By Jane G.
Acts 9:1-22, Acts 22:6-16, Acts 26:9-18
Introduction: Today we will cover the dramatic encounter between Saul (the persecutor) and the risen Christ (the persecuted One). As in the gospel accounts, we have much that has been written about this event to draw on. In the primary text we will be covering (Acts 9), we have Luke’s account of Saul’s conversion. But we also have two narratives in Paul’s own words to draw from; Acts 22---Paul’s defense in Jerusalem and Acts 26---Paul’s defense before Agrippa. When we put all these narratives together, we get near complete picture of the person of Saul: his background, education, motivation…. all of which led him to be, in his own words, “zealous toward God”.
Read Acts 9:1,2
Luke records in Acts 7 and 8 that Saul was present at Stephen’s stoning and consented to his death. Paul later acknowledged the same in his appearance in Jerusalem. (Acts 22:20) He now reintroduces him as one who had grown even more powerful and antagonistic towards believers.
Let’s look at how Paul describes himself as an unbeliever:
According to his testimony in Jerusalem (Acts 22), he was a Jew, born in Tarsus, brought up under the feet of Gamaliel.
Highly educated in Greek and Hebrew, an authority on the scriptures. A source of pride and superiority.
Phil 3:5-6 Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness, which is in the law, blameless.
Holding the moral high ground. A source of self-righteousness.
Gal 1:13-14 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Holding to a form of godliness, leading to an attitude of righteous indignation towards all that opposed that tradition.
Acts 26:9-11"Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Driven by blinding rage and vigilante justice.
Paul said in his appearance before the Jewish authorities that he, “persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” (Acts 22:4)
He, along with the Pharisees, believed that “The Way” was a sect. The word sect here is described as heresy. Knowing that this is how Saul viewed this new religious movement, as heresy, it is easy to understand why he had such zeal to destroy it.
George Whitefield describes Saul’s derogatory attitude towards the Way like this:
“Paul styles them men and women of this way. I doubt not but that he represented them as a company of upstart enthusiasts, that lately had gotten into a new method or way of living; that would not be content with temple service, but they must be righteous
over-much and have their private meetings or conventicles (unlawful religious gatherings), and break bread, as they call it, from house to house, to the great disturbance of the established clergy and to the subversion of utter decency!”
The term the Way was the original name given for those who followed Jesus. This is an accurate description because they were people of a different way of life than what they had been before. This new way of life was a threat to the old!! Jesus came to change the paradigm, and it would be through His followers that the world would see the example of a transformed life.
This was never made clearer than in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5) He says repeatedly, “You have heard it said, ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not swear falsely, you shall love your neighbor. But I say….” (You know the rest!)
The ultimate paradigm shift:
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Rom 13:8-10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
LEGALISM EXPOSED—LOVE REVEALED!!
In Paul’s well-noted chapter on LOVE, in 1Corinthians, he introduces the subject by stating that he would show his readers the most excellent way! (1Cor 12:31)
This is the Way; he was seeking to extinguish…the way of love.
Read Acts 9:3-6a
Paul adds some details in his other testimonies, the time of day was around noon, which would be the brightest time of the day. The light that shone around him was brighter than the sun and was so intense that it caused him to fall immediately to the ground. This encounter was so jarring that it caused him to go into what we would call fight or flight mode. Saul was in the supernatural presence of Someone of such awesome stature that all he could do is fall on his face.
Then, out of the blinding light came the voice that only Saul could understand, calling out his name, not once but twice (for emphasis) and asking him the pointed question, “Why are you persecuting Me?” This explains why the others couldn’t comprehend…this was a private communication between the judge and the accused.
Jesus was saying to Saul that he wasn’t persecuting a “movement” or a “sect” OR as some who don’t understand Christianity today call a “social construct.” He was persecuting a Person!!
Remember that fact the next time you are persecuted! Jesus said often in so many words that if they hated Him, they would hate His followers.
Matt 5:11-12 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus gives us a glimpse into the process that He used with Saul: The Goads!
According to Adam Clark’s commentary this was a proverbial expression used by Greek and Hebrew writers of the day. Some examples of expressions in our day are “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” or “Practice what you preach.” Another word for a goad was a prick. It was an instrument used to keep a stubborn animal on the right track. The harder the animal would kick against this sharp instrument, the more harm they would do to themselves. You get the picture that the Lord was trying to give to Saul…that He had been pricking his conscience for some time and he was not getting the message. The final Goad would be so inescapable that Saul would have no choice but to yield!!
Pray for the Lord to send GOADS to those you love and are praying will repent!!
His divine appearance accompanied with blindness was the final goad!! No other argument was necessary to convince Saul that he was guilty…Jesus was alive and He was speaking directly to him.
Saul wasn’t quite sure yet who it was he was speaking to. His reply, “Who art Thou, Lord?” The response “Lord” gives us an idea that Saul was in a humbled state at this point.
The answer must have brought a sense of dread to his entire being!! “I am JESUS, whom you are persecuting.” The writer of Hebrews (who may have been Paul) wrote, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!” (Heb 10:31 NASB) Saul was most likely experiencing some terror at this moment.
Alexander Macleren describing Jesus’ confrontation:
“‘Who art Thou?’ Who can imagine the shock of the answer to Saul’s mind: Then the Man whom he had thought of as a vile apostate, justly crucified and NOT RISEN as His dupes dreamed, lived in heaven, knew him (by name), Saul, and all he had been doing, was appareled in celestial light, and yet in heavenly glory was so closely identified with these poor people whom he had been hunting to death that to strike them was to strike Him!”
