BRUCE C WEARNE examines the conversion of Saul in the Book of Acts…
(By way of contrast) Saul, still pumped up with murderous threats (he was issuing) against the disciples of the Lord, took his requests to the high priest, seeking letters to the Damascus synagogues authorising him to arrest any men and women of “the way” he might find, and bring them to Jerusalem. Now as he set out to do this, as he came in the vicinity of Damascus, all of a sudden a light from heaven shone around him on all sides, and, as he fell to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” To which he replied, “Who are you, Lord?” And the other replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But now, get back up and enter the city and (there) you will be told what to do.” Now his travelling companions stood there, speechless, hearing the sound (of conversation) but not seeing anyone. And when Saul got up from the ground he opened his eyes and he could see nothing. And that was why he had to be led by the hand so that they could bring him into Damascus. And for those three days when he was without sight he neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple (of Jesus) at Damascus and his name was Ananias. And the Lord (also) spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to Straight Street, and make inquiries at the house of Judas for a fellow of Tarsus named Saul, for indeed, he is praying and (in a vision just like this) he has seen a man named Ananias come along and place his hands upon him, that he may regain his sight.” But (to this) Ananias answered: “Lord, I have heard from many about this fellow, about the very evil work he has been doing in Jerusalem to those set aside for your service and here he has come with chief priestly authorisation to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord replied to him, “Go, for this fellow is a chosen vessel of mine, who will carry my name before the Gentile (nations) and (their) kings as well as the children (heirs) of Israel, for it is I who shows to him what sufferings must be carried in my name.” So Ananias went out and entered that house and laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus – the one who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me to you in order that you might see again and now be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At that moment something like peel was detached from his eyes and he saw once more. Then he straight away got up and was baptised, and, taking food, he (began to) recover strength. After this he spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. (Acts 9:1-9/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne)
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A statue by Bruce Denny representing the ‘Conversion of St Paul’ in London. PICTURE: David Adams
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Luke told us that it was Saul who was the public officer on duty at Stephen’s execution. There is something strangely matter-of-fact about Luke’s account of Saul’s conversion. It is not all that different from the way he describes Jesus’ resurrection. At one place in the story, Jesus is dead and is then buried. Then, after a few days, He is large as life.
Literarily, at least, there is something similar with the story of Saul. At one point in his story, Saul is breathing threats and murder against those who believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Chosen One. Then, a few days later, we read how Saul was in the care of the very disciples he had come to arrest.
Saul the Pharisee was on “the way”, he was becoming the servant of Jesus Christ. This happened because the Lord not only gave the careful Ananias the courage he needed to search for “Saul of Tarsus” and care for him, but also prophetic insight into the future calling of this servant of Jesus.
There are two other accounts of this event. Chapter 22 tells us what Paul said on the steps of the temple to Jews and Roman soldiers in the midst of a riot. Chapter 26 gives Paul’s account before Herod Agrippa II. The story leaves us gasping. The apostles and disciples could never have imagined anything like this. Luke depicts Saul’s turning point from darkness to light (Luke 11:34-36).
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