96 The Conversion of Saul [Acts 9:1–19]
The Bible passage: [Acts 9:1–19]
The Story:
Saul was a Jewish man, highly educated in the Jewish law, and a Pharisee. Saul aggressively opposed the church, entering the homes of believers and sending them to prison.
Saul went to the high priest 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 might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he was nearing Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
“Who are You, Lord?” he said.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. “Get up and go into the city, and you will be told what to do.”
The men who were traveling with him were speechless. They heard the sound but saw no one.
Saul got up from the ground, but he could see nothing. They took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days, and did not eat or drink.
There was a disciple named Ananias in Damascus.
The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Here I am, Lord!” he said.
“Get up and go to Straight Street to the house of Judas.” the Lord said, “Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying there. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he may regain his sight.”
Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. He has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name to Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”
Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul stayed with the disciples in Damascus for some days.
The Lessons:
- This is the same Saul that we read about in 94 The Stoning of Stephen. Later he goes by the name of Paul. Going by two names was a common practice at that time. Saul is a Hebrew name. Paul is a Roman name. The only thing you really need to know is that Saul and Paul are the same person in the New Testament.
- This Bible story refers to “the Way”, which is another name for the church, or Christianity.
- We have another instance of “Here I am“ in this story.
- Ananias mentions “the saints” in this story. The word comes from a Greek word which means holy, sacred, or pious. Basically, the word saints refers to holy people, or those who have dedicated their lives to Jesus.
- At the end of the story, Saul was baptized as a testimony of the change in his life.
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