Paul’s Conversion
April 14, 2020
Commentary
In this passage we have the most famous conversion story in history. We have reached a turning point in the Book of Acts. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who was the leading persecutor of Christians, was perhaps the greatest event in Church history after Pentecost. Here we find a man who thought he was doing God a favor by persecuting the church. He had asked for authority from the high priest in Jerusalem to bring any Damascus Christians to Jerusalem for trial (vv. 1-2). However, God had other plans for him. When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven flashed on him (v. 3). He fell to the ground and heard a voice that said, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting to me” (v. 4)? Then someone had to lead him to Damascus by the hand (vv. 7-8).
The following describes his conversion experience:
1. There was conviction – “it is hard for you to kick against the pricks” (v. 5).
2. There was conversion – When the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecuted” (v. 5).
3. There was consecration – When Paul asked, “What would you have me to do?” (v. 6).
4. There was communion – For three days he was without sight, food, or water (v. 9).
Saul was out to arrest others when the Lord arrested him. Despite his great learning (Acts 26:24) he was spiritually blind (II Corinthians 3:12-18). Like many others, he stumbled over the cross (I Corinthians 1:23) because he depended on his own righteousness. (Philippians 3:1-10). When Saul suddenly found himself on the ground, his spiritual eyes were opened, but his physical eyes were closed. He entered Damascus a changed man. And how changed he was as Saul becomes Paul.
Application
If I knew I would lose my sight tomorrow, what would I want to see today? What does this tell me about myself? It is my job to help give spiritual sight to those who are blind spiritually.
Acts 9:1– 9 (NET)
1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he was going along, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” He replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting! 6 But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do.” 7 (Now the men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one.) 8 So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, his companions brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything.
Illustration: A Right Turn on the Road of Conversion
The decisive act in which a sinner turns away from sin in genuine repentance and accepts the salvation that Christ offers. The imagery in conversion is that of turning. A person is going along a road and realizes that he or she is on the wrong track. They will never reach the destination if they continue in that direction. So the person “turns,” or “is converted.” He or she ceases to go in the wrong direction and begins going in the right one. Conversion changes the direction of one’s course of life from the wrong way to the right way. (The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, p. 347).