Connect Paul's experience in 1 Corinthians 15:8 with Acts 9:3-6. What similarities exist? Setting the Scene: Two Key Passages “and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one untimely born.” “3 As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ 5 ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. 6 ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” Shared Elements in Both Accounts • Appearance of the risen Jesus—personal, direct, unmistakable. • Sudden, sovereign initiative of Christ; Paul neither expected nor sought it. • Physical effects—bright light, falling to the ground (Acts 9), coupled with Paul’s later description of himself as “untimely born” (1 Corinthians 15:8), signaling shock and abruptness. • Audible voice of Jesus, revealing His identity and lordship. • Immediate change of direction: from persecutor to apostle. • Commissioning aspect—Jesus assigns a task (“go into the city …”), echoed later in Paul’s lifelong ministry. “Untimely Born”: Paul’s Self-Description • Greek term ἐκτρώματι refers to a premature birth or miscarriage—something unexpected, almost traumatic. • Mirrors the jarring nature of the Damascus encounter: Paul’s apostolic birth was abrupt, outside normal patterns (cf. Acts 1:21-22 for the Twelve). • Highlights grace: Paul contributed nothing; Christ supplied everything (1 Timothy 1:13-16). Seeing the Lord: Apostolic Qualification • 1 Corinthians 9:1 “Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?”—direct sight establishes his authority. • Acts 22:14-15 “The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One…” • Galatians 1:15-16 “God … was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.” • The Damascus vision fulfills the criterion laid out in 1 Corinthians 15:8—Paul is a legitimate witness to the resurrection. Transforming Light and Voice • Light from heaven (Acts 9:3) parallels Old-Testament theophanies (Ezekiel 1:26-28). • Voice that knows Paul’s name—personal, intimate call (John 10:3-4). • Revelation of Jesus’ unity with His people: “Why do you persecute Me?”—Paul later teaches this union in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 and Colossians 1:24. Commissioning and Obedience • Acts 9:6—“Get up and go…” leads to baptism (9:18) and immediate preaching (9:20). • 1 Corinthians 15:10—“By the grace of God I am what I am … I worked harder than all of them.” • Paul’s lifelong labor flows directly from that first appearance; the two texts join origin and ongoing mission. Why the Connection Matters • Validates the resurrection: an enemy turned advocate because he met the risen Christ. • Underscores grace: God interrupts even the most hostile heart. • Confirms Scripture’s harmony: narrative (Acts 9) and epistle (1 Corinthians 15) tell one coherent story. |
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