Instead, he found himself standing at the door, afraid to knock, desperately desiring their acceptance. Saul had hurt the people on the other side of the door, Some of them had even lost love once because of his cruelty. Why would they ever believe his conversion. His hands shook as he raised it to the wooden door. He made a fist, knocked three times, and stepped back. 00:03:29 Speaker 2: I I come in peace. 00:03:32 Speaker 3: It may be difficult for you to believe this, but I have met the Lord Jesus himself. 00:03:42 Speaker 2: I am a new man. 00:03:44 Speaker 4: A wolf in sheep's clothing. We don't believe you. 00:03:47 Speaker 5: If you've come to harm us, please take me instead. 00:03:52 Speaker 6: Please do not harm my children. 00:03:55 Speaker 1: A young man opened the door and gasped at the sight of him. He retreated into the room with the rest of the gathering. The entire group looked out to see the Reaper himself standing at the door. Women held their children, and men stood in front to protect them. Everyone fell silent as Saul stood speechless at the door. Saul took a brave step forward Saul was cut to the heart. He had received a warm embrace in Damascus, but was treated with disdain in Jerusalem. He looked at one of the children, fear filled her wide and innocent gaze. Saul could see his past sins reflecting back at him through her eyes. It was overwhelming. Overcome with shame, Saul retreated. He turned the corner and leaned against a stone wall. Hidden in the shadows, he slid down to the ground. Tears of heartache streamed down his cheeks and onto the cold stone floor. His former friends were now his enemies, and his former enemies did not trust him. 00:05:14 Speaker 2: He was a law. 00:05:19 Speaker 6: Ecclesiastes said that a good name is better than precious ointment, and better is the day of a man's death in the day of his birth. That's because who we were is nowhere near as important as who we become. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. We've been spending this month on a mini series through the birth of the Church. Today, we're diving into a story inspired by Acts nine twenty six through thirty one, a passage that might make you chuckle, think deeply, and perhaps see your fellow believers in a new light. It's a story about fear, acceptance, and the surprising ways God knits us together. 00:05:53 Speaker 1: Let's go. Saul's face was buried in his hands in shame. He remained in the shadows for a long while, lamenting to the Lord and begging for forgiveness. He knew the blood of Christ redeemed him, but the memories of his past still left a lingering stink. A Saul sat in the shadow of his past. He could hear footsteps approaching. Coming round the corner was a man about his age. He had curls on the top of his receding hairline and a distinct dimple in his left cheek. Saul peered at him, wondering where he had seen him before. 00:06:39 Speaker 2: Ah, Saul of Darcius, you left James House so quick I did not have a chance to introduce myself. 00:06:46 Speaker 1: The man extended his hand to Saul and lifted him to his feet. 00:06:50 Speaker 2: My name is Barnabas. It is a joy to finally meet you. Barnabas. Have I seen you before? 00:06:58 Speaker 3: Eh? 00:06:58 Speaker 2: Perhaps you may have seen me at the synagogue in Damascus. I was passing through visiting some of the gatherings outside Jerusalem, and just so happened to hear you teach in the synagogue. It was very very good, Saul. I could hear your passion and your conviction for the Lord Ah. You boldly used your position to proclaim the name of Jesus. It is very very clear He has met with you. Saul was speechless. In moments, Barnabas had made Saul feel scene, gnn and supported all at once. Overwhelmed with relief, Saul embraced Barnabas. 00:07:39 Speaker 1: And wept on his shoulders. Barnabas chuckled and patted Saul. 00:07:43 Speaker 2: On the back. The others will come round to see what I see. Just give them time. 00:07:49 Speaker 1: So saw white tears away from his eyes and shook his head. 00:07:55 Speaker 7: I was responsible for the imprisonment and death of their loved ones. They are right to judge me for my sins. They have every right to cast stones in my direction for what I have done. 00:08:14 Speaker 2: Ah, But let he who is without sin cast the first stone. What proverb was that, ha ha ha, That soul is from Jesus himself. He taught us the true meaning of mercy's triumph over judgment. No one is without sin, and we ought to forgive as we have been forgiven. They still have much to learn about who Jesus is. 00:08:41 Speaker 5: I did not get to walk with him, eat with him, and. 00:08:47 Speaker 3: Follow him as many of you did. 00:08:51 Speaker 7: I was hoping I could come here to learn, glean, then sit under the teaching of Christ. 