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Jeroboam

2 Kings 14:25 "He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of His servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher." We’re continuing our series on God’s calling of His people. Last week we saw how God transformed the Apostle Paul—from zealous enemy to greatest champion. A clear theme is emerging: those God calls often start with reluctance. This week we meet one of the most famous reluctant prophets, Jonah. Jonah’s first recorded prophecy appears in 2 Kings 14:25. He foretold that King Jeroboam II would restore Israel’s borders from Hamath to the Dead Sea. This prophecy came true, bringing a season of prosperity to the northern kingdom. This historical note is important. It confirms Jonah was a real prophet whose words carried divine authority. By naming him “Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher,” Scripture anchors the he...
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forever Paul

Acts 22:15&16 "15 For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." This shows that Paul’s transformation was never meant to be private. God appointed him as a witness to testify about his encounter with the risen Christ, especially to the Gentiles. The phrase “to all people” underscores the universal reach of his mission, which many Jews found scandalous. “Wash away your sins” symbolizes spiritual cleansing and public identification with Christ. Baptism came after Saul’s conversion as an outward sign of the inward change already wrought by faith. The command to call on the Lord’s name emphasizes sincere faith and prayer (see Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). Contrary to popular belief, Saul did not undergo a dramatic name change after conversion. He had carried both names from birth: Saul (his Hebrew name) and Paul (his Roman name, from Latin...
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know His will

Acts 22:12-14 "12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth." These verses introduce Ananias, a devout and well-respected Jew. His credibility within the Jewish community validates Paul’s conversion as authentic, not the work of an outsider. Sent by God, Ananias stands before Paul and says, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” At once Paul regains his vision, confirming the divine nature of his encounter with Jesus. Ananias then declares that the God of their fathers has chosen Paul to know His will, see the Righteous One, and hear His voice. This affirms Paul’s calling as an apostle, appointed by God, not by men, to witness to the risen Chr...
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blinded by the light

Acts 22:9-11 "9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him that spake to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus." Saul was blinded by the light! A brilliant light from heaven, brighter than the sun, knocked him to the ground. Jesus’ voice called him by name, making the divine confrontation intensely personal and urgent. The man Saul had dismissed as a dead blasphemer was alive and glorified. In persecuting Jesus’ followers, Saul had actually been persecuting Jesus Himself. Paul’s companions saw the bright light but “did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.” Some translations render it “did not understand” the voice. The Greek verb akouō can mean...
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why Me?

Acts 22:7&8 "7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? 8 And I answered, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest." That will get your attention! A brilliant light from heaven, brighter than the sun, suddenly flashed around him and knocked him to the ground. The repeated use of his name underscores the personal and urgent nature of this divine confrontation. The man Saul thought was a dead blasphemer is alive and glorified. In attacking Jesus’ followers, Saul had been attacking Jesus Himself. The Lord identifies so closely with His Church that He takes persecution of His people personally (Matthew 25:40). This encounter marks Paul’s conversion, from persecutor to apostle, through a direct meeting with the risen Christ. As in other biblical callings, God gave him a new heart and spirit, now responsive and ready to love and obey. Saul had every reason to be proud: a devo...
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A Great Light!

Acts 22:5&6 "5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. 6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me." When God calls someone, He gives them a new heart and a new spirit, responsive and able to love and obey Him. We are studying God’s call of Saul of Tarsus. Standing before an angry Jewish mob in Jerusalem, the Apostle Paul defends himself by recounting his former life as a persecutor. He establishes his credentials as a devout Jew: raised and educated in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the most respected rabbis of his day. Paul explains that the high priest and the entire Sanhedrin can testify to his past zeal. He received official letters from them authorizing him to...
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Saul of Tarsus

Acts 22:3&4 "3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women." We are studying how God calls His followers. We began with a reluctant Moses at the burning bush, then saw Queen Esther fully surrender and risk everything to save her people. Yesterday Ezekiel showed us God’s radical intervention: giving His people a new heart and a new spirit, responsive, able to love and obey Him. Today we turn to God’s call of Saul of Tarsus. Saul once had a heart of stone, so hard, so determined to crush Jesus’ followers. In these verses, the Apostle Paul stands before an angry Jewish mob in Jerusalem and defends himself by recounting his background and former life as a persecutor. Paul establishe...
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