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Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
ACTS 9:1-6
Acts 9 brings to us the compelling story of Saul's conversion to... Not to Christianity, as there was no such name at that time, but to the men and women 'who were of the Way'. Saul was shown the truth about what he had set out to crush and destroy in the name of God, by a blinding light from heaven and Jesus' voice. Those who were with Saul heard 'a voice but seeing no one'.
This cataclysmic moment in Saul's life saw the Lord redirect his zeal for his religion into a powerful vessel for Christ. Saul (his name means 'desired' in Hebrew), eventually becomes known as Paul (from the Latin 'paulos' meaning 'little') although this is not mentioned until Acts 13:9, possibly because as an apostle bringing Christ to Gentiles, a Hebrew name may well have proved to be a hindrance.
In verse 18 we read that when Ananias ('whom Jehovah has graciously given') says to Paul that he would receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit, 'Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.'
All this is happening as Peter was travelling through all parts of the country, healing the sick and infirm, even restoring Dorcas (or Tabitha, 'gazelle') to life.
A lesson for all of us in this chapter, is that Peter was performing miracles, healing by the power of the Holy Spirit, bringing many to faith in Jesus Christ, because he had met Jesus face-to-face; had been taught by Jesus; had first-hand experience of who Jesus is, and that Jesus was alive forevermore. Saul needed to see the reality of the living Christ, and have his darkness blinded by the light of truth in Jesus to bring him to the knowing Jesus as his saviour.
Saul asked Jesus, "Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Saul became known as Paul, and 'increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.'
Our individual stories and experiences will differ, but Jesus wants to shine His incredible life-changing light into our lives, so that we also may become a vibrant testimony to prove that this Jesus is the Christ.
"Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark"
#567: To follow soon...
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