00:09:00 Speaker 2: That can be arranged. That can be arranged. My nephew, John Mark, is a student of Simon Peter. I would take you to them tomorrow, that is, after we've shared a meal and had some rest. 00:09:12 Speaker 1: Barnabas took Saul to Peter's home. They walked the busy streets of Jerusalem together, greeting vendors and shopkeepers as they passed through the marketplace. As they reached barnabas home, they shared a meal under a dim lamplight. Barnabas home was humble and suitable enough for a man with no wife or children. Saul recounted his encounter with Jesus and his time alone in Arabia. He shared his heart for the lost and his desire to see everyone know the love of Jesus, even the gentiles. Barnabas was a captive audience, hanging on every word. He did not share the same dynamic personality as Saul. Quiet counselor and an attentive listener. They spoke about Jesus, the Resurrection, and the Great Commission into the Night. Barnabas shared all he knew about Jesus's words and ministry, but confessed his knowledge was nothing compared to the apostles. 00:10:20 Speaker 2: They were with him every day, They beheld his miracles. They sat beside the fire as he spoke. When they speak, it is with the same cadence and warmth as the Master himself. Are you sure they will listen to me? 00:10:37 Speaker 1: Barnabas tilted his head and pondered the question. 00:10:40 Speaker 2: I think you are the one who needs to listen, Saul. Tomorrow, I would take you to see Peter. 00:10:47 Speaker 1: Barnabas led Saul up the stairs into the upper room of Peter's home. The crowd had gathered in the room, sitting shoulder to shoulder as Peter stood at the front. Saul had seen Peter once before, in the Hall of Polished Stones. His skin was scarred by hours of fishing in the hot sun. He spoke with a rustic Galilean accent that contrasted with the refined Tarsian accent of Saul. His prose was not as polished as Saul's, nor was his knowledge of the prophets as extensive, but he had something soul desperately wanted. Years at the feet of Jesus, Peter retold stories of jesus acts and shared lessons from observing his life. He was not a perfect speaker, but he spoke with the authority of a man who had been with Jesus. After Peter was done teaching, he gestured for some young men to pass out bread and wine to every one in the crowd. He held the elements up and blessed them. He tore the bread first. 00:11:58 Speaker 3: The body that was broken for us. 00:12:01 Speaker 1: He said, and everyone ate. He lifted a cup and blessed it, saying. 00:12:07 Speaker 3: The blood that was shed for the remission of our sins. 00:12:11 Speaker 1: He sipped it and passed it around for others to drink. After taking communion, everyone left for their homes, workplaces, and families. Everyone with Saul and Barnabas. The room cleared, and Peter's gaze locked immediately onto Saul. The rough fisherman stepped forward curiously, Saul of dorusis, have. 00:12:36 Speaker 3: You come to take me back to the Sanhedrin. 00:12:40 Speaker 1: Before Saul could say anything, Barnabas stepped forward and spoke on his behalf. 00:12:45 Speaker 2: I have brought Saul here to speak with you, Peter. I have heard his testimony, and I have found it to be true. I tell you, Jesus himself has called this man on his way to Damascus to whre's a cute our brethren. The Lord appeared to him in light. Since then, Saul has pored over the scriptures to find Jesus and even testify to his name in the synagogue. You've witnessed this, I have, and I can attest to his changed heart. 00:13:21 Speaker 1: Saul was taken aback by how aggressively Barnabas was advocating for him. Yet that was the character of Barnabas. He saw the potential in people instead of their pasts. He saw their future instead of their failures. 00:13:37 Speaker 4: Peter, you of all people know what Jesus is capable of. 00:13:42 Speaker 2: Look at the way he restored you. All I ask is that you speak to him yourself and discern what God is doing. 00:13:52 Speaker 1: Peter was silent for a moment, although it seemed like ours to Sault. He stepped forward to Saul and looked him up and down. He peered at him as if he were trying to see beyond his appearance and straight into his heart. His intense gaze broke, and a smile appeared on the sides of his cheeks. 00:14:13 Speaker 3: And my wife is preparing some fish I caught yesterday, and we have freshly pressed oil to enjoy with some bread. Such a feast would go to waste without company. Join us. 00:14:27 Speaker 1: Saul was surprised. He looked at Barnabas, then back at Peter. I would be honored to join you. So the two of them departed together. They spoke about trivial things like the best place to buy bread in the city and the treats they enjoyed most as children. Saul couldn't help but notice the contrast between Peter, a revered leader of this powerful movement, and the Pharisee he grew up with. Peter was humble, a man of the earth, and a true fisherman if he had ever met one. He was personable and didn't carry himself like the head of a religious sect. Saul wondered if this was what it was like to walk with Jesus. Saul entered the humble home of Peter's family. His wife had finished preparing a meal over the fire, and a small