And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
The verse shows Saul still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples, fiercely hostile and intent on destroying them. He went to the high priest and obtained letters and authority to search the synagogues at Damascus, seize believers and bring them bound to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. His violence came from mistaken yet sincere and conscientious zeal, honestly thinking it his duty to God to exterminate faith in Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer. In persecuting the saints he was persecuting Christ himself in the person of his saints. His change from determined enemy to devoted minister shows that forgiveness remains open even to the worst opposers and that conscience alone is not a safe guide unless enlightened by Christ.
Saul's Violent Persecution
Saul was yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, fiercely hostile and intent on threatening, destroying, seizing and killing them. He set out against believers in Christ to pursue their deaths and have them sent to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. His threats and violence pursued men and women who preached Jesus, binding and delivering them to prison and seeking authority from the high priest to carry the persecution onward.
He hunted believers and had them seized in their homes and in the synagogues, binding men, women and children. He brought them before councils and tribunals and delivered them to priests and rulers for imprisonment, condemnation, punishment and death. He voted for their death, handed them over to be killed, and went to Damascus intending to bring believers back bound to the chief priests.
His persecution followed and included his part in Stephen's trial, conviction and stoning, to which he consented. He did not himself throw the stones and did not personally commit murder, though he supported decisions that led to believers' deaths, with some imprisoned and some put to death for their faith. Stephen's steadfast faith, testimony and evidence had stirred secret conviction and doubts in him about opposing Jesus' followers, which he resisted.
His zeal made him a terror to the church in Jerusalem, and his actions brought suffering and fear to the young church. He angered by that secret conviction hunted Christians, seized them in their homes, and handed them over for imprisonment and death. That scattering drove believers elsewhere, and they carried the gospel with them.
Background and Commission
Saul was a Jewish leader from Tarsus, a Roman citizen by birth, trained in Jerusalem by prominent rabbis as a learned teacher, an educated popular orator, and a strict Pharisee. His ability and learning made him esteemed by the Jews and feared by the disciples, influential in the Sanhedrin and entrusted with serious responsibilities. He went to the high priest and obtained letters and authority, acting with the confidence of the chief priests to protect the Jewish religion and stop the new faith from spreading to Damascus. Many converts had gathered there, and his offer was to help suppress them beyond Jerusalem.
His commission authorized him to search the synagogues of Damascus for suspected believers in Jesus, seize them, and send them bound as prisoners to Jerusalem for trial, condemnation and punishment without mercy. It extended to men and women who preached Jesus, even to men, women and children, to be seized and brought before councils where they could be imprisoned or condemned to death. He set out in proud satisfaction expecting honor, ostentation and applause for his zeal and penetration. His purpose was determined, courageous and persevering, to let no Christian escape his vigilance by inquiring of men, women and children about their faith and that of their associates and by entering houses with power to seize the inmates and carry them as captives to Jerusalem to be condemned and punished without mercy.
Instead of wielding power and receiving honor, he entered Damascus blind, helpless, remorseful and dependent on the guidance of his companions, himself virtually a prisoner. He felt under sentence of death and did not know what further disposition the Lord would make of him, overwhelmed by remorse and fear of God's judgment. He acted under the priests' malice and prejudice and had repeatedly rejected strong evidence for Jesus while bearing guilt for his part in Stephen's death. His part in Stephen's persecution led to his election to the Sanhedrin, and Roman authorities secretly aided the persecution to win Jewish favor and did not try to stop it.
Mistaken Zeal and Motives
Saul's threatenings and slaughter came from mistaken, sincere, conscientious and persevering zeal, for he honestly thought it was his duty to God to exterminate the doctrine that Jesus is the Prince of Life, Messiah and Redeemer. He persecuted earnestly and fiercely, setting out under the high priest's authority to find believers in Christ and seize them, and his persistence showed a conviction that was deep and strong though wholly wrong. His zeal was blinded by prejudice in accepting the priests' and rulers' claims, yet he acted in honest earnestness until Christ revealed Himself and turned that same zeal to preaching the One he had persecuted.
He had decided the priests and rulers were right that Jesus was an impostor, and he believed faith in Jesus made of none effect God's law, rejected sacrificial worship and circumcision, and taught the law was no longer in effect. He held that belief in Jesus undermined sacrifices and circumcision which had in all past ages received the full sanction of God, and that Jesus had disregarded the law. He later learned that Jesus whom he counted an impostor is indeed the Author and foundation of all the religion of God's chosen people from Adam's day, the vindicator of the truth and fulfiller of all prophecies, who originated the Jewish sacrificial system, upheld the Father's law, and at His death brought type to meet antitype.
