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Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 1 * PART 3 * BOOK 19
ACTS 9
God is dealing with Ananias in verse 10:
Then Ananias answered, `Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here, he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.'" In Chapter 22, we see what kind of man Ananias really was. Paul is speaking in the first person many years after the Damascus experience, and is recounting his conversion to the multitude of Jews.
Law!...."
So what is Ananias? No one has told these Jewish believers to quit Temple worship and stop legalism. They have maintained their Judaism, but they have also recognized that Jesus was The Christ. So Ananias is a believer that Saul was coming after. Turn to Chapter 26. Come down to verse 9:
The Romans actually guaranteed safe delivery for these offerings of these Jewish people that went back to the Temple in Jerusalem. When we get to Chapter 10 I'll show you that Peter is still a Law-keeper. The Lord is speaking to Ananias here.
Acts 9:15
"But the Lord said unto him, `Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.'"
I'm going to send him, God said, to the Gentiles. Let's go on to verse 16. Now verse 19:
Now let's look at verse 20. Now watch the text again carefully) he preached Christ in the(marketplace? among the Gentiles? It says he preached Christ in the) synagogues,..."
Jews! He preached Christ to the Jews. Even Saul of Tarsus was saved under the Kingdom Gospel, believing Who Jesus was. The Son of God. The Messiah of Israel. God's got a path for him among the Gentiles. Again, remember that verse 20 was the same confession that Peter spoke, Martha spoke and that all the others spoke, including the Ethiopian eunuch. Verse 23 explains that. God has to get Saul out of town. "Circumstances." When God slams the door in your face, what are you to realize? Circumstances are going to arise, and Saul is going to have to move out. Verse 23:
There's a bunch of Jews out to kill him. So Saul takes off, and God is going to lead him. When people have doubts or wonder about my approach to the difference between Peter and Paul, I usually ask them to read Galatians Chapters 1 and 2 carefully and slowly, and with an open mind. Galatians Chapter 1. Drop down to verse 16, where Paul now many years later is writing this little epistle to the Gentile believers up there in Galatia.
Galatians 1:16,17a
Paul didn't go back to Jerusalem and check in with the Twelve. Galatians 1:17b
"...but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."
Galatians 4:25a
We know that Mount Sinai was the place where God gave the Law to Moses. Isn't it appropriate to feel that this is the place in Arabia that God took Saul to reveal to him the doctrines of Grace? Not with just the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus was The Christ, but with the Gospel of Grace which is that Jesus is The Christ, The Son of the living God, Who died for our sins, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead. I had a letter recently that asked, "Didn't Peter ever come to understand Paul revelations; his uniqueness as an Apostle?" Peter is writing this little epistle just shortly before he is martyred. So at least thirty years have elapsed since Peter and Paul had their meeting in Jerusalem. Let's begin at verse 15:
II Peter 3:15a
"And account (understand) that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation;..."
Beginning in Genesis, as soon as man fell, God begins to put a plan of Salvation on the human race. Cain and Abel certainly didn't understand crucifixion, but Abel did what God said to do. Moses and the Law didn't understand what we call the Gospel of our Salvation that Christ died for our sins. But they did what God told them to do. Let's see what Peter says in verses 15 and 16:
II Peter 3:15,16
"And account (understand) that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him (by revelation from the Lord Himself) hath written unto you;" Do you see where Peter is putting Paul? Romans through Hebrews. Thirty years afterwards, Peter is still having trouble with Paul's message, and Paul's going to the Gentiles. Paul is on the right track. Now why was it so hard for Peter to understand? It's like pulling teeth to see someone come out from under legalism, and step into the glory of God's Grace. II Peter 3:15
Are people twisting the scriptures? Peter is saying, "Look, if you want Salvation today read Paul's writings." Now let's go back to Galatians Chapter 1 verse 17 again:
Galatians 1:17,18a
If Paul hadn't put in that he returned to Damascus in verse 17, then you could follow his course more easily.

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