table sat at the edge of the gathering room. Saul had now been in the home of three prominent church leaders in Jerusalem. All of them were uninspiring, without any sign of wealth or status. The contrast with the Pharisees was undeniable. Peter, Saul, and his wife reclined up the table and blessed the food. They thanked the Lord for his provision and praised him for his goodness. After a blessing, they enjoyed the meal together. Peter asked questions about Saul's childhood in Tarsus leading up to becoming a member of the Sanhedrin. Saul asked Peter about his childhood as a fisherman in Galilee. The two could not have had a greater distance between them in education, profession, and social circles, yet here they were sharing a table and connecting as brothers. Peter's wisdom compelled Saul, and Peter was convinced of Paul's conversion. On the road to Damascus, Saul felt comfortable addressing what had gone unspoken. 00:16:39 Speaker 2: As the night drew on. 00:16:43 Speaker 1: For the next two weeks, they walked the streets of Jerusalem and talked about Jesus. Peter took him to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus was betrayed. He led him up to Gaulgotha, where he was crucified. They knelt by the empty two whom and Peter shared his thoughts about the resurrection. He sat with him by the fire, then told him about Christ's glorious vision of the Kingdom of God, loving enemies and reconciling creation with the Creator. Saul savored every word like it was essential for living after all it was. He asked questions, prayed, and searched the scriptures to get a fuller view of the God he had come to love. Saul had gleaned a tremendous amount from Peter, and the two developed honor in respect for one another. Saul set out passionately in Jerusalem with a new found insight gained from his time with Peter. Each synagogue and market place resounded with Saul's voice proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. Saul douck to what he knew best rhetoric and debate. He disputed with the Hellenists, those whose native tongue was Greek. He met in their synagogues and reasoned with them about the resurrection of the Messiah. As prophesied in the scriptures. He preached boldly and without compromise, fueled by the spirit, and equipped with the words of Jesus. 00:18:26 Speaker 5: The messiah you have pined after since the days of David has come. The prophecies testify to it, and the life of Jesus proves it. All that is left is to repent and be saved. 00:18:40 Speaker 1: Saul declared these things in the courtyard outside the temple. His words were like sparks flying into the dry brush. The people were ignited with anger at his words. He paused, scanned the crowd. He saw a sea of people whose faces were with rage, and the back of the multitude was a group of men adorned with blue fringed robes and leather amulets. The Pharisees, his former colleagues, cast hatred and malice his way. It was then Saul realized just how far he had come. The last time he was in the city, he stood where they stood, casting judgment at the disciples. 00:19:29 Speaker 5: I was once where you stood in this courtyard, casting aspersions on a man named Stephen. But I have come to know the truth, my brothers. I beg you to see what I have seen, and look past your pride. 00:19:45 Speaker 1: Despite Paul's passionate and reasonable speeches, the Jews would not budge his presence, only seemed to harden their. 00:19:54 Speaker 8: Hearts straighter worse than a tax collector. 00:19:58 Speaker 1: Their ridicule men very little to Saul, for he knew their hearts. The hatred and pride boiling within them almost took saul soul, and it would take theirs as well. Their anger did not stop him. Saul continued to preach from dawn until dusk in the synagogues and courtyards. As he spoke and argued with the people, he was reminded of Stephen's tactics, using loving speech and never forgetting those who were suffering. Saul ministered the people in need by day, and at night he sat under the teaching of Peter or Barnabas. He intended to remain in Jerusalem to aid the church as a minister to the Hellenists, but he was unaware that a plot against his life was being planned in the shadows. The same men who stood behind Saul when he persecuted the people of the Way were breathing threats against his life. In a small room attached to the hall of polished Stones, an Anius, the high priest, presided over a group of pharisees and hired guards. 00:21:13 Speaker 5: That trait will meet the same fate as Stephen, a public execution with omens by more of them. 00:21:22 Speaker 1: Yes, he must be killed secretly, and the Romans must never find out. They did not feel comfortable persecuting Saul in the same way they did the others, for Saul was a Roman citizen and protected by their laws. Annius leaned over the table, seething with anger. His breaths were heavy and weighted down with hatred. He loathed Saul more than anyone in the world. 