(Acts 26:1-2 NKJV)

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(Acts 261-2 NKJV) Then Agrippa said to Paul,
"You are permitted to speak for yourself." So
Paul stretched out his hand and answered for
himself 2 "I think myself happy, King Agrippa,
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because today I shall answer for myself before
you concerning all the things of which I am
accused by the Jews
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In the verses ahead we have Pauls testimony
The account of a life TRANSFORMED
by Jesus. He tells us three things about
this transformation
introduction
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The man he had become in Christ
The One who transformed his life.
The man he used to be.
introduction
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key insight In it we also see The ESSENCE
of evangelism The WORKINGS OF GOD in the saving
of a soul.
introduction
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the man he used to be

"My manner of life from my youth, which was
spent from the beginning among my own nation at
Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 "They knew me
from the first, if they were willing to testify,
(Acts 264-11 NKJV)
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the man he used to be

that according to the strictest sect of our
religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 "And now I stand
and am judged for the hope of the promise made by
God to our fathers. 7 "To this promise our
twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and
day, hope to attain.
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the man he used to be

For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused
by the Jews. 8 "Why should it be thought
incredible by you that God raises the dead? 9
"Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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the man he used to be

10 "This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of
the saints I shut up in prison, having received
authority from the chief priests and when they
were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
11 "And I punished them often in every synagogue
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the man he used to be

and compelled them to blaspheme and being
exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted
them even to foreign cities.
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key observation Paul was not merely a devout
Pharisee (Phil. 35) - he had also been a zealous
persecutor of the church. He had punished the
believers and tried to force them to deny Jesus
Christ, and sent some of them to their death.
the man he used to be
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In the early days of the church, the Jewish
believers continued to meet in the synagogues,
and that was where Paul found them and punished
them. Which, by the way, Jesus had promised
would happen to them.
the man he used to be
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"But beware of men, for they will deliver
you up to councils and scourge you in their
synagogues. (Mat
1017 NKJV)
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the man he used to be
note well Paul was out of control in his
hatred of Christians and being exceedingly
enraged against them v.11 EXCEEDINGLY
superabundantly-- MAD To rave on, i.e. rage
at--be mad against.
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Paul was like a wild animal in his rage
against Christians.
the man he used to be
made havoc of the church (Acts 83)
breathing out threatenings and slaughter (Acts
91)
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In VERSE 9 He said, "I thought I should do
many things contrary to the name of Jesus of
Nazareth." The Lord Jesus has never had an
enemy more bitter and brutal than Saul of Tarsus.
He had an
deep-seated hatred of Jesus Christ and of the
gospel.
the man he used to be
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Paul wants Agrippa -
a man with a history of violence - to see how
Jesus can transform lives. Paul didnt take an
anger management class - He was TRANSFORMED by
Jesus
note well That was Paul BEFORE Jesus.
the man he used to be
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key insight Paul is NOT sharing his
pre-Jesus life for shock-value. He is NOT
glorying in it. You do NOT have to have a
RADICAL TESTIMONY to prove that Jesus changes
lives.
the man he used to be
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key insight A man sold out and submitted to
Jesus IS RADICAL. Even if you didnt smoke or
chew or run with them that do, the fact that you
live for Jesus and love Jesus cost you everything.
the man he used to be
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the One who transformed him
key observation Having shared what he was like
before Jesus, Paul goes on to tell Agrippa WHO
transformed his life and HOW He did it.
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the One who transformed him
(Acts 2612-14 NKJV) "While thus occupied, as
I journeyed to Damascus with authority and
commission from the chief priests, 13 "at
midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from
heaven,
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brighter than the sun, shining around me and
those who journeyed with me. 14 "And when we
all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice
speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language,
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'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is
hard for you to kick against the goads.'
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the One who transformed him
key insight The light that Paul saw was
supernatural. It was the glory of God revealed
from heaven It blinded Paul for three days
(Acts 98-9), but it opened his spiritual eyes
and enabled him to see the living Jesus.
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(2 Cor 43-6 NKJV)
(2 Cor 43-6 NKJV)
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled
to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the
god of this age has blinded, who do not believe,
lest the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on
them

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6 For it is the God who commanded light to
shine out of darkness, who has shone in our
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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the One who transformed him
But seeing a light was not enough he also had to
hear the Word of God.
(Acts 2614-17 NKJV) "And when we all had
fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to
me and saying in the Hebrew language,
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'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is
hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15 "So
I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 'But rise
and stand on your feet for I have appeared to
you for this purpose,
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to make you a minister and a witness both of the
things which you have seen and of the things
which I will yet reveal to you. 17 'I will
deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as
from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
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the One who transformed him
key insight Jesus knows how to speak our
language.
key observation Jesus Christ spoke to Paul in
Hebrew and called him by his name.
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the One who transformed him
He speaks to each of us right where were at.
He knows just how to get through to each of
us.
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the One who transformed him
key application 1 - We ought to be sure that we
are speaking to the unbeliever in a language that
they can understand. We ought to be seeking the
Lord as to how we can GET THROUGH to them - But
ONLY the language can change!
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the One who transformed him
THAT is how Jesus works. He will be glad to
show us, Im sure.
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the One who transformed him
key application 2 - He calls each of us
PERSONALLY. He calls each of us by name. We
need to make our evangelism as PERSONAL as
possible.
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the One who transformed him
1.) Jesus of Nazareth was alive
key observation In that moment on the road to
Damascus, Paul had made two surprising discoveries
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the One who transformed him
2.) Jesus was so united to His people that their
suffering was His suffering!
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the One who transformed him
key application Isnt it radical to know that
God, in His grace, speaks to those who are His
enemies. And even more than that, His STUBBORN
enemies.
It is hard for you to kick against the
goads.' (Acts 2614 NKJV)
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the One who transformed him
God had been dealing with Paul, but Paul had been
resisting Him, kicking against the goads.
God had been dealing with Paul, but Paul had been
resisting Him, kicking against the goads.
goad A rod, generally about eight feet long,
with a pointed end used to control oxen.
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the One who transformed him
Paul had been FIGHTING against God, RESISTING God
by kicking against the pointed conviction of the
Holy Spirit.
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the man he would become
'But rise and stand on your feet for I have
appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a
minister and a witness (Acts 2616 NKJV)
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the man he would become
key observation Jesus was going to MAKE
something out of Paul make to handle for
oneself in advance
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the man he would become
key insight 1 - Jesus had been working in Pauls
life up to that very moment to MAKE something out
of Paul that would serve His eternal purposes.
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the man he would become
key insight 2 - He had been handling Paul in
advance to MAKE of this proud and violent man a
minister an under-rower and refers to a
lowly servant on a galley ship.
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the man he would become
note well The purpose of the under-rower was to
get the people above deck to their destination.
What a PERFECT illustration of Pauls life and
ministry. He LIVED to get people to Jesus.
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(1 Th 219 NKJV)
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of
rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of
our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
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the man he would become
Here is the proof of a transformed
life - Paul had been accustomed
to being an honored leader - But after his
conversion he became an under-rower and Jesus
Christ became his Master.
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the man he would become
key insight 3 - He had been handling Paul in
advance to make of this proud and violent man a
witness. witness Martus. We get the word
martyr from it.
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the man he would become
How TRUE that would be of Paul key application
We can not just become a witness for Jesus.
Jesus must make us one.
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Paul stood before Agrippa, Bernice and Festus
BECAUSE he was transformed by the love and power
of Jesus Christ. Im before you today because
Jesus transformed my life.
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Maybe you know someone who is an enemy of Jesus -
Maybe YOU have been fighting against Jesus.
Jesus can, and will, transform YOU!
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