He was blinded by prejudice, ignorance, delusion and error, and while believing he was serving God he was doing Satan's work, following the banner of the prince of darkness as an agent of Satan. His prejudice and unbelief blinded him to the prophecies identifying Jesus as the Messiah, and driven by the priests' malice and prejudice he repeatedly rejected strong evidence for Jesus as the promised Messiah and bore guilt for his part in Stephen's death. He built iron walls of opposition and resisted conscience and grace while in midnight darkness, yet short of rejecting light and passing mercy's boundary, until the Holy Spirit convicted him, humbled him, and changed his heart and purposes by divine grace.
He despised believers as an ignorant, fanatical, poor sect with no culture, moral ability, special authority or authority, and thought determined religious leaders could suppress them. He had energy and zeal for an erroneous faith, confining saints in prison and voting for their death and handing them to those who killed them, without realizing he himself was deluded and deceived and conscientiously bigoted and blinded about Christ and His followers. He appealed not to the lower ignorant class but to the highest religionists in the world, the men who had a part in putting Christ to death and had the spirit of Caiaphas and his confederacy, thinking that with such great men as helpers he could destroy the little handful, and he went to the high priest to get that help.
He conscientiously served the Lord with the best light he had while working against Christians, breathing threatenings and slaughter and sending men and women to prison and to death, just as those in error worshipping an idol sabbath can be conscientiously serving the Lord with the best light they have. Yet in his unconverted state he used all his powers to war against God's law and break that holy law with a carnal mind at enmity with God and not subject to the law of God, a condition that cannot change unless he is thoroughly converted. Jesus afterward revealed Himself to Paul and changed his course, purifying his zeal and devoting it to Christ with a heart turned toward compassion even for former opponents.
Conversion and Transformation
On the road to Damascus Christ Himself stopped Saul, felled him with miraculous brightness above the midday sun, confronted him, and identified his persecution of the disciples as persecution of Himself. That arrest brought conviction of sin and fitted him as a chosen vessel to bear the gospel to the Gentiles, though Christ did not at once tell him what that work would be. Though Christ has all power in heaven and on earth and revealed Himself directly to fit Saul for a most important work, He did not teach him the lessons of truth directly and did not sanction experience independent of His organized church. When Saul asked what he should do, Christ connected him with the church so he could learn God's will from those appointed to teach the truth, showing blessings come through ordained agencies as the channel of light and communication. Ananias in touching his eyes that they might receive sight and in laying hands on him and praying in Christ's name so that Saul received the Holy Ghost acted wholly in Christ's name and authority, representing Christ and representing Christ's ministers appointed to act in Christ's stead, to whose ordinances respect is required, condemning the claim to be responsible to Christ alone apart from His body.
He was made physically blind by the glory of Christ so that he might gain spiritual sight. Instead of entering Damascus in proud satisfaction expecting honor, ostentation and applause, wielding power to let no Christian escape his vigilance, he entered helpless, blind, remorseful and dependent on the guidance of his companions, himself virtually a prisoner, feeling under sentence of death and not knowing what further disposition the Lord would make of him. During the days and nights of his blindness he had time for reflection and no longer saw himself righteous but sinful, with his thoughts, words and actions condemned by the law, which took hold of his life reaching to the thoughts and emotions of his sin-corrupted heart. The thought of his zeal in persecuting God's people filled him with bitter remorse, and hopeless and helpless, fearing judgment, he cast himself on Jesus as the only one who could pardon him and clothe him with righteousness. It was a hard struggle for one who could say touching the righteousness which is in the law he was blameless to see himself a transgressor with all his supposed goodness swept away, to give up his supposed righteousness and cast himself for salvation on the One he had despised, but he yielded to the convictions of the Spirit, humbled himself, confessed his unworthiness, and sought pardon and acceptance through the merits of the crucified and risen Christ, with eyes anointed by grace changed from a proud Pharisee who thought himself justified by good works to a humble suppliant for mercy.
Convicted, he abandoned his former ways, recognized Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer, repented, died to sin, obeyed God's law, trusted Christ as Saviour, was baptized, and became a zealous preacher of the One he had persecuted. His honest zeal had been blinded by prejudice into believing faith in Jesus undermined God's law, sacrifices and circumcision, but he came to recognize that Jesus had come to uphold the Father's law, had originated the Jewish sacrificial system, and fulfilled Old Testament prophecies of Israel's Redeemer, at whose crucifixion type met antitype. After grace transformed him his zeal remained but was purified and devoted to Christ, with compassion even for former opponents, and the tongue once ready to blaspheme Christ became eloquent in His praise. He strengthened the disciples and took up the work Stephen had left, though he had hunted disciples, seized them from their homes and synagogues, delivered them to be killed, and consented to Stephen's death without himself throwing the stones. His later preaching of the gospel and strengthening of disciples showed a complete change from the mission he had begun, proved by compelling evidence rather than impulse, and Christ and His righteousness became more valuable to him than the world.
