And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
This is Paul's own telling of his conversion, which came while he was persecuting Christ's disciples and followers. It took place on the road to Damascus, where as he was persecuting and imprisoning believers a great light from heaven shone round about him. Struck by that light he fell to the ground as the voice of Jesus addressed him and asked why he was persecuting him.
The heavenly voice called him by name, Saul, Saul, and asked why he was persecuting Jesus. That divine voice brought his proud heart to bow to the crucified Christ. In that encounter Jesus revealed himself to Saul and taught him that he was the Son of God. That experience convinced many that Jesus was the Son of God. The question makes plain that to persecute Jesus' followers is in reality to persecute Jesus himself. Jesus thereby identifies himself with his suffering followers, confronting Saul with the truth that his attack on them was an attack on the Lord of heaven.
This is Paul's own telling of his conversion, which came while he was persecuting Christ's disciples and followers. It took place on the road to Damascus, where as he was persecuting and imprisoning believers a great light from heaven shone round about him. Struck by that light he fell to the ground as the voice of Jesus addressed him and asked why he was persecuting him.
The heavenly voice called him by name, Saul, Saul, and asked why he was persecuting Jesus. That divine voice brought his proud heart to bow to the crucified Christ. In that encounter Jesus revealed himself to Saul and taught him that he was the Son of God. That experience convinced many that Jesus was the Son of God. The question makes plain that to persecute Jesus' followers is in reality to persecute Jesus himself. Jesus thereby identifies himself with his suffering followers, confronting Saul with the truth that his attack on them was an attack on the Lord of heaven.