How does Acts 9:21 connect to 2 Corinthians 5:17 about new creation? Setting the Scene: A Radical Turnaround Saul of Tarsus stormed toward Damascus breathing threats, but within days he was proclaiming the very Jesus he had opposed. Acts 9 records the shock this caused; later, Paul himself writes 2 Corinthians and explains the spiritual reality behind such a change. Acts 9:21 – Shock and Awe in Damascus “All who heard him were amazed and asked, ‘Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’” Key observations • The crowd confronts the contradiction: persecutor turned preacher. • Their amazement is empirical evidence that something supernatural has happened. • The question they ask—“Isn’t this the man…?”—highlights the stark contrast between Saul’s past and his present. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – The Divine Explanation “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” What Paul lays out doctrinally • Union with Christ is the decisive factor—“in Christ.” • Regeneration isn’t cosmetic; it’s creation language—God brings forth something entirely new (Genesis 1 echoes). • Past identity (“the old”) is truly gone; a fresh, Spirit-born identity has arrived (John 3:3–8). Connecting the Dots: Seen Reality and Spiritual Fact Acts 9:21 gives the visible, historical narrative; 2 Corinthians 5:17 supplies the theological lens. • Acts shows onlookers encountering the outward fruit of the new creation; 2 Corinthians reveals the inner root. • “Isn’t this the man…?” parallels “the old has passed away.” • The amazement of others validates the authenticity of the work God has done within Saul. Living Proof: Evidences of a New Creation Saul/Paul’s life displays features every believer can expect: - A new allegiance: from persecuting Christ (Acts 8:3) to preaching Christ (Acts 9:20). - A new ambition: from seeking letters of arrest (Acts 9:1-2) to writing letters of life (Romans, Ephesians, etc.). - A new community: accepted by those he once hunted (Acts 9:26-28; Galatians 1:23-24). - A new power source: filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17), enabling bold testimony (Romans 15:18-19). Taking It Home: Embracing Your New Identity - If you are “in Christ,” your past no longer dictates your present or future. - Visible change—speech, values, relationships—flows from an inner creation event. - God intends your transformation to provoke godly amazement in others, just as Saul’s did. - Daily renewal (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10) keeps the contrast vivid: the old life stays buried, the new life stays evident. Supplementary Scriptures • Galatians 1:13-16 – Paul recounts his violent past and God’s call. • Titus 3:5 – “He saved us…through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” • Philippians 3:7-9 – The exchange of old credentials for new righteousness. • Ezekiel 36:26 – Promise of a new heart and spirit, fulfilled in Christ. |
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