Stephen's faith, steadfastness, heavenly glory, words and the sign of God on his face remained in Saul's memory, testified to the truth he had proclaimed, and helped bring about his conversion. The memory of Stephen's martyrdom and faithful death stayed with him and left a deep impression on him and on those who witnessed it. From that circumstance thousands were later brought to gospel light through Paul's word.
Afterward the disciples in Jerusalem remembered his threatenings and slaughter and at first refused to receive him. Because he had immediately retired into Arabia and they had heard no definite news of his change, they did not trust reports of his conversion and had not credited the rumor of it. They feared he might be pretending and acting a part in order to deceive and destroy them.
Doctrinal Teachings Affirmed
In persecuting the saints Saul was persecuting Christ himself in the person of his saints, striking at his Master while thinking he was doing God service. He had blasphemed, ridiculed and despised Christ, and it was deeply humiliating to learn this when the Saviour revealed himself and stopped him on his course. The revelation opened his eyes to his terrible mistake, he left his former course, joined the people he had persecuted and hated, and afterward suffered for Christ the same cruel treatment he had helped inflict, even unto martyrdom.
Conscience alone is not a safe guide, and conscientious motives did not make him guiltless once the Spirit impressed upon him the cruelty of his work. It is not safe to take the position that a man must always follow the dictates of his own conscience, for conscience follows faith and is after the order of a man's faith, and must be enlightened and well-instructed before spiritual things can be correctly discerned. Christ came to lighten every man that comes into the world so that men may have a correct faith, and Thus saith the Lord must not be replaced by conscience. His conscience did not condemn him until he saw what spirit was moving him, his zeal was not according to truth and holiness but gave him influence to lead many where he led, and the more conscientious a man is in error the more dangerous his opposition, though after conversion he will be as zealous for truth. He was in midnight darkness resisting in ignorance rather than having rejected light and passed the boundary of mercy, yet his soul was as precious as any soul in darkness now.
Through the law he saw himself a transgressor who had broken the very law he thought he had kept blamelessly, with his thoughts, words, actions and even the emotions of his sin-corrupted heart condemned by its far-reaching claims. It was a hard struggle for one who could say touching the righteousness which is in the law he was blameless to see his supposed goodness swept away, to humble himself, confess unworthiness, feel bitter remorse in hopeless helplessness, die to sin, and cast himself for pardon, acceptance and righteousness on the crucified and risen Christ alone. He learned that Jesus whom he had counted an impostor is the Author and foundation of all the religion of God's chosen people from Adam's day and the Finisher of the faith, the vindicator of the truth and fulfiller of all prophecies. He learned that Christ did not make of none effect the law of God but came for the express purpose of vindicating his Father's law, that he originated and is the foundation of the entire Jewish sacrificial system, and that at his death type met antitype when the sacrificial types met their fulfillment. He had believed Jesus rejected God's law and made void sacrifices and circumcision, but came to understand the Saviour's mission, remaining a child of Abraham keeping the Ten Commandments in letter and spirit while recognizing the sacrificial ceremonies were signs pointing to Christ's death that fulfilled their purpose when he came. With eyes anointed by grace he was changed from a proud Pharisee justified by works to a humble suppliant, the tongue once ready to blaspheme becoming eloquent in praise, and Christ and his righteousness becoming more valuable to him than the world.
Though Christ has all power in heaven and earth and directly arrested Saul, convicted him of sin and revealed himself to fit him as a chosen vessel for most important work, he did not teach him the lessons of truth directly and did not sanction religious experience independent of his organized and acknowledged church. He respects the means he ordained for enlightenment and salvation and acknowledges the power placed upon the church as his organized body on earth, the channel of light and communication, by directing Saul to it to be instructed in the Christian religion. When Saul asked what he should do, Christ connected him with the church so he could learn God's will from those appointed to teach the truth, requiring him to confess to and become a learner of the disciples he had planned to destroy and join the people he had persecuted. Ananias in touching his eyes that they might receive sight and in laying hands on him and praying in Christ's name so he received the Holy Ghost acted wholly in Christ's name and authority, representing Christ and representing Christ's ministers appointed to act in Christ's stead, to whose ordinances respect is required. Blessings come through the agencies he ordained and through people appointed to act in Christ's stead, condemning the boast of personal independence and the claim to be responsible to Christ alone apart from his body, which must be brought into closer relation to Christ by closer communion with his church on earth.
