Paul’s Conversion (Acts 9:1-9) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Zealous Persecutor
II. The Sudden Convert
III. The Spiritual Lessons
Psalm singing: 116:1-8; 22:27-31; 68:31-35; 67:1-7 (see below for the words to the Psalms)
Scripture reading: Acts 9:1-22
F. F. Bruce: “No single event, apart from the Christ-event itself, has proved so determinant for the course of Christian history as the conversion and commissioning of Paul” (Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, p. 75).
Philip Schaff: “The conversion of Paul marks not only a turning-point in his personal history, but also an important epoch in the history of the apostolic church, and consequently in the history of mankind” (History of the Christian Church, vol. 1, p. 296).

Psalm 116:1-8
1 I LOVE the Lord, because my voice
and prayers be did hear.
2 I, while I live, will call on him,
who bow’d to me his ear.
3 Of death the cords and sorrows did
about me compass round ;
The pains of hell took hold on me,
I grief and trouble found.
4 Upon the name of God the Lord
then did I call, and say,
Deliver thou my soul, O Lord,
I do thee humbly pray.
5 God merciful and righteous is,
yea, gracious is our Lord.
6 God saves the meek: I was brought low
he did me help afford.
7 O thou my soul, do thou return
unto thy quiet rest;
For largely, Io, the Lord to thee
his bounty hath exprest.
8 For my distressed soul from death
deliver’d was by thee :
Thou didst my mourning eyes from tears,
my feet from falling, free.

Psalm 22:27-31
27 All ends of th’ earth remember shall,
and turn the Lord unto;
All kindreds of the nations
to him shall homage do:
28 Because the kingdom to the Lord
doth appertain as his ;
Likewise among the nations
the Governor he is.
29 Earth’s fat ones eat, and worship shall :
all who to dust descend
Shall bow to him ; none of them can
his soul from death defend.
30 A seed shall service do to him ;
unto the Lord it shall
Be for a generation
reckon’d in ages all.
31 They shall come, and they shall declare
Ins truth and righteousness
Unto a people yet unborn,
and that he hath done this.

68:31-35
31 Those that be princes great shall then
come out of Egypt lands;
And Ethiopia to God
shall soon stretch out her hands.
32 0 all ye kingdoms of the earth,
sing praises to this King;
For he is Lord that ruleth all,
unto him praises sing.
33 To him that rides on heav’ns of heav’ns,
which he of old did found;
Lo, he sends out his voice, a voice
in might that doth abound.
34 Strength unto God do ye ascribe;
for his excellency
Is over Israel, his strength
is in the clouds most high.
35 Thou’rt from thy temple dreadful, Lord;
Isr’el’s own God is he,
Who gives his people strength and pow’r:
0 let God blessed be.

67:1-7
I LORD, bless and pity us,
shine on us with thy face:
2 That th’ earth thy way, and nations all
may know thy saving grace.
3 Let people praise thee, Lord ;
let people all thee praise.
4 O let the nations be glad,
in songs their voices raise :
Thou’It justly people judge,
on earth rule nations all.
5 Let people praise thee, Lord ; let them
praise thee, both great and small.
6 The earth her fruit shall yield,
our God shall blessing send.
7 God shall us bless; men shall him fear
unto earth’s utmost end.