Is there any student of the Scriptures who would disagree with the statement, “Paul was a powerful preacher of the Gospel”? For three days following his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road he was blind. During these days he did not eat or drink (Acts 9:9). But then he was taught by Ananias the things he must do to be saved and he immediately did them (Acts 9:10-18). Having experienced such a traumatic, yet terrific, event and having fasted for three days Saul’s body must have been somewhat weakened. The next verse in the text informs us, “And when he had received meat, he was strengthened…” (Acts 9:19). This would be a normal physical reaction for the body once it received the nourishment it needed.

The next thing we learn about Saul is that he spent an unspecified number of days with the disciples at Damascus “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20). Those who heard him reacted with amazement (Acts 9:21). It is the next verse that brings us back to our original thought: “But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ” (Acts 9:22). Contextually, it seems this “strength” is not to be associated with his physical wellbeing but rather with his powerful proclamation in “proving” to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

Paul later uses the same word a couple more times in relation to himself and his work as a preacher.  To Timothy he wrote: “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” (2 Tim 4:16–17). To the Philippians he wrote: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

The powerful preaching of Paul was centered not in himself, but was derived from the Lord Himself. Paul knew his power was not in his own oratorical prowess (1 Corinthians 2:4). And neither is ours!

Over the next six weeks or so, we’ll note some points in our Thursday post made by brother Winkler regarding Paul, the powerful preacher. Each of these are necessities for us if we want to be powerful preachers of today and tomorrow.