The verse marks the difference between being intensely religious, strict and zealous yet not a Christian, and being truly converted. Saul was very strict in carrying out his religion while yet breathing threatenings and slaughter, but he was not a Christian until Christ revealed himself and talked with him. After conversion Christ became supremely precious to him, the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, and more valuable than the world.
Practical Warning and Hope
Saul the determined enemy breathing threats and death became Paul the devoted minister, proving that converting power can rescue a life even beneath hatred and contempt. His heart before conversion could still receive divine impressions, though he acted as an agent of opposition seeking out disciples to destroy them. Forgiveness remained open even to the worst opposers, to one who shared in the exasperated rejection that stoned Stephen, killed James by the sword, and haled men and women to prison to take them bound to Jerusalem. He stood in midnight darkness resisting in ignorance rather than having rejected light and passed the boundary of love and mercy, and his soul was as precious as any soul in darkness now. He is therefore the pattern for those now in opposition who will yet be won, for the very last work in the controversy may be the enlightening of such minds.
Because even active persecutors remain susceptible, every person is to be treated as honest and every soul in darkness aided, with no word spoken and no deed done that will confirm opposers in unbelief. Doing good to haters and praying for persecutors can avert much evil and should always be practiced in full obedience, leaving results with God. Those who labor for the hard, bitterly prejudiced class, whose iron walls of opposition are as great as Saul's, must be humble and teachable and molded by the Spirit. They must be hidden in God with softened spirit and melting love and pity and tenderness, clinging to Christ, going forth not in their own name but in the might of Israel's God. They must not get in the way and hedge up their own way, but be ready to be counseled by more experienced brethren, not too easily discouraged by difficulties or the fiercest opposition, enduring hardness as good soldiers of the cross.
His example warns that unconverted persons may use their efforts and power against God's people and against the truth while thinking they do God service. Those who despise the messages sent for salvation and use their capabilities to make the work of none effect are doing as Saul did, and need the same humiliating repentance and forgiveness or they cannot be saved. Ministers themselves must undergo a conversion as thorough and complete as his before they are fit for God's work.
After conversion he joined the side of the One he once opposed and ridiculed and despised, taking his place with the despised sect whose cruel treatment he had helped inflict and then suffering it himself. He remembered his former fierce hostility and prejudice with remorse and pity for others consumed by the same opposition, and later suffering in prison brought to mind the persecution he had inflicted. With opened eyes and heart he was grateful to preach the truth he had once despised, encouraged through his whole afterlife by the assurance given at the start of his ministry. Because he had personal experience and knowledge of the Lord he could speak with understanding, living by abiding faith cultivated by sensing Christ's presence in all his work. He received strength in prayer as a faithful soldier always looking to his Captain for orders, never counting piled-up obstacles as making the work impossible, knowing all things are possible to those who believe. He related his conversion experience before kings and governors to bring his hearers to conviction. His conversion and following life are to be traced out as a study alongside the life of Jesus and beholding the shame of Christ crucified as a criminal.
His turn from a murderous, persecuting spirit to meekness and devotion parallels Farel's conversion in the French Reformation, from fierce opposition to devoted service. Later opposition to Paul by men chosen by the Sanhedrin continued the same persecution directed against the followers of Christ. The verse marks the beginning of Paul's dealings with the church he persecuted before he became devoted to the cause he later loved more than his own life.
The verse shows Saul still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples, fiercely hostile and intent on destroying them. He went to the high priest and obtained letters and authority to search the synagogues at Damascus, seize believers and bring them bound to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. His violence came from mistaken yet sincere and conscientious zeal, honestly thinking it his duty to God to exterminate faith in Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer. In persecuting the saints he was persecuting Christ himself in the person of his saints. His change from determined enemy to devoted minister shows that forgiveness remains open even to the worst opposers and that conscience alone is not a safe guide unless enlightened by Christ.
Saul's Violent Persecution
Saul was yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, fiercely hostile and intent on threatening, destroying, seizing and killing them. He set out against believers in Christ to pursue their deaths and have them sent to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. His threats and violence pursued men and women who preached Jesus, binding and delivering them to prison and seeking authority from the high priest to carry the persecution onward.
