In the Book of Acts, the author Luke gives us limited details about what Saul did in the years after his conversion. It is not the full picture of everything that happened, just enough to give us an idea of how he spent his time and to confirm that his conversion was genuine. Drawing together what he reports as well as details from the letters of Paul (Galatians 1:1–24; 2 Corinthians 11:1–33), we can confirm the following regarding the early years of Saul’s Christian life.
After Saul was baptised, he joined the church in Damascus. He spent a lot of time with believers in the city, talking about Jesus, learning more about his life and death. He also engaged with Jews in the local synagogues. At the synagogue, we would be welcomed (at least to begin with), and he would be given a chance to read a passage of Scripture and preach on the same. This is what Saul did after his conversion. Week by week, he testified before everyone, that he met with the resurrected Christ and he proclaimed him to be the Son of God.
At some point in time, Saul decided to go to Arabia. This trip is something of a mystery. We are not sure why he went into this region. Possibly it was a chance to meditate and prepare himself for ministry, following the example of Jesus and John the Baptist. More likely he was simply trying to reach out to Jews and Gentiles in the area. Why else would he incur the wrath of the Arabic king? Whatever the case may be, eventually he does go back to Damascus and over the course of a year or so, he is very active in the city.
When enough Jews in Damascus become agitated and frustrated with Saul, they make a plan to kill him and he is forced to flee. He travels to Jerusalem where he will stay for about two weeks. During this time, he is introduced to Peter and James. He also goes to visit the Greek speaking Jews who killed Stephen. Coming from Tarsus, he had a lot in common with them and he is well prepared to engage in debate. When these Jews make plans to kill him, Saul is shipped back home to Tarsus. He will stay there for around five years before Barnabas asks him to help the church in Antioch.
With regards to the preaching of Saul, we notice that he testifies that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20) and he proves him to be the Messiah (Acts 9:22). This tells us something of his theology and his method.
First, when it comes his theology, the claim that Jesus is the Son of God is very significant. It draws attention to his life and his nature. Biblically, the sons of God
refers to those who obey God and thereby give a true representation of his character. Just as the sons of the devil are those who act in the same way as the devil (see John 8:44), so the sons of God are those who behave in a way that is in keeping with what God has revealed. Proclaiming Jesus to be the Son of God, Saul is thereby stating that Jesus is the one person who is completely and absolutely obedient to God. He is the one who reveals God in a unique manner. In short, he behaves as God behaves and he does so because he is the only begotten Son (see John 1:14–18).
The Sonship of Jesus draws attention to his life and through his life to his nature. One person who is true man and true God. The one who came to make the Father known. This is a staggering claim in and of itself and even more so coming from a Jew. To say that a man is God? This is exactly the charge upon which Saul previously accused Christians of blasphemy, the reason why he sought their death (see Acts 26:10). Nevertheless, it is the claim which he now makes because he has met with Jesus Christ. On the road to Damascus, as certainly as Moses met the Lord at the burning bush, Saul was likewise confronted by the Lord and he discovered that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:11). One person who is true God and true man—it defies understanding but it is the reality to which he will testify.
This then is the theology of Saul which we find in all his preaching. Jesus is the Son of God. And it is a beautiful theology, a wonderful theology because it means that peace with God is not a pipedream. Because Jesus is true God, he was able to bear the burden of God’s wrath without being destroyed himself. Because Jesus is true man, he could die in the place of men. Like for like. Because Jesus is a righteous man, he is free to pay for the sins of others since he has no sins of his own. The good news of Christianity is grounded on the Sonship of Christ. Salvation does not depend on man reaching up to God, it is not about excelling in Judaism. No salvation is God coming down to man. The Word taking on flesh, the body of Christ broken in the place of sinners, the blood of Christ given to wash us clean.
The gospel is the message that Saul teaches and in verse Acts 9:22, Luke also gives us an insight into his method. Saul reasons with people. He proves from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. He quotes from the Old Testament. He explains how the life of Jesus matches up to the prophecies, how it brings an end to the sacrifices. He uses his mind; he uses logic, his knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. In disputing with the Hellenists, there is discussion and debate.
The reasoning of Saul serves to affirm the importance of theological training; we need preachers to know the Bible well and interpret it in the same manner as the apostles. It also shows us that proclamation is central to evangelism. Washing cars, distributing food and water, teaching English, farming or another skill: there are lots of helpful and important things that can be done to serve a community. Diaconal work is good and appropriate; it provides opportunities to make new friends, but it is not evangelism per se. Evangelism is proclamation. It involves teaching and explaining truth about who Jesus is and what he has done.
19 and taking food, he was strengthened.