Notice that Saul made no argument or gave no excuses. This was not the time for excuses; no excuse would absolve him of the crime of persecuting the risen Lord. He was guilty as charged; Jesus had him dead to rights.
I believe that it is at this moment that Saul is confronted with his sinful state for the first time in his life. Up until that point, he considered himself to be holy, righteous and above reproach. Now, he was in the presence of complete holiness and utter righteousness, all he could do was reproach himself for not seeing the truth until that moment.
Trembling and astonished, he only asked, “Lord, what would You have me to do?” (Right answer Saul!) Complete surrender!!
Read Acts 6:6b-9
Paul’s account to Agrippa adds more detail to what Christ said to Saul:
Acts 26:16-18 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
This is a picture of the grace and sovereignty of God. The Lord had a plan and purpose for Saul that was in His mind’s eye, even while he was walking in disobedience! Saul responded to Him as Lord and Jesus was exercising His authority over him from that point forward. He had a plan and purpose for Saul, and it would be accomplished.
Jesus intersected Saul’s path and rerouted him!!
1 Tim 1:12-16 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Bill Acton calls the message of Paul’s conversion A Pattern of God’s Working.
**Before his encounter with Christ, he was a pattern of pride, ignorance, and insolence.
**In his unsaved state he revealed the pattern of God’s grace towards His elect before conversion…patience, grace and longsuffering.
** After his encounter he was a model of complete devotion, obedience and gratitude to His Lord and Savior, all the days of his life.
Testimonies are simply the story of the before and after and are a powerful tool for evangelism!
Saul’s encounter with Jesus had left him completely blind. Note that none of the others in his company suffered the same effects. There is much that is speculated about Paul’s blindness extending past this encounter. Some believe that the “thorn in the flesh” that he asked the Lord to remove might have been connected to the blindness related here. It’s hard to say but I have to wonder if enduring three days of darkness was just part of the process God used to complete the transformation in Saul.
Read Acts 9:10-16
Jesus has directed Saul to go to the city and wait for further instructions. He didn’t know at the time how long he would have to wait, nor did he know what God would do for him. In the meantime, God was reaching out to a certain disciple to be a part of the process to bring Saul those instructions which will complete the process of his salvation.
Note what Saul is doing while he is waiting in his blinded, broken state…praying! (verse 11)
And God, being His merciful self, does not keep him waiting long, showing him in a vision that help is on the way.
Paul describes Ananias in his testimony before the religious leaders in Jerusalem as a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews in Damascus. (Acts 22:12) This gives us a picture of a man who was in close union with God the Father and His Son. The Lord gives Ananias specific instructions in a vision as to where he can find Saul and what he is to do for him.
Now Ananias had some concerns about his assignment, word had obviously gotten to the disciples in Damascus that Saul was on his way. I love the fact that he was not reprimanded by the Lord for having reservations about going, he had no idea of the work that God had already begun in Saul, and his very life was at stake by going to see him.
The Lord then reassures Ananias that it is safe to go, and then he reveals to him the plan for his life, just as he did to Saul, but adds that Saul would suffer many things for His name’s sake. What must Ananias have been thinking at this point? Could it be that the Lord added that bit of information to further convince him, that the one who had been the source of so much suffering to the followers of Jesus would now fall under the same fate?
This might have been the point at which Ananias no longer considered Saul an enemy, but a brother in Christ!
Read Acts 9:17-19
Ananias was obedient to the instructions given by the Lord…he immediately came in and laid his hands on him, just as Saul had seen in his vision.
This act of laying on of hands had a four-fold purpose, to communicate the love of God, to release him from blindness, to fill him with the Holy Spirit and to commission him for ministry. (Most likely Saul was baptized with the Holy Spirit at this point as well)
This is the point at which Saul was born again! He was no longer blind physically
AND spiritually. God had done for him what he was now commissioned to do for others; to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to the power of God. (Acts 26:18)
This commission is confirmed by the messenger sent to him. Notice what Paul adds to what he was told by Ananias.
Acts 22:14-16 Then he (Ananias) said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
It is at Ananias bidding that Saul is instructed that he must be baptized to complete the process of salvation. This is almost identical to the instruction Peter gave to the crowd on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:37-39 Now when they (the crowd) heard this (Peter’s exhortation), they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
Now the process is complete, Saul was transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light!! We see the relief of Saul (verse 19)…he could take food and be strengthened and had been given the right hand of fellowship with the believers in Damascus!!
Read Acts 9:20-22
Saul’s birthright, knowledge, education and credentials; the very things that had informed his unholy zeal to destroy the church were now being redeemed by God to confound his contemporaries!!
We can see by the reaction of those who heard and saw him that the transformation was amazing!! It reminds me of the reaction of the elves when the abominable snowman was brought into the workshop by Yukon Cornelious (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer). The monster (defanged) became a friendly foe and helper!!
John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
The process of regeneration through the Spirit cannot be seen by the human eye but the evidence is revealed by a transformed life!! The work of the Spirit is inward and yet it can be seen by the outward manifestation of His power working the transform each person into the image of Christ.
That transformed life was not just a flash in the pan, Saul/Paul stayed the course throughout his entire life! He never looked back, no matter how hard the journey became.
Phil 3:7-8 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.