He hunted believers and had them seized in their homes and in the synagogues, binding men, women and children. He brought them before councils and tribunals and delivered them to priests and rulers for imprisonment, condemnation, punishment and death. He voted for their death, handed them over to be killed, and went to Damascus intending to bring believers back bound to the chief priests.
His persecution followed and included his part in Stephen's trial, conviction and stoning, to which he consented. He did not himself throw the stones and did not personally commit murder, though he supported decisions that led to believers' deaths, with some imprisoned and some put to death for their faith. Stephen's steadfast faith, testimony and evidence had stirred secret conviction and doubts in him about opposing Jesus' followers, which he resisted.
His zeal made him a terror to the church in Jerusalem, and his actions brought suffering and fear to the young church. He angered by that secret conviction hunted Christians, seized them in their homes, and handed them over for imprisonment and death. That scattering drove believers elsewhere, and they carried the gospel with them.
Background and Commission
Saul was a Jewish leader from Tarsus, a Roman citizen by birth, trained in Jerusalem by prominent rabbis as a learned teacher, an educated popular orator, and a strict Pharisee. His ability and learning made him esteemed by the Jews and feared by the disciples, influential in the Sanhedrin and entrusted with serious responsibilities. He went to the high priest and obtained letters and authority, acting with the confidence of the chief priests to protect the Jewish religion and stop the new faith from spreading to Damascus. Many converts had gathered there, and his offer was to help suppress them beyond Jerusalem.
His commission authorized him to search the synagogues of Damascus for suspected believers in Jesus, seize them, and send them bound as prisoners to Jerusalem for trial, condemnation and punishment without mercy. It extended to men and women who preached Jesus, even to men, women and children, to be seized and brought before councils where they could be imprisoned or condemned to death. He set out in proud satisfaction expecting honor, ostentation and applause for his zeal and penetration. His purpose was determined, courageous and persevering, to let no Christian escape his vigilance by inquiring of men, women and children about their faith and that of their associates and by entering houses with power to seize the inmates and carry them as captives to Jerusalem to be condemned and punished without mercy.
Instead of wielding power and receiving honor, he entered Damascus blind, helpless, remorseful and dependent on the guidance of his companions, himself virtually a prisoner. He felt under sentence of death and did not know what further disposition the Lord would make of him, overwhelmed by remorse and fear of God's judgment. He acted under the priests' malice and prejudice and had repeatedly rejected strong evidence for Jesus while bearing guilt for his part in Stephen's death. His part in Stephen's persecution led to his election to the Sanhedrin, and Roman authorities secretly aided the persecution to win Jewish favor and did not try to stop it.
Mistaken Zeal and Motives
Saul's threatenings and slaughter came from mistaken, sincere, conscientious and persevering zeal, for he honestly thought it was his duty to God to exterminate the doctrine that Jesus is the Prince of Life, Messiah and Redeemer. He persecuted earnestly and fiercely, setting out under the high priest's authority to find believers in Christ and seize them, and his persistence showed a conviction that was deep and strong though wholly wrong. His zeal was blinded by prejudice in accepting the priests' and rulers' claims, yet he acted in honest earnestness until Christ revealed Himself and turned that same zeal to preaching the One he had persecuted.
He had decided the priests and rulers were right that Jesus was an impostor, and he believed faith in Jesus made of none effect God's law, rejected sacrificial worship and circumcision, and taught the law was no longer in effect. He held that belief in Jesus undermined sacrifices and circumcision which had in all past ages received the full sanction of God, and that Jesus had disregarded the law. He later learned that Jesus whom he counted an impostor is indeed the Author and foundation of all the religion of God's chosen people from Adam's day, the vindicator of the truth and fulfiller of all prophecies, who originated the Jewish sacrificial system, upheld the Father's law, and at His death brought type to meet antitype.
He was blinded by prejudice, ignorance, delusion and error, and while believing he was serving God he was doing Satan's work, following the banner of the prince of darkness as an agent of Satan. His prejudice and unbelief blinded him to the prophecies identifying Jesus as the Messiah, and driven by the priests' malice and prejudice he repeatedly rejected strong evidence for Jesus as the promised Messiah and bore guilt for his part in Stephen's death. He built iron walls of opposition and resisted conscience and grace while in midnight darkness, yet short of rejecting light and passing mercy's boundary, until the Holy Spirit convicted him, humbled him, and changed his heart and purposes by divine grace.
He despised believers as an ignorant, fanatical, poor sect with no culture, moral ability, special authority or authority, and thought determined religious leaders could suppress them. He had energy and zeal for an erroneous faith, confining saints in prison and voting for their death and handing them to those who killed them, without realizing he himself was deluded and deceived and conscientiