A Life Changing Conversion (October 13, 2024)

Saul of Tarsus, the self-proclaimed prosecutor, judge and jury of Jesus of Nazareth and His followers, the Christians. In our passage today, he becomes Paul, the great apostle to the world.

From this point on in the Book of Acts, and in fact in all the New Testament, Paul becomes the dominant servant of the Lord. From all indications, only the Lord Himself superseded the dedication of this man, a man who had been forgiven so much, even the slaughter of great numbers of God’s people. His life and ministry hold so many lessons for the believer, it is impossible to cover even a smattering in one footnote. For this reason, it is not even being attempted. Instead, the major features of his life are being covered in the passages where they are mentioned. The present passage covers Saul’s confrontation with the Lord. It is an excellent study on conversion.

Acts 9:1–9 ~ “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

Saul’s former life, he burned with a flaming fury against Christ and His disciples. Saul was consumed with a fierce anger and wrath against Christ and His disciples. He “breathed out threatenings and slaughter.” The words “breathing out” in the Greek are really breathing in (inhaling). The picture is that of Saul breathing in, taking into his heart the evil of destroying Christ and His disciples. Of course, what is in the heart is what comes out. Saul actually hunted down and slaughtered believers—many of them. Saul was given over to a fierce objective, that of destroying all the followers of Jesus, and he even volunteered to arrest and bring the believers back to Jerusalem for a trial.

As he is on his journey, there was a light from heaven. Notice that it was while Saul was set on his slaughter of believers that he was stricken down by the light from the Lord. It was in the midst of his ferocious evil that he was saved. (There is hope for all, for anyone of us.) The light was great and brighter than the noonday sun. When it burst forth, Saul saw the Lord standing in the midst of it. The light radiated from the Lord Himself.

• Matthew 17:2 ~ “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.”
• 1 John 1:5 ~ “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
• 1 Timothy 6:16 ~ “who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”
• Psalm 104:2 ~ “covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.”

When the light was shining on Saul, there was a confrontation with the Lord. He heard a voice speak to him. Note: he alone heard the voice. The others heard a sound but could not distinguish the words (v. 7). The message was a personal message to Paul alone.

• There was the charge of terrible sin, of opposing and persecuting the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus called Saul by name, twice, thus showing …
  • It shows tenderness, love and concern, and an appeal to listen and heed.
  • It shows rebuke and warning. Saul was treading on dangerous ground. He was close to the brink, about to fall over the edge of no return or recovery. Opposing Christ is serious, so serious it dooms a person to hell unless there is repentance.

• There was a request to know the Lord. Saul knew that the light and the person seen in the midst of the light and the voice all came from heaven. He knew that he was being confronted by a heavenly being. But who? Saul asks, “Who are you, Lord?”

• The shattering truth is a real eye-opener to every person who opposes Jesus.
  • Jesus is the Lord, the One whom the sinner is opposing. The truth shattered Saul, broke him in utter submission. Why? Because it meant …
    • that every stone cast at Stephen was a stone cast against God Himself
    • that every home he had stormed into was a home that truly worshipped God
    • that every person he had forcibly dragged through the streets to jail was a true follower of God
    • that every woman he had abused was a child of God
    • that everyone he had chained and imprisoned was a true servant of God
    • that every synagogue he had stormed was the true house of God
    • that every believer he had tracked down and persecuted was a true believer
    • that every person who he had killed, was a charge of murder against him
    • that he was lost, truly lost, separated from god and doomed to hell
    • that his life was a total wreck, being totally deceived and misdirected, bent on utter destruction
    • that he stood no chance of escaping the guilt of his sin and the doom of hell apart from the greatest act of mercy every shown by God

• It is hard to kick against conscience. Saul was questioning, fighting, struggling within himself over the truth. He had chosen the hard way of life. Every person who rebels against God has chosen a hard way, a difficult life, a life that is doomed to uncertainty and always wondering about the future …
  • never possessing the assurance and confidence of being acceptable to God
  • never being sure if he is right
  • never having the permanent peace and security of God

But we know there was a surrender in Saul’s life. Saul was trembling and in utter shock. He was devastated, hardly able to bear up under the weight of the sin for which he was now being charged. He knew beyond question he was the most terrible sinner. His only hope was to turn to and obey the Lord Jesus. He did what every man must do to be forgiven of his terrible sins: He called upon and acknowledge the Lord Jesus; He surrendered to obey Jesus; and he followed what God had instructed him to do.

Notice that God didn’t answer nor give Saul a minister task right away, after his experience. Saul couldn’t bear anything right now; he was a shattered man. He needed time for prayer, meditation, for straightening out his mind and for assurance from the Spirit of God now dwelling within him. Saul needed maturing, he needed contact and companionship of another believer. It was going to take guidance from a mature believer that Saul had been converted and undergone a radical change for the Christian community to accept him.

We also see obedience from Saul. Saul did just what the Lord told him: he arose and went into the city. But notice several facts:

• His eyes were closed during the whole experience and he is now blind, for three days he is blind. He was helpless and had to be completely led by others.

• His mind would now be shut up in the world of thought. He would be left alone …
  • to continue praying over his terrible shame
  • to learn and know beyond question that the Lord had confronted him
  • to think through the confrontation with the Lord
  • to wonder what changes there would be in his life now
  • to switch his mind and thought patterns, his purpose in life from the past life of religion to the present life with Christ
  • to wonder why Jesus was choosing him
  • to wonder what Jesus wanted with him and what Jesus was going to tell him to do

Next, we will be looking at the needs of a new convert in Acts 9:10-18.