00:21:53 Speaker 8: His death should be in the shadows. A public death would be too good for him. Do not want him to be remembered as some martyr for the cause like Stephen. I want the name soul of Tarsus to be forgotten, raised from the annals of history. 00:22:11 Speaker 4: It would be a fitting punishment for someone who spent so much of his life trying to make. 00:22:16 Speaker 2: A name for himself. 00:22:18 Speaker 1: An Annaeus leaned back and gestured to one of the chief guards. 00:22:22 Speaker 4: Take three of your stealthiest men and kill him in the shadows. 00:22:28 Speaker 1: The chief bowed his head and left the room. Anonius rubbed his temples and grant Ah. 00:22:35 Speaker 4: Jesus of Nazareth, when will he be forgotten? 00:22:41 Speaker 1: The coals from the fire were dimly radiating a mere memory of warmth. Saul was huddled by the coals with a blanket over his shoulders, watching the last coal flick around. He closed his eyes, inhaled the deep breath, and then exhaled a final prayer before drifting to sleep. The days had made his body and mind weary. Saul was becoming a tune to the spiritual warfare being waged around him. His battle was not against flesh and blood, but against any evil far more sinister, something hidden and at work in the hearts of mankind. Saul fell into a deep sleep, recoping strength for the next day. The night drew on and the stars lit up the heavens with splendor. All of Jerusalem was fast asleep, all but a few. A shrouded figure was running through the alleyways of Jerusalem outside the home of Barnabas. The man was young and agile enough to sprint through the streets with little to know noise. The young man scaled the wall of the house and entered through the window of the other room. He slid in without a sound and quietly stepped down the stairs to where Paul was sleeping. The young man took a hand and stretched it toward the sleeping Paul. With a quick jolt, he placed one hand over Saul's mouth. Saul squirmed, ready to let out a scream. The young man put a finger over his lips and. 00:24:28 Speaker 9: Hushed, quiet, soul, they'll hear you. 00:24:31 Speaker 1: He removed his hood and tilted his face towards the last remaining embers. He had no visible beard, and a few light curls dangled over his eyes. 00:24:42 Speaker 9: My name is Silas. Peter has sent me here. The Jewish leaders want you dead, and three assassins awaiting outside as we speak. 00:24:49 Speaker 1: Saul gathered himself and stood to his feet. He peeked his head out the window. It was dark, but he saw three figures pacing in the shadows outside the house. 00:25:01 Speaker 2: What's your plan? 00:25:03 Speaker 9: The time to jump you and leave you for the well. They know you like to leave before sunrise. If I distract them, it will give you time to leave out the back down the road. On the east side of the gate, a cart of salt and wine is being taken to the coast of cesarea it leaves at first light. We must get you on that card and aboard the first ship back to Tarsis. It's the safest place for you right now. Peter sent you Peter and the rest of the Apostles. Although you've never met the rest of the twelve, they know you very well. I suspect you will recommit with them again soon, but for now we need to get you out of here. I'll remain in the shadows and toss stones at them from the other side of the alley. Well, you make a break for it. There's no way they'll see me in the darkness. 00:25:49 Speaker 1: The two men tiptoed up the stairs into the upper room. Silas jumped from the roof of Barnabas Horn to the top beside it. He crouched down law and remained hidden. Finally, he took a few small stones in his hand and began hurling them toward the assassins. A commotion broke out, and the three men were in a frenzy. Silas ran away before they had a chance to see him. Saul took the opportunity to scale down the other side and run for the gate. He stumbled in the darkness, tripping more than once in a hole or over a stone. Beat Up, cold and tired, Saul finally reached the east gate. The morning light was barely peeking over the horizon, giving Saul enough light to see a cart of salt and wine being loaded up to take to the coast. Saul approached the merchant with trepidation. 00:26:48 Speaker 2: Brather Saul, the Apostles told me, you need safe passage to Cesarea. 00:26:54 Speaker 9: Climb in and remain hidden under the top. 00:26:58 Speaker 1: Saul bowed his head to the man and thanked him for his kindness. For the next few hours, Saul lay under the tarp. The road from Jerusalem to Cesarea was sometimes bumpy, giving Saul even more bruises, but they finally made it to the coast. Saul breathed in the fresh air and let the morning sun kiss his cheek. He looked back toward Jerusalem. The city was completely out of view. He had no idea when he would return, but somehow he knew it was in his destiny to reconnect with the Apostles. Saul boarded a ship that was bound for Tarses. The crew released the mainsail and tightened up any remaining cargo. The coast disappeared from view, and it finally sunk in that Saul was headed back home for the first time since leaving the Hall of Polished Storms living in Jerusalem. Fleeing for his life seemed like a defeat, but Saul kept his head high and tilted towards the sunrise. He knew deep in his bones he was not a victim of circumstance. He was more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. 