One does not have to persecute Christians outright to demonstrate opposition to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Speaking against Christianity to people, soliciting them to join your “religion” or “organization” in itself is demonstrating opposition to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In looking back over my life when I was a member of a lodge, I realized that because their god was called by another name and because people were canvassed to join the lodge, I was demonstrating opposition to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Please read:
Ac 26:9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Ac 26:11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
1) As a fanatical, legalistic, letter of the law Pharisee, Paul demonstrated his opposition to the name of Jesus. The words … “do all that was possible to oppose” carries the connotation of a hostile, antagonistic opposition act or feeling. This means, the opposition arose from a hatred and anger in the heart that expressed itself in the act of seeking authorization from the chief priests (those who now persecuted him) to have Christians (saints) imprisoned and when necessary to vote for their execution. His fanaticism escalated to the level of head hunting Christians to have them punished in order to intimidate and force them to blaspheme (slander the name of God) … which would result in a death sentence. In explaining what he was like he says … “my obsession against them.” In Greek this means to be exceedingly mad with rage against someone. Here we see Paul’s motivation to destroy the Church. Before salvation he was motivated by the forces of evil to destroy the work of God. Let us stop and reflect here a while. If we, in anger against a Christian or a Church have sought its downfall or harm, we have served the evil one and have opposed the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Should you be unhappy in the Church, pray. Should there be no results to prayer, speak to the leaders. If nothing can be done to sort matters out, leave the Church, but leave in peace.
2) The meaning of the name “saints”. It means to be set apart for God to be exclusively His. Where this term was associated with the Jews because God chose them as His people in Abraham, it is transferred to Christianity with the meaning that all believers, Jew and Gentile are God’s exclusive property. He, through the Blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus bought us (redeemed us) from the spiritual slave market of the devil. We are now His property … and He has not left us as slaves, he has legally adopted us as His sons. We are now part of His eternal family. You need to appreciate this glorious truth. In Glory we shall not be angels or any other beings that have been created. We shall be part of the Bride of Christ. As Children of God, in heaven we will image the likeness of the Lord Jesus as Adam was supposed to in the Garden. We are the saints of God, belonging exclusively to God. Our redemption price is the Blood Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ! Before conversion Paul was an obsessed, fanatical, Christian head hunter, Pharisees. He attempted to eradicate the Church thinking he was doing God a favor. Once he was converted he was a true saint belonging exclusively to God. This is true of you if you are truly Christian!
3) Meeting the risen, reigning Lord Jesus Christ. We have been through this territory already but it is worthwhile to be a little repetitive.
Ac 26:12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”
(1) He informs the king that as he and his companions travelled to Damascus, licensed by the chief priests to arrest Christians, they were confronted with a light shining brighter than the sun. It was such a dazzlingly bright light that shone all around them, blinding them and causing them to fall face down on the ground. Paul heard a voice speaking. It seems as though the NIV ought to read Hebrew and not Aramaic. Also, it is possible that a scribe included … “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” One commentator agrees that even if left out it does not change the intent of the verse. Breaking down the saying we see three things.
(i) The word “hard” does not mean impossible. It implies very difficult.
(ii) The word “kick” means to strike with the heel. It seems the picture would be to kick backwards.
(iii) The word “goads” refers to long, sharp ended sticks that were used to poke the oxen as they ploughed, to get them to move in a certain direction. They would jab the goad into the hind legs of the ox to get the animal to cooperate. Jesus’ words to Saul (Paul) implies that the persecution of Jesus and His Cause is painful … more so to Saul (Paul).
(2) His transformed mission in life. Rather than persecute Jesus (the Church) he would now be Jesus’ servant and witness. Both these words are linked to the Gospel. He would serve Jesus by being a servant of the Gospel through witnessing to hearers what he experienced with Jesus on the Damascus Road and what Jesus would reveal to him in time.
(3) He tells Agrippa that Jesus told him He would rescue him from the Jews as well as the Gentiles so that he could be His servant and witness to both Jews and Gentiles by opening up the Gospel to them.
(4) Look at what shall transpire when he fulfils the will of Jesus:
Ac 26:18 “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Only the Gospel can open the spiritually blind eye. Only the Gospel can turn a dead soul from spiritual darkness to spiritual light. Only the Gospel can achieve true forgiveness of sins. Only the Gospel can provide a place with Jesus when people repent and believe because then they are sanctified! Remember the Book of Acts is the Work of the Holy Spirit. His mission is to lift Jesus up through anointing preaching and wooing souls to salvation. Beloved, use the Gospel because it alone is the power of God to save souls.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your redemptive work at Calvary. As You sent Paul, so You sent us Your people. Help us to share the Gospel and please use even us to bring souls to You for salvation. Amen.