The Book of Acts, Chapter 9 Part One: Saul of Tarsus Finds Grace, vs. 1-20

Yes, this is a real historical event, and no, it wasn't an hallucination

        We meet again here the man who will become a major player in the rest of the book of Acts—Saul of Tarsus, better known as the apostle Paul.  This “young man” (Acts 7:58) had consented to the death of Stephen (Acts 8:1), and was one of the most bitter opponents of Christianity in its beginning stages.  Yet, he became its greatest missionary and most able defender.  What happened?  This chapter explains.

        Saul (we will change his name when Luke does in chapter 13) was “still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (v. 1).  He wanted to kill Christians, and he has many kindred souls down through history, including today.  His hatred must have been incredibly deep to want to descend to the horrors of killing people.  That such a man could ever be converted to something he hated so vehemently is truly remarkable.  But converted he was.

        He received “letters” from the high priest to go to Damascus, arrest any disciples of Christ he found, “whether men or women,” and bring them “bound” back to Jerusalem (vs. 1-2).  He was serious about this.  But as he neared Damascus, “suddenly a light shone around him from heaven” (v. 3).  A voice spoke to him:  “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (v. 4)  Note that Jesus considering persecuting His disciples as persecuting Him.  Saul, who had fallen to the ground (v. 4), was flummoxed; he didn’t know who was addressing him:  “Who are you, Lord?”  A fair question from a man who did not believe in Jesus.  But the answer was, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (v. 5).  Try to put yourself in Saul’s shoes at that moment and consider his thoughts and feelings.

        Luke tells us a little about that.  Saul was “trembling and astonished” (v. 6).  He was understandably afraid—Jesus, if He indeed was Lord, might not take kindly to Saul’s previous actions and current mission.  He was also “astonished” because he had been 100% wrong about Jesus of Nazareth, and now realized it.  Other emotions surely coursed through Saul’s mind and heart, but these are truly understandable.

        “What do you want me to do?” Saul asked Jesus.  He was to go into Damascus and that question would be answered (v. 6).

        Did this event really happen?  Did Saul of Tarsus truly meet and talk with Jesus on the Damascus road?

        Well, he certainly believed he did, and he referenced it later in his writings.  His life did a 180 degree turn, from persecutor of Christ to His staunchest defender.  And he said that, too.  Something happened to him on that road.  That cannot be denied.  We not only have Luke’s account here, but Paul’s own words later (see, for example, Galatians 1).

        The charge of hallucination is often brought against Saul/Paul, but if it were only a hallucination, it was the most powerful one in history.  Again, it completely changed the course of Saul/Paul’s life—from such hatred of Christianity that he wanted to kill Christ’s disciples, to the greatest missionary evangelist the religion has probably ever known.  Saul believed, with all his heart, for the rest of his life, that he had met and talked with Jesus on that Damascus road.  This was a highly, intelligent educated man, not a dumb, backwoods hick (or Ivy League graduate).  His testimony is weighty, powerful, very believable—unless one is totally determined never to believe in Christianity.  But, that is exactly how Saul felt, too, before that encounter on the Damascus road.  Perhaps, if you are not a believer in Christianity, you should carefully consider this man’s testimony.

        Look also at verse 7 of Acts 9.  The men who went to Damascus with Saul heard a voice, but they saw no one.  Paul will mention this again later in the book.  If it was just a hallucination, it was a mass hallucination, but also a limited one—only Saul of Tarsus talked with and understood Jesus.  Selective hallucination?  Hard to buy that one.

        This event happened.  Saul of Tarsus met the resurrected Jesus of Nazareth on that road to Damascus.  And he told the historian (Luke) about it, and Luke has told us.  Irrefutable evidence of the truth of Christianity.

        Saul was blinded by the light from heaven (v. 8), and was led into Damascus in that condition.  For the next three days he was “without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (v. 9).  Again, one can only imagine his feelings during that time.

        The Lord then spoke to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias and told him to go help Saul (vs. 10-12).  Ananias, who knew Saul’s reputation, was understandably concerned (vs. 13-14), but the Lord assured him and convinced him.  Saul was “to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (v. 15).  Verse 16 is especially interesting.  “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”  Not exactly an evangelistic approach that would appeal to our modern age.  “Yeah, Saul, you’re going to suffer a lot for becoming a Christian.”  Well, the Lord only spoke the truth here.

        Ananias went to Saul (v. 17), helped him recover his sight (v. 18), and Saul “arose and was baptized” (v. 18).  He then stayed in Damascus for “some days” (v. 19) and “immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God” (v. 20).

        A remarkable tale.  It will be told again, more than once, in the book of Acts, in later chapters.  I will add further comments as relevant when the story arises again.