The Road to Damascus: Acts 9:1-19

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples.

Still. The word connects to Stephen's death. Saul hadn't stopped. Breathing out threats—the Greek suggests snorting like an angry animal. Murderous—not metaphor but intention. The disciples were prey and Saul was hunting.

He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

He expanded his hunt. Not just Jerusalem but Damascus—150 miles away. Letters of authorization. Extradition papers. Men or women—no exceptions. The Way—the early name for the Jesus movement. Saul would drag them back in chains.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

Near Damascus. Midday. And suddenly—light. Not sunlight but from heaven. Not illumination but confrontation. Flashed around him—surrounding, inescapable, blinding.

He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?

He fell. The hunter knocked down. The voice spoke—in Hebrew, Paul would later specify. Saul, Saul—the double name, like Moses at the bush, like Samuel in the night. And the question that changed everything: Why do you persecute me?

Not "my followers." Not "my church." Me.

Who are you, Lord? Saul asked.

Lord—the respectful address to an unknown authority. Who are you? The question of a man whose world was collapsing.

I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied.

The answer that shattered everything. Jesus. The dead Nazarene. The one whose followers Saul imprisoned and killed. Alive. Speaking. In glory. Every stone thrown at Stephen, every chain on every believer—aimed at Jesus himself.

Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.

Instructions given. Get up. Go to Damascus. Wait for further orders. The persecutor now taking orders from the persecuted.

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

The companions experienced something. Sound without sight. They knew something had happened but couldn't comprehend what.

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.

Blind. The light that revealed Jesus had taken Saul's sight. The man who had seen so clearly what to do now saw nothing at all.

So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

Led by the hand. The fearsome persecutor now helpless, dependent, groping. Into the city he had meant to terrorize.

For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

Three days. Blind. Fasting. In darkness—external and internal. Everything he had believed was wrong. Everything he had done was against God. Three days to absorb the impossible.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias.

Meanwhile, a believer named Ananias. One of the very people Saul had come to arrest.

The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias!

Yes, Lord, he answered.

The Lord spoke. Ananias responded. Ready to obey.

The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.

Specific directions. Straight Street. House of Judas. A man named Saul. From Tarsus. Praying. Already shown a vision of Ananias coming. God was working on both ends.

Lord, Ananias answered, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.

The objection was reasonable. This is Saul. The persecutor. With arrest warrants. You want me to go to him?

But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.

The Lord overruled the objection. Go. This is my plan. Chosen instrument—the persecutor would become a preacher. To Gentiles, to kings, to Israel. And he will suffer—the one who caused suffering would experience it.

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Brother Saul. The first word to the persecutor from his former prey: Brother. The Lord Jesus—Ananias claimed the same Jesus who had struck Saul down. Sent me—commissioned for this moment. See again. Filled with the Spirit. The enemy welcomed into the family.

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.

Scales falling. Sight restored. The darkness ended. Saul saw—literally and spiritually.

He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Baptized. The persecutor identified with the persecuted. Food after three days of fasting. Strength returning. A new man beginning.

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Days with the disciples. The ones he had come to arrest now became his brothers and sisters. The hunter became family.

The Damascus road. Where hatred met grace. Where blindness led to sight. Where the persecutor became the apostle.