Reading Luke’s account of things, Saul may have been the chief threat to the Christians at the time recorded in Acts 8-9. He was “ravaging the church” (8:3), “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (9:1). He was doing “much harm” to the saints (9:13). He would look back on this part of his life, calling himself a harmful persecutor and killer of Christians (22:3ff; 26:9ff; 1 Cor. 15:9; 1 Tim. 1:13). The last thing we would expect, reading about his violent exploits against followers of Christ, would be a complete turnaround. But that’s what happens in Acts 9.
SAUL’S PLANS ARE CHANGED (1-3). He had letters from the High Priest to authorize his imprisoning of Christians. His zeal and passion to stop Christianity is as strong as could be, but Christ has a message for him. It literally stops him in his tracks. The Christian life can be a sudden, abrupt change even today. When one comes face to face with who Jesus is, it will cause unforeseen, dramatic changes in one’s life!
SAUL’S MIND IS CHANGED (4-7). His entire worldview about who Jesus is changes in what happens on this road to Damascus. He sees a light and hears a voice asking, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (4). He’s not sure who he’s speaking to, but he knows it’s no mere man. Jesus tells Saul who He is, then tells Saul what to do next. He’s not saved on the road, but told to go to Damascus to await news of what he should do (6). The greatest question of life just may be, “Who is Jesus?” Saul thought he knew, but is finding out that everything he thought he knew was wrong.
SAUL’S PERSPECTIVE IS CHANGED (8-18). Saul is blinded on the road. He doesn’t eat, drink, or see for three days. Meanwhile, the Lord commissions a man named Ananias to go preach to Saul. Jesus could have easily laid it out there for Saul, but He chose the “foolishness of preaching” to save this persecutor (cf. 1 Cor. 1:21). Naturally, Ananias was apprehensive about his mission, knowing full well all that Saul had done to the saints (13-15). The Lord reassures the preacher that Saul has changed his mind and is ready to hear what he must do, so Ananias obediently goes to Damascus and preaches to him (17). The hardships and realities of life can totally change our perspective, leaving us receptive to the will of Christ. We might not have been seeking before suffering.
SAUL’S CONDITION IS CHANGED (18). In this moment, he could see–physically and spiritually. With spiritual sight restored, he “got up and was baptized.” Saul would later look back on this and tell us more of what Ananias preached to him. “The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. ‘For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name'” (22:14-16). Baptism changed his spiritual condition before God. It washed away his sins. It brought about the change of condition, opening door to a change of mission. Baptism is but part of God’s saving plan, but it is the point at which sins are forgiven for a penitent believer.
SAUL’S FELLOWSHIP IS CHANGED (19ff). His environment is no longer Christian-haters. It’s the hated Christians. He spends several days with them. He would prove to be such an asset to the saints at Damascus, and he is ultimately, readily accepted as one of them. He fought against the very ones he fought for before becoming a Christian (22), until his former allies plot to kill him (23-24). His new spiritual family helps him steal away (25). He seeks to fellowship with the disciples in Jerusalem, but in an age long before instant communication and technology the word had not reached these saints. They fear he’s an infiltrator, coming among them to do them harm. Can you imagine sitting down for a fellowship meal with the man that imprisoned or killed a friend or loved one? That’s possibly the situation for Saul and these saints. Barnabas, the generous encourager we met in Acts 4, paves the way for Saul’s acceptance. He is ultimately welcomed into the fellowship. Sometimes, our comfort zone is challenged with the addition of new Christians into our fellowship. It could be their worldly background, their income bracket, their skin color, or some similar difference that requires our adjustment. God expects that we’ll overcome any such superficial barriers and see what ties us together–our faith in and following of Jesus.
SAUL’S MESSAGE IS CHANGED (20-31). He proclaimed that Jesus is the Son of God (20). He proved to opposing Jews that Jesus is the Christ (22). He spoke boldly in the name of Jesus (27). He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord, talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews (28-29). As hard as he had been fighting against Jesus, he was now fighting that hard for Him.
No wonder the most operative word is “change.” A change of life changes our mind and outlook, setting up a change of our spiritual state (if we respond properly to teaching) that reflects itself in a change of our spiritual environment and a change of our purpose and mission. No, it won’t happen with the flair and drama that Saul experienced, but the gospel is as powerful today as it was then (cf. Rom. 1:16). If being a disciple of Jesus hasn’t dramatically changed who we are and what we do, it may help us to look at Saul’s life and then our own. He can be an encouraging example that prompts us to go deeper and further in our faith. Conversion involves real change. Jesus says conversion is essential to entering the kingdom of heaven (Mat. 18:3), spiritual healing (John 12:40), and for sins to be wiped away (3:19). May people be able to see the change Jesus has made and is making in us!
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