It couldn’t be a bigger reversal. God had chosen him (verse 15); but when did God choose him? But if he had been in Arabia/Damascus for three years, wouldn’t they have gotten the message in Jerusalem by this time? He is already living in Damascus and is well respected. Because the light blinds him, the people have to take him by the hand and lead him. Damascus is about 150 miles north of Jerusalem. If he found “any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women,” he would bring them back as prisoners to Jerusalem. Everything that happens in Chapters 21-28 is related to Paul as a prisoner of Rome. Saul falls to the ground and hears a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” As a devout Jew, Saul knows this is something heavenly, that this is a divine manifestation of something. He is credited with writing 13 of the 27 books. The Lord had a plan for this man’’s life, and with his conversion that plan began to unfold. Imagine what he was like on that horse -- the power and authority he embodied, and the expectations he had. The conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) represents a critical point in the … But at this moment – the event of his conversion – he experienced a revelation of Jesus Christ and was called upon to be an apostle to the Gentiles. And then it says, “The church throughout Judea, Samaria, and Galilee enjoyed a time of peace.”. Truth is, though, they weren’t any happier to see him in Jerusalem than were the people in Damascus. Click the button below to register and receive access to your masterclass. To Jerusalem. So where did he go from Damascus? Imprisoned saints persecuted them to the death, Asked for letters to arrest believers in Damascus, On route to Damascus by commission of the priests and elders to arrest believers in Damascus, Received a authority from the high priest, Jesus appeared to him, "Saul, why do you persecute me? This truth is emphasised in Acts 9:10-16, and especially in verses 15-16. The word “flash” is an intense word, giving the sense that something incredible has happened. But ultimately, he does go back to Cilicia (his hometown) and works from there. Scales Fall From His Eyes Everything that happens in Chapters 13-28 of Acts is related to apostle Paul. We do not always know the exact moment of our conversion, any more than we remember when we were born into this world, but if we are converted there must have been such a moment. The Father in love planned our salvation; the Lord Jesus in His death purchased our salvation; and the Holy Spirit in His present ministry conveyed this salvation (Philippians 1:6). Introduction It should therefore be our chief concern to discover and to do the will of God. The men with Saul did not see the risen Jesus, but Saul did. On the Road to Damascus Are you completely different since you were converted? So it's not likely that Saul sat at Peter's knee learning how to do mission work. When God saved us it was with a view to the salvation of others, others in our family, with whom you work, others whose lives we touch, to whom we would minister the Word of God. He finds Saul and places his hands upon him saying, “Brother, Saul, the Lord has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” The response is immediate. Our conversion took place suddenly. This is a technique that Luke often uses – he’ll give us information by telling someone in the story about what’s happening to someone else. But nothing makes sense. Paul's conversion was then confirmed through baptism and the receiving of God's Holy Spirit. The Greek word conveys the idea of a pencil sketch which an artist will draw before he settles down to produce his masterpiece, or a ‘’first proof’’ which a printer will produce before he prints in quantity. Scholars would love to know what topics they discussed. And again, it’s “the brothers” in Jerusalem who take him down to Caesarea and ship him off to Tarsus. This truth is well illustrated in Acts 9. It is not too long before the Hellenists in Jerusalem turn against him. However, this just points to a scene of confusion. The Life and Times of Paul – Paul's Conversion. It looks like they care very much about him, that they’re trying to protect him, and that they’re all unified. Both literally and metaphorically, Saul certainly has a new viewpoint of everything. Consider, then, seven respects in which Paul was a model convert. The late Dr Campbell Morgan has suggested that these words mean, ‘‘Saul, there are forces playing about you that would drive you in one direction, and you are kicking against them.’’ What were these forces? Paul's conversion showed that Jesus himself wanted the gospel message to go to the Gentiles, quashing any argument from the early Jewish Christians that the gospel was only for the Jews. But Saul was about to have his own encounter with the Lord. That’s who I am.”. But suddenly he’s on the ground - groveling and talking. Of course, it appears the brothers are really very interested in his welfare. He was completely transformed –- a very good illustration of 2 Corinthians 5:17. ", Jesus appeared to me, "Saul, why do you persecute me? This is what Jonah meant when he said –- Jonah 2:9 (last five words); what Paul meant when he wrote –- Ephesians 2:8-10. A Complete Conversion All rights reserved. It’s quite a change from the leader they have been following. The Jews living there become so upset with him that they conspire to kill him. The people in Jerusalem didn’t trust him either. This miraculous message was meant for one person only, Saul. Remarkably, however, there is no place where Saul ever expresses a guilty conscience about his previously persecuting activities. In the year 32 or 33 CE, as Saul approaches his destination, a light from heaven suddenly flashes around him. Maybe they should have understood, but these are some of the questions that cannot be answered definitively. In the meantime, readers begin to see what God’s been up to when another disciple, Ananias, is introduced. Read again Acts 9:1-18 and marvel at the fact that this persecutor and enemy and leader of the anti-Christian group was suddenly and completely changed into a humble, enquiring, penitent follower and an obedient servant of the Lord. The apostle Paul wrote nearly half the New Testament. If we read the record we cannot fail to be convinced that Paul’’s conversion was sudden. He wrote about his previous work persecuting Christians several times in his letters. According to Gal 1:18, Saul spent some time with Peter during this visit to Jerusalem. God did the work of saving Paul from start to finish, and God is always the Author and the Finisher of salvation. When a man is truly converted certain things always happen. Thus we see that Paul’’s conversion was an example of what God accomplishes in the lives of all who are saved by His grace, and therefore all conversions are similar to his conversion. There is an actual, specific, precise moment when we are born again (John 3:5); when we pass from death to life (John 5:24); when we are translated out of Satan’’s kingdom into the kingdom of God’’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13); and when we enter into an experience of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Paul’’s was a model conversion in that it was all the work of God. But the question reverberates in his head: “Why do you persecute me?”, In response, Paul asks, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply is, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Literally written, it would be: “I, I am Jesus, whom you, you, are persecuting.” “I” and “you” are both emphasized. Of the Mediterranean world may even think he ’ s been up to another! 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