THE CONVERSION OF SAUL

 THE CONVERSION OF SAUL

ACTS 9:1-9

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus

Acts 9:1-9, New International Version

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared 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.”

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

BACKGROUND

In the book of Acts, we are told of the remarkable conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who later became known as the Apostle Paul. He is the most distinguished of the Apostles, highly intelligent,  profound and overly zealous of his Jewish faith. Paul was born in Tarsus in Cilicia a province in what is now known as modern-day Tersous, Turkey. By lineage he was from the tribe of Benjamin of pure Hebrew ancestry (Philippians 3:5–6). His parents were Pharisees—fervent Jewish nationalists who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses. They were rabid legalists. By citizenship Paul was a Roman citizen simply because he was born a citizen under Roman law. He was sent to Judea to study  under the well known and great Jewish Rabbi named Gamaliel,  where he learned and mastered Jewish history, the Jewish Scripture, the Mosaic law, and the works of the Prophets. He was a brilliant student of great talent,  and intellect. With an extremely sharp analytical mind he could debate anyone about the finer points of Jewish law. He could speak Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Aramaic. As a Pharisee Saul was a legal luminary, a Jewish lawyer of no ordinary ability. He was acquainted with Greek and Roman Philosophies. It is believed that he was a member of the Jewish Supreme Court the Sanhedrin. Saul was zealous for his faith, and this faith did not allow for compromise. It is this zeal that led Saul down the path of religious extremism. He established  a reputation as the enemy, relentless persecutor, and violent hunter of Christians.

The most amazing thing was that Jesus  chose Saul to be an Apostle, and while Saul pursued the Christians, God also pursued and hounded him until he met the Lord Jesus Christ in the road to Damascus. Upon his conversion he became known as Paul. A changed man, a new name.

Saul's conversion, like the other conversion stories in the Bible is amazing and supernatural. It would take a great display of God’s power to turn this Hebrew Zealot into a follower of Christ.

In Acts 22:3-4 Paul admitted he persecuted the followers of The Way, meaning the Christians. He pursued them with the intention of putting them to prison or to death. Saul was blinded by his religious extremism and prejudice.

PERSECUTION BY SAUL  (Acts 9:1b-2)

“. . . still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,”

-- Saul was a hardened, prejudiced Hebrew who hated the name of Jesus.  He regarded Christianity as a cult that must be exterminated. He was breathing the air of hate, violence and murder.  Saul was obsessed with the elimination of Christianity from the face of the earth.

In Acts 26:9-11, Saul described himself in this way: “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.  And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities” (Acts 26:9-11).

Due to persecution centered around the death of Stephen, many Christians fled to various parts of the Roman Empire.  Apparently a good number of them had taken refuge in Damascus in Syria.  When Saul heard that Christianity was making inroads into Judaism in Damascus, he was even more enraged.  He went to the high priest and asked for authority to root out and chain any Christians who were bothering the Jewish community in Damascus.  They were to be brought back to Jerusalem for a proper trial and probably put to death.  Saul hated Christ.

By way of reflection there are many Christians today who are suffering persecution even death in the  hands of people like Saul of Tarsus whose blind prejudice and violent acts are like Saul's. Today Christians are mocked and ridiculed.  Christians are hated by the world because they hate the belief that Christ is the only way to salvation and without Christ as personal Lord and Savior, a person will perish for all eternity. Christians are different.  They have a life style that is different.  After a person trusts in Christ as Lord and Savior, his pathway is the pathway of Christ and the Holy Scriptures.  Christianity is the way of salvation and a specific way of life, and this is what will impress the unsaved world about the reality of Christianity.

THE CONVERSION OF SAUL  (Acts 9:3-5)

“And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus,”  --  Damascus was about one hundred fifty miles from Jerusalem and it took about five or six days to make the trip. He probably was accompanied by a group of Jewish-soldiers of the temple guard.  His heart was pumping and his blood was running hot to capture the heretical Christians.  It was noonday and the sun rays were blistering hot but Saul relentlessly pushed on with his small band of soldiers to pursue the Christians.

“. . . and suddenly alight from heaven flashed around him; . . .”  --  Quite suddenly a supernatural light, extraordinarily bright radiated around Saul of Tarsus.  This was not a lightning bolt from heaven for it was a sunny day.  It was the magnificent light of the resurrected and glorified Christ who appeared to Saul of Tarsus.  Saul saw the face of the glorified Savior.  We know on the Mount of Transfiguration Christ’s face “shown like the sun.”  The brilliant light of the Savior's face eclipsed the noonday sun.  So bright was the light that Saul was blind for three days, and probably had eye trouble because of this blinding light for which suffered.  Saul saw the Lord Jesus Christ and he testified over and over again that he saw the Lord.

“Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” (I Cor. 9:1a)“. . .and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, he appeared to me also!” (I Cor. 15:8).

There is no question that  Saul had a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus.  It was an amazing act of grace when Christ  appeared to this hater of Christians.  Had not Christ intervened in Saul’s life he would have never been saved.

