Bible Studies

Paul Bible Study: Running the Race (Acts 9 and Philippians 3)

Saul was running hard in the wrong direction until Jesus stopped him on the road to Damascus. Walk through four moments that show how grace turned a persecutor into an apostle.

Chris

• 5 min read
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Paul Bible Study: Running the Race (Acts 9 and Philippians 3)

Saul lived fully inside the traditions and culture of his day. He had a fierce zeal to oppose anyone or anything that went against what he believed. How often do we find ourselves in the same place? We believe something with every fiber of our being, and we are willing to go to any length to defend it. It doesn't have to be about religion. It can be politics, career, family, or pride. Saul was running hard. He just wasn't running toward Jesus, until Jesus stopped him in his tracks.

This study walks through four moments in Saul's story. You can use it on your own or with a small group. Read the passages, think through the questions, and ask God what race He is calling you to run.

Big Idea: Jesus can take a life running hard in the wrong direction, turn it around by grace, and use everything about it to run His race.

Read first: Acts 7:57-60, Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1-31, Acts 22:1-5, Philippians 3:3-14

Who Was Saul?

Saul was a Jew born in Tarsus, a city in what is now southern Turkey, and educated in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, a highly respected teacher of the law (Acts 22:3). He was "a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law" (Philippians 3:5), and he knew the Hebrew Scriptures deeply.

He first appears as "a young man named Saul" at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58). Later Luke calls him "Saul, also known as Paul" (Acts 13:9). Paul is his Roman name, and Luke uses it from then on. His name wasn't changed at his conversion. His story is the gospel in one life. He later wrote that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" and added, "and I am the worst of them all" (1 Timothy 1:15). If grace could reach him, it can reach anyone.

First Meeting: Zealous, and Completely Wrong

Saul watched over the coats of the men who stoned Stephen, and he "agreed completely with the killing of Stephen" (Acts 8:1). Then he went house to house, dragging believers to prison. Not satisfied, he asked for letters so he could hunt down followers of "the Way" as far as Damascus (Acts 9:1-2).

Saul believed he was serving God. Years later he admitted he did it "in ignorance and unbelief" (1 Timothy 1:13). Sincere zeal is not the same as being right. Saul's problem was never his passion. His passion was simply aimed at the wrong target.

Reflect:

  • How might Saul's background have made him so certain he was right?
  • Is there a conviction you hold so tightly that you have stopped listening to God about it?

Change of Heart: Jesus Meets Saul on the Road

On the road to Damascus, a light from heaven knocked Saul to the ground, and a voice asked, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" Notice that word "me." Jesus so identifies with His people that persecuting them is persecuting Him. "Who are you, lord?" Saul asked. The answer turned his world upside down: "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!" (Acts 9:3-9). For three days he was blind and didn't eat or drink. The man who came to arrest people was led by the hand into the city.

Then God spoke to Ananias, an ordinary disciple. Ananias was understandably afraid, but God said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel" (Acts 9:15). Ananias went, laid his hands on him, and called him "Brother Saul." Before Saul ever preached a sermon, he was welcomed into God's family by grace.

Reflect:

  • What stands out to you about how Jesus confronted Saul?
  • Is there someone God may be asking you to reach out to, even though you're afraid, like Ananias?

Disbelief: A New Believer Nobody Trusted

When Saul tried to join the believers in Jerusalem, they were all afraid of him. Given his history, who could blame them? Then Barnabas stepped in, brought him to the apostles, and vouched for him (Acts 9:26-27). He put his own reputation on the line for a man nobody else believed in.

Saul preached boldly and debated, and soon people were trying to kill him. So the believers took him down to Caesarea and sent him home to Tarsus to protect his life (Acts 9:29-30). The same zeal that once drove Saul to persecute the church was now redirected to proclaim Christ. God didn't erase who Saul was. He redeemed it.

Reflect:

  • What does Barnabas teach us about welcoming people whose past is complicated?
  • Who could you be a "Barnabas" to, someone who needs a person to believe in them?

Uniquely Equipped: Everything Counted as Loss

Standing before a hostile crowd in Jerusalem, Paul started with his credentials, relating to them as one who once thought exactly as they did (Acts 22:1-5). God used his background to give him a hearing.

In Philippians 3, Paul lists those same credentials, then says that in themselves they could never make him right with God: "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done" (Philippians 3:7). No matter how good we are, our own goodness can never make us right with God. Paul's righteousness now came "through faith in Christ" (Philippians 3:9).

So Paul ran a new race. He forgot what was behind, both his achievements and his failures. His credentials could not save him, and his sins could not disqualify him. Near the end of his life he could say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful" (2 Timothy 4:7).

Reflect:

  • What do people trust in today to feel right with God?
  • What from your past, success or failure, do you need to let go of to press on toward Jesus?

How Paul's Story Points to Jesus

Paul's confidence wasn't in his résumé or in his past. It was in Jesus, who made him right with God by grace through faith. That is our hope, too. Jesus came to us while we were still running the wrong way, just as He came to Saul on the Damascus road, and He calls us His own. Some of us are held back by what we have done well. Others are held back by what we have done badly. Jesus invites us to set both down and run toward Him.

Live It Out

Write down one thing you will "forget," something from your past you need to stop holding onto, and one step you will take to "press on" toward Jesus this week. Share it with someone who can encourage you. And think about who might need you to be their Ananias or their Barnabas.

Verse to remember: "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT)

A Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You that You came to save sinners, and that Your grace reached even Saul. Turn my passions toward You. Help me let go of what is behind, both my successes and my failures, and press on toward the prize You are calling me to. Help me run with endurance and finish faithfully. In Your name, amen.

Going Deeper