Conversion of Saul of Tarsus

God radically changed the life of Saul of Tarsus, a man who zealously persecuted early Christ-followers, and then God commissioned him to become a prominent leader in the early church.

Saul, a Jewish leader, was very much opposed to Jesus who had declared, “I am the way.” Because Saul believed followers of Jesus were being unfaithful to the one true God and their Jewish faith, he persecuted them. He led in the stoning of Stephen (one of the early servant-leaders of the Jerusalem church) and dragged other believers off to jail, uttering death threats with every breath. He received arrest warrants from the Chief Priest to arrest “Way followers” in Damascus and bring them to Jerusalem.

When Saul was close to Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light and fell to the ground. He heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?”

Saul responded, “Who are you, sir?”

“I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down. Now get up and go into the city where you’ll be told your next step.”

His companions were dumbstruck, hearing the sound but not seeing anyone. As Saul picked himself up off the ground he realized he was blind, so the others led him by hand into Damascus. Three days passed with Saul in darkness. He neither ate nor drank.

Jesus spoke to one of his followers in Damascus named Ananias and told him to go to Straight Avenue and meet Saul who was there praying and would be expecting him. Ananias knew about Saul, that he had come to town with authority to take people to prison, but he obeyed. Jesus told Ananias, “I’ve picked Saul as my representative to take my Word to non-Jews, kings and Jews; and in so doing he will suffer for my sake.”

So Ananias found Saul, placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Master, Jesus whom you saw on your way here, sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At that moment something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he regained his sight! Right then he got up and was baptized, identifying himself with Jesus. Afterward, he had a hearty meal to regain his strength after his three-day fast.

For the next several days Saul met Jesus’ followers in Damascus and proclaimed in the meeting places that Jesus was the Son of God. They weren’t sure they could trust him, saying, “Isn't this the man who wreaked havoc among believers in Jerusalem? Didn't he come here to arrest us and drag us before the High Priest in Jerusalem?”

That didn’t bother Saul. He kept preaching and disarming the Jews in Damascus by proving Jesus was the Messiah.

Back in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they also were afraid of him, not believing he was a Jesus follower. But Barnabas had faith in him and stood up for him before the church leaders. He told them about Saul’s conversion on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus he had laid his life on the line by preaching boldly in Jesus’ name.

From then on he was accepted and continued to preach his Master’s name boldly even among the Jews outside of Jerusalem and Judea who were influenced by Greek culture. This one who first thought of Jesus as an impostor, lying cult leader, a false messiah, now proclaimed him as the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord and Savior of all who call on His name. Saul realized that he himself was a blaspheming, insolent rebel who needed Jesus’ saving grace.