“And he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’”  --  The angry and ferocious  Saul found himself groveling in the dust as the radiance of Christ struck him.  Saul came face to face with the glorified Christ.  He saw the light; he heard voices and he was astounded and perplexed by what was happening to him.  Saul had no idea he was persecuting Jesus.  He thought he was persecuting Christians.  It was right here that the Apostle Paul received his first inkling of the spiritual union of a Christian with Christ. Jesus identifies Himself so closely with Christians that it is impossible to persecute Christians without persecuting Christ.  To touch a Christian with hatred and violence is to touch Christ.  Saul was getting an indirect lesson in theology from the glorified Christ.

“And he said, ‘Who art Thou, Lord’”  --  Saul immediately recognized the light and voice as from the Lord-God but he did not know it was Christ who was appearing to him.  Saul may have expected that the God of Judaism would appear to him for he believed in the supernatural.  However, the last person in the world he expected to encounter from heaven was Jesus of Nazareth.  Saul was probably the most brilliant and religious man of his day but he did not know Jesus Christ even when He appeared to him.  

“And he said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, . . .’”  --  Christ's answer to Saul leaves no doubt as to the identity of the One who appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus.  The Lord said, “I am Jesus.”  It was Jesus of Nazareth whom Saul hated so much and it was Jesus whom he must recognize, acknowledge and serve.  Saul had to change his whole attitude about Christ.  He hated Jesus of Nazareth and now he must fall down and worship Him.

“It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”  A goad is a  pointed piece of iron on the end of a stick which was used to prod an ox to move more rapidly.  Saul was kicking against the goads of God which were pricking his conscience.  This tells us that Saul, who on the outside was totally hardened to Christ, was on the inside struggling with his conscience.  Deep inside he was hearing again and again the voice of the dying martyr, Stephen.  The Holy Spirit was convicting Saul through all of his persecutions of Christians.

THE CAPITULATION OF SAUL  (Acts 9:6a) 

At this very point in time, Saul was converted.  God had worked grace in his heart and he responded to Christ as Lord.  He believed and repented; that is, he changed his mind about Jesus of Nazareth.  Saul acknowledged Jesus as Lord.  Absolutely no one can call Jesus, Lord, except by the Holy Spirit and only saved people have the Holy Spirit.  “Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God …..can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (I Cor. 12:3).  At this point, Saul bowed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  He surrendered his will to Christ and he became a man under orders from his Lord Jesus Christ.  Saul capitulated.  

Saul had very little understanding of Christ or of salvation at this point but he humbly bowed his will to Christ as Lord and Savior and in a moment of time he was saved. Paul gave evidence of the fruit of true repentance when he said, “What shall I do?”  He was ready to do the bidding of his Lord even though he did not have the slightest idea how to follow Christ.  A truly saved man always gives evidence of true repentance by his works.  “So then, you will know then by their fruits" (Matt. 7:20).

DIRECTION OF SAUL (Acts 9:6b)

“. . . but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.”  --  Saul was beginning to experience a new life style which belongs only to a Christian.  His whole approach to life was changed.  Paul’s conversion turned around his life. Conversion is a radical change of giving up control of one’s life and allow Christ to take control.  Saul, from this point on, would no longer be giving orders but taking orders from the glorified Christ.

THE HUMILIATION OF SAUL  (Acts 9:7-8)

“And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.” 

Saul was saved at this point.  What can we say but that Saul was an object of divine election?  He was chosen by God to salvation and consequently he believed in Christ.  In this very context, Saul is referred to as a “chosen vessel.”

“But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.’  But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;’” (Acts 9:13-15).

Saul of Tarsus is a perfect example of one who had a supernatural conversion from beginning to ending.  Christ invaded Saul's life.  Christ crashed into Saul's own sovereign domain.  Christ intervened.  Christ took the initiative to save Saul or he would have never been saved. Saul hated Christ and was not seeking Christ.  Saul hated Christ and was running from Him but Christ invaded his life.  Saul was called by God and later realized he was a chosen vessel.  It is remarkable that Paul’s teaching on election permeates his Epistles. He understood his salvation was no accident but planned by God. Though an enemy of Christ he had been called and chosen.

In his Letter to the Thessalonians Paul wrote, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.  And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thess. 2)

Christ came crashing into Saul's life and in sovereign grace saved him.  Saul of Tarsus knew something of the grace of God in his salvation.  God laid hold of him.

 “And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open; he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him to Damascus.”  --  This proud arrogant, boastful young Pharisee had been broken and humbled by the sovereign Christ.  Blinded by Christ, he must now be led by the hand into Damascus.  It took Christ to break Saul of Tarsus and Christ broke him like a tamed horse.

CONFUSION IN SAUL (Acts 9:9)

“And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”  --  Christ allowed Saul to go three days without his sight and for three days he fasted.  Saul probably did not completely understand what had happened to him.  He was a man as puzzled and confused as any man had ever been.  He knew he saw Jesus.  He knew he bowed to Him as Lord.  He probably did not understand much more than that and his mind must have been filled with thousands of thoughts. Christ blinded Saul's eyes so he could see the truth.

PAUL’S TESTIMONY

 “. . . even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.  And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.  It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (I Tim. 1:13-15).

Christ is alive and He is converting men and women today.  What will it take for Christ to break you so you will bow before Him as Lord and Savior?  The very moment you say, “Thank you, Lord, for dying for me,” you shall be saved.  You will come to understand that Christ has invaded your life. Take this from the life of this great Apostle, a sinner saved by grace.