New Testament Bible Study
Bible Lesson 7: Acts 9: 1-20

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_In this New testament Bible study we will go through the three processes of Understanding, Application and Communication.

Summary of the Bible Study on
"Acts 9"

_A. The Process of Understanding

We use the acronym "START" to determine how the original receivers of Luke understood the message.

1. Situation

Acts 9 verses 1-2 spells out the situation of this narrative.
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.
2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
(New Living Translation)

This story of Saul's encounter with the risen Jesus on the way to Damascus was clearly a favorite of Luke, since he tells it three times in Acts (see Acts 22:6-16; 26:12-18).

Click here for more information on Paul's conversion on the the road to Damascus.

2. Type of Literature

Acts 9: 1-20 is in Prose form. The form of Prose is Narrative and the genre (type) is Story.

3. Analyze the passage

We have seen that the plot structure is the main thing to determine. The plot structure of Acts 9: 1-20 is Problem – Resolution.

The plot structure is:

Tension - Problem ( verses 1-2): Saul persecutes the church

Relief of tension - Resolution (verses 3-17) The Damascus experience

Result (verses 18-20): Persecutor becomes follower!

Message of Acts 9: 1-20

Everyone (good and bad, rich and poor) needs God’s grace.

4. Relate the message to the rest of the Bible

In this step we determine whether the findings of the previous steps relate to the rest of the Bible.

The message of the parable of the Rich Fool relates to the rest of the Bible (Acts 15: 11; Romans 3: 24; Ephesians 2: 5-8). It is very clear that this message is an essential and therefor applicable to us. There are no references to the triple C's (Ceremonial - and Civil law as well as Cultural practices).

5. Test your findings

In this step you test your own findings (Biblical interpretation) against those of others.(e.g. commentaries and study Bibles)

The commentaries and study Bibles confirm that the message to the original receivers is:

The message to the original receiver is:

God consider you foolish when you are greedy and when money becomes your significance.


B. The Process of Application

In this process we determine whether the message to the original receiver is applicable (essential) or not (incidental) to our situation.

It is very clear that this message is an essential. There are no references to the triple C's (Ceremonial - and Civil law as well as Cultural practices).


C. The Process of Communication

In this process we communicate the message to a specific target group.

Answer the following questions.

1. Saul was considered a very good person (Phil 3: 4-8). Why did he and all people (good and bad, rich and poor) also need grace? (Romans 3: 23; Ephesians 2: 8-9)

2. Why do you think is it not always easy for good people to accept  grace?

3. Why do you think Saul's conversion was so dramatic? (Acts 26:16-18, Acts 22:6-21)

4. What do you think is so amazing about grace (Page 153 in Hearing God’s Tweet).

5. CS Lewis once made the comment that grace is Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions. Do you agree?

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