The conversion of Saul of Tarsus Acts 9

In Acts 9 we read about the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. We can learn a lot from his experience.

(1) Saul, having received permission from the Jews in Jerusalem, was traveling to the city of Damascus to arrest any Christians he might find there. He was known for his persecution of Christians.

Here’s one important lesson: Saul was sincere in his religion, but he was sincerely wrong. Acts 23:1 Letting your conscience be your guide is not good advice when it comes to religion.

(2) on the road to Damascus, he saw a bright light and then a voice saying,” Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul asked, “Who are you?” And Jesus replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting “ Saul immediately says, “What do you want me to do, Lord?”

Do you think Saul “believed”. At this point? Yes. Because he asked Jesus what he needed to do and added to that he obeyed when Jesus told him what to do. So, is Saul Saved now? He has believed in Jesus. What was Jesus’s answer? “Go into the city and it shall be TOLD thee what thou MUST DO. “ Yes, Faith was absolutely necessary, but Jesus says there is “more” you Have (must) to do.

(3)So Saul goes into the city and spends the next 3 days praying and fasting. Do you think he was thinking about how wrong he had been and was sorry? Wouldn’t this be “repenting”?

So let’s recap. #1. Paul has had a true religious experience. Is he saved now?

#2. Paul has “believed in Jesus”. Is he saved now?

#3. Paul has prayed for 3 days. Is he saved now?

Jesus said he would be “told” what he must do. No one has told him anything at this point in the story.

4. Then Anninas comes to him and in Acts 22:16 and says “What are you waiting for? Arise and be baptized and WASH AWAY YOUR SINS. What?? You mean after experiencing a religious experience, praying for 3 days and believing in Jesus, he still had his sins? Apparently so. Does that mean “faith only” did not save him? Guess not. Does that mean Baptism is necessary to salvation?

Here’s what the scriptures teach:
Believe mark 16:16
Repent Acts 17:30
Be baptized Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:21
Saul’s conversion complies in every aspect with these scriptures.

Check out other people’s conversions in the book of Acts. This is how people were saved in the New Testament.

Be baptized Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:21

So you are really promoting the idea that water baptism saves.

That is not the same as saying that water baptism is essential for those ALREADY SAVED by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption.

That is why some people call it easy believism, and they cut out the middle man although it is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, not the death and resurrection of Christ, and we have to identify with the man Christ Jesus.

In the book of Acts, Jews, Gentiles, and Samaritans were all baptized in the name of Jesus, and those baptized unto John's baptism had to be baptized in the name of Jesus.

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

So why is this that people do not want to believe the truth.

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

2Ti 3:4 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

They want to enjoy sins and the world as the world enjoys it, but believe they are still alright with God, for they want to believe they cannot fall so they can enjoy the ways of the flesh, and believe that they still have salvation, and do not like the pressure of having to take responsibility.

They will not let go of the flesh.

For there is a Church for everybody whether the belief of the holiness of Jesus, or faith alone and sin does not affect your relationship with God, and one for the Jehovah's witnesses, Mormons, Catholics, Scientology, and even the new age movemernt interpretation of the Bible based on the occult and evolution.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

These people will not let go of the flesh, and want a no pressure lifestyle, so they go to a Church that teaches what they want to hear.

That is strange that they say baptism is not necessary for salvation, and a work, when it is part of the Gospel of Christ.

And charity, love in action, works, is greater than faith, and then they say they do not have to have works when works of love is greater than faith, and without love there is no faith.

For love is greater than faith.

And we see in society that they lack love for their hypocrisy, and then they say faith alone can save them.

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

So you are really promoting the idea that water baptism saves.

That is not the same as saying that water baptism is essential for those ALREADY SAVED by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption.

Is that how it reads? The text is not hard to understand. I am asking questions. At which step or what point was Saul saved? When he talked to Jesus? Thus having a religious experience. Did Jesus say he was saved and didn’t need to do anything when he believed? Did he “pray through” to salvation when he fasted and prayed for 3 days? Or was he saved by praying? Jesus says he would be “TOLD” what he MUST do. Has anyone told him anything while he was praying and fasting? Then the obvious conclusion is that there is something else he has to do. Ananias comes to him and tells him to be baptized and wash away his sins; when he does this, then the obvious conclusion is that he is now sin free. You will have a hard time misunderstanding this unless you have help.

Psalm 19:160 says that the SUM OF God’s word is truth (RVS). You have to do ALL THAT God says to have God’s Truth. Don’t Isolate a few verses. The Bible is harmonious not contradictory.

Actually, from a third party's perspective, both of you are making essentially the same point. Water baptism is necessary for salvation.

How you phrase the argument is this, "If one repents only but is not water baptized, he is not saved".

How Nehemiah phrase it as "If one does not get water baptized after he believes, he is not/was never saved, since he shown disobedience to this major commandment from the Lord Jesus."

Either way, both of you believe that "Water baptism is necessary for salvation"

I am asking questions. At which step or what point was Saul saved?