00:28:23 Speaker 6: I want you to imagine for a second Saul situation. After three years of preaching boldly about Jesus, following his dramatic conversion, he returns to Jerusalem, the epicenter of early Christianity, but also the hive in which the persecuting religious system exists. You'd think that there'd be banners, a welcome committee, maybe a potlag dinner for Paul, But instead everyone's afraid of them. It says in Acts nine that they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. Can you blame them? The last time everyone in Jerusalem Saul Saul. He was more interested in throwing Christians into prison than joining their prayer meetings. Make your childhood bullies showing up at a birthday party, and he even brought more cake. Everyone's suspicious and no one wants to try the cake. But then comes Barnabas, whose name means son of encouragement. He takes Saul under his wing, brings him to the apostles, and vouches his genuine conversion. Barnabas doesn't just see who Paul was. He sees who Saul has become in Christ and what he can become with more encouragement. Isn't it amazing how one person's acceptance can change everything. Barnabas didn't wait for a committee decision or a background check. He took a risk because he believed in the transformative power of Jesus. This story challenges us to consider our own openness to those who are new or different. Do we, like the early disciples, hold on to skepticism and fear, or can we be like Barnabas, extending grace and fellowship. It's easy to label people based on their past, but God specializes in rewriting stories. Remember Moses was a murderer, David was an adulterer, and yet they became great leaders. Saul's past didn't disqualify him. It became a testament to God's redentive power. Once accepted, Saul doesn't waste time. He starts preaching boldly in Jerusalem, particularly to the Hellenistic Jews. But old habits die hard, and soon enough another plot to kill him surfaces. It's almost humorous, isn't it. Everywhere Saul goes a riot seems to follow. But this isn't a sign of failure. It's evidence of God's gospel power to disrupt the status quo. If you're stirring up that much opposition, you must be doing something right. I mean, after all, Jesus promised that his followers would be treated like him. If we're being faithful to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, It's not like everyone's gonna love us, right, Not everybody loved Jesus, and so not everyone's gonna love us. And in fact, sometimes the more faithful we are to preaching his gospel and proclaiming the light of the Lord ah Man, maybe the more darkness is going to press up against us, the more persecution we're going to face, the more people will dislike you. Now, as a people pleaser myself, that gives me anxiety. But the acceptance of the Lord in the community of believers who are also running hard for the gospel. That's worth it to me. The believers decide to send Saul off to Tarsus for his safety. Now Tarsus isn't just a hideout, it's Saul's hometown. He spends the next several years there, mostly off the radar. This period isn't wasted time, though, it's a season of growth, learning, and preparation. Sometimes God takes us into seasons of obscurity to refine us, and sometimes God wants to bring us back to the beginning. Sometimes he wants to bring you to your hometown. Sometimes he wants to bring that person from the past back into your life. I think sometimes God does this for the same reason he had Peter sit by the fire in order to redeem him. Sometimes Jesus wants to put us in the exact same context in which we failed, and he wants to give us the opportunity to try again and this time succeed and be faithful. Finally, in Acts nine thirty d one, it tells us that the church enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. 00:32:04 Speaker 9: It says that they. 00:32:05 Speaker 6: Lived in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and the church increased in numbers. Notice the balance here, fear and comfort, reverence and encouragement. You see, the early Church wasn't complacent during peaceful times. They walked in awe of God and leaned into the Spirit's guidance. The early Church was a mosaic of personalities, backgrounds, and stories, all united under Christ. Saul's integration into this community underscores the transformative power of grace and the importance of embracing one another warts and all. Let's be a church that breaks down walls instead of building them, that welcomes the redeemed, just as Saul was welcomed by Barnabas. After all, in God's family, there's room for everyone, and sometimes the biggest skeptics become the boldest proclaimers.