And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
On his journey to Damascus Saul was confronted when Jesus revealed Himself to him and named Himself as the one being persecuted. The voice that answered Saul's question declared Himself to be Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified and risen Messiah, the Son of God and Lord of heaven. In striking at the followers of the Way Saul was striking at Christ Himself, for Jesus identifies Himself with His suffering followers so that persecution of them is persecution of Him. Saul understood the words spoken to him and recognized in the glorious Being before him the Son of God and the Crucified One.
That recognition exposed Saul's former ignorance and error and his need for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. It showed him that his opposition to Jesus and the gospel was opposition to the Lord of heaven, and it brought him to acknowledge the truth of the disciples' testimony. The encounter turned him from persecuting Christ's followers to bowing before the crucified Nazarene. It effected his conversion and convinced many that Jesus is the Son of God.
Saul's own retelling of his conversion carried power to soften his hearers, because it displayed his former zeal overcome by a direct encounter with Jesus. His subsequent labor among the Gentiles was undertaken by God's direction and not by his own choice.
On his journey to Damascus Saul was confronted when Jesus revealed Himself to him and named Himself as the one being persecuted. The voice that answered Saul's question declared Himself to be Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified and risen Messiah, the Son of God and Lord of heaven. In striking at the followers of the Way Saul was striking at Christ Himself, for Jesus identifies Himself with His suffering followers so that persecution of them is persecution of Him. Saul understood the words spoken to him and recognized in the glorious Being before him the Son of God and the Crucified One.
That recognition exposed Saul's former ignorance and error and his need for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. It showed him that his opposition to Jesus and the gospel was opposition to the Lord of heaven, and it brought him to acknowledge the truth of the disciples' testimony. The encounter turned him from persecuting Christ's followers to bowing before the crucified Nazarene. It effected his conversion and convinced many that Jesus is the Son of God.
Saul's own retelling of his conversion carried power to soften his hearers, because it displayed his former zeal overcome by a direct encounter with Jesus. His subsequent labor among the Gentiles was undertaken by God's direction and not by his own choice.