Acts 9:17-19 shows of a spiritual baptism not of a water baptism.

17So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

sight restored and filled with the Holy Spirit at that instant.

There is nothing in this passage to suggest that this was Holy Spirit baptism. In fact,Acts 2:38 says they recieved the Holy Spirit by being baptized in water.

There is nothing in this passage to suggest that this was Holy Spirit baptism. In fact,Acts 2:38 says they recieved the Holy Spirit by being baptized in water.

The moment he called Jesus "Lord".

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:9)

When He heard Jesus speaking to him, he also believed that God had raised Him from the dead. Saul was fully aware that Christ had been crucified, but he had not till that point met the Risen Lord.

Your doctrine about water baptism being the point of salvation has no basis in Gospel truth. Some verses appear to teach that, but the totality of the Gospel must be believed.

There is nothing in this passage to suggest that this was Holy Spirit baptism. In fact,Acts 2:38 says they recieved the Holy Spirit by being baptized in water.

So you are really promoting the idea that water baptism saves.

That is not the same as saying that water baptism is essential for those ALREADY SAVED by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption.

Then Anninas comes to him and in Acts 22:16 and says “What are you waiting for? Arise and be baptized and WASH AWAY YOUR SINS.

In Acts 9 we read about the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. We can learn a lot from his experience.

(1) Saul, having received permission from the Jews in Jerusalem, was traveling to the city of Damascus to arrest any Christians he might find there. He was known for his persecution of Christians.

Here’s one important lesson: Saul was sincere in his religion, but he was sincerely wrong. Acts 23:1 Letting your conscience be your guide is not good advice when it comes to religion.

(2) on the road to Damascus, he saw a bright light and then a voice saying,” Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul asked, “Who are you?” And Jesus replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting “ Saul immediately says, “What do you want me to do, Lord?”

Do you think Saul “believed”. At this point? Yes. Because he asked Jesus what he needed to do and added to that he obeyed when Jesus told him what to do. So, is Saul Saved now? He has believed in Jesus. What was Jesus’s answer? “Go into the city and it shall be TOLD thee what thou MUST DO. “ Yes, Faith was absolutely necessary, but Jesus says there is “more” you Have (must) to do.

(3)So Saul goes into the city and spends the next 3 days praying and fasting. Do you think he was thinking about how wrong he had been and was sorry? Wouldn’t this be “repenting”?

So let’s recap. #1. Paul has had a true religious experience. Is he saved now?

#2. Paul has “believed in Jesus”. Is he saved now?

#3. Paul has prayed for 3 days. Is he saved now?

Jesus said he would be “told” what he must do. No one has told him anything at this point in the story.

4. Then Anninas comes to him and in Acts 22:16 and says “What are you waiting for? Arise and be baptized and WASH AWAY YOUR SINS. What?? You mean after experiencing a religious experience, praying for 3 days and believing in Jesus, he still had his sins? Apparently so. Does that mean “faith only” did not save him? Guess not. Does that mean Baptism is necessary to salvation?

Here’s what the scriptures teach:
Believe mark 16:16
Repent Acts 17:30
Be baptized Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:21
Saul’s conversion complies in every aspect with these scriptures.

Check out other people’s conversions in the book of Acts. This is how people were saved in the New Testament.

In Acts 2:38, "for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical. This is exactly what Acts 3:19 teaches except that Peter omits the parenthesis.

First of all, as an English teacher, this sentence is diagramed with (you) as the understood subject because it is an imperative sentence, and the words “repent” and “be baptized” are compound verbs joined by the conjunction “and”. This conjunction gives EQUAL WEIGHT to each verb, meaning they are equal in importance. There is no “clause” that you referred to—a clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb. Where do you see that in the first part of this sentence? “For the remission of sins” is a prepositional phrase modifying the verb phrase “be baptized”. The word “for” here is a preposition used to show the purpose of something. Thus the purpose of baptism. Prepositional phrases always follow the word they modify. Even if there was a way , grammatically, that phrase referred to the word “repent”, ( which I have never seen or heard of a case where it does), it would not change the fact that it is referring to baptism since they are joined by the conjunction and, snd are equal in weight and importance.

I don’t know where you got this argument but wherever it came from, that person is woefully ignorant of the English language.

*Also compare the fact that these Gentiles in Acts 10:45 received the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 - the gift of the Holy Spirit) and this was BEFORE water baptism (Acts 10:47).

In Acts 10:43 we read ..whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. Again, these Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 10:45 - when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ - Acts 11:17 - (compare with Acts 16:31 - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved) BEFORE water baptism - Acts 10:47. This is referred to as repentance unto life - Acts 11:18.

*So the only logical conclusion when properly harmonizing Scripture with Scripture is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; 26:18). *Perfect Harmony*

Yes. The Bible teaches that Baptism saves: Acts 2:38, Mark16:16, Acts 22:16, I Peter 3:21. So that is what I believe.