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Acts Studies, no.12                                                                                                                            The Conversion of Saul (Acts 9:1-31)

Saul, who had consented to Stephen’s death, became an active terrorist. He was deeply convinced that the Christians were wrong in believing that Jesus was the Messiah. He intended to take prisoners of the Jews in Damascus who had converted to Christ. Damascus at that time had a considerable number of Jews living there (Nero later killed 10,000 of them). Many Jews had become Christians. The Sanhedrin possessed no civil authority outside Judea, but they did exercise widespread authority among Jews living in foreign places. The believers at that time had not yet separated from the synagogues. It was at Antioch that they came to be called “Christians” later (Acts 11:26).

Note that the Christians are named as those “who belonged to the Way.” The Christian life is one of active progress, a way of life, not just a passive assent to some truths. We don’t just believe and that’s it. We need to walk the Way (1 John 1:6-7) to progress in faith and holiness. Jesus said, “I am the Way” (John 14:6) and those who believe in Jesus are on the Way!

Saul’s dramatic conversion involved a light from heaven and a voice. Saul fell to the ground, along with his escort (Acts 26:14). In that divine light Saul saw a human form (Acts 26:16; Galatians 1:16). From 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 15:8, we learn that he was seeing the glorified Jesus, though he was not immediately aware of that. Perhaps it was like the vision in Revelation 1:13-16. The voice asked “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul asked: “Who are you, Lord?” To which he heard the response: “I[emphatic] am Jesus, whom you[emphatic] are persecuting.” Note that Jesus said Saul was persecuting him by persecuting the church. The church is Christ’s body. If you persecute the body, you persecute Jesus.

Saul’s companions heard the sound but did not see anyone in the light. Saul was the only one who got to see something of the inexpressible glory of God’s Son and to be addressed by him. After all, to accomplish his task, he had to be—just like the twelve—an eye- and ear-witness of the resurrected Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8). When Saul got up, he found that he was blind. He had to be led by the hand into Damascus, a trembling captive to Jesus Christ, and “did not eat or drink anything” for three days.

During this time of blindness, he must have been reviewing all his past life and actions in the light of his experience of seeing the Lord. His whole worldview was turned upside down. He had once boasted about his Pharisaic lifestyle, his zeal for the traditions, his pride about his knowledge, and walk of life. Now he viewed these as worthless garbage (Philippians 3:7–8). How he had gone astray! His vision of the Law and Prophets was, along with his messianic expectation, thoroughly mistaken. Jesus’ crucifixion was the fulfillment of Scripture and his resurrection confirmed that God had made him Lord and Messiah.

God prepared for Saul’s restoration by giving a vision to Ananias (vv. 10-12). Not surprisingly, Ananias at first demurs (vv.13-14). He knew about Saul’s reputation. The Lord indicated what he had in mind for Saul’s future (vv.15-16). As Paul later explained, “Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.” Ananias obediently set off to the Straight Street and placed his hands on Saul and told him that he would see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Later, Paul narrated the rest of what Ananias had said: “The God of our forefathers has chosen you to make known his will, to show forth the Righteous One, and to sound forth his voice. For you must testify on his behalf before all people concerning what you have seen and heard. What are we waiting for? Come, be baptized and have your sins washed away, as you call upon his name” (Acts 22:14–16). He was immediately baptized and broke his fast.

Saul immediately became a preacher of the Good News that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah and the Son of God. With his extensive learning of the Old Testament, he did not need to go to seminary: he could see how the OT Scriptures were fulfilled in Jesus after his encounter with the risen Lord. As he explained later to the commander of the barracks where he was imprisoned and to the mob that wanted to kill him: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today” (Acts 22:3). He knew the Scriptures very well but did not understand them to refer to Jesus. Since the Lord Jesus had appeared to him, however, and as Lord and Messiah had accepted him, that veil over the Scripture was torn away at once (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:14–16). To his holy amazement he now saw that Moses and the prophets had testified about Jesus (cf. Luke 24:27, 44–45; John 5:39, 45).

Saul’s listeners could hardly believe their ears! They knew of his reputation, so they were baffled, even as he proved to them “that Jesus is the Christ.” After some time, the Jews – those who were not convinced – conspired to kill him, with the help of the civil authorities (2 Corinthians 11:32). For their murderous plan they were able to garner the support of the governor under king Aretas. But Saul learned of their plan and was able to escape by being lowered in a basket from the city wall. Jesus’ saying was fulfilled: “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God” (John 16:2).

In Jerusalem he again had to overcome suspicion and fear. The disciples could not believe that he really was a disciple. Barnabas, whom we have already seen (Acts 4:36-7), again showed his character as a “Son of encouragement” by taking Saul to the apostles and relating his conversion, and how he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. After the apostles approved of Saul, he could speak “boldly in the name of the Lord.” He also talked and debated with the Grecian Jews. They, however, were having none of the message: they tried to kill him. Once again, he escapes death by fleeing, first to Caesarea and then on to Tarsus, his hometown.

In Galatians 1:11-24 Paul explains how he came to be an apostle. In 1 Timothy 1:15-16 Paul again refers to his past and the grace he received.

“I will show him how much he must suffer for my name,” the Lord had said about Saul (Acts 9:16). No fewer than eight times the Jews themselves would conspire to kill him! (Acts 9:23, 29; 14:5, 19; 20:3; 21:31; 23:12; 25:3). They made their first attempt to get rid of him “when many days had passed” after Paul’s calling. With this, Luke must have been referring to a period of several years. In Galatians 1:17 Paul tells us that after his conversion, he had spent some time in “Arabia.” That is what people in that time called the desert regions that extended from southeast of Israel up to Damascus (cf. 2:11). How long he had stayed there Paul does not say. Paul does mention that he returned from that “Arabia” to Damascus (Galatians 1:17–18).

Verse 31 is one of those summarizing statements before the next adventure is related. The church “enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

Questions:

Paul’s conversion was sudden. Is it always so? If not, why not?

If someone walked up to you and said, “I am an apostle,” how would you respond?

How did Jesus purge Saul of his self-righteousness?

Romans 13:1-5 teaches that the civil authorities are God’s servants “to do you good,” but in practice they often conspire with the enemies of God to harm the Christians. How should we respond to that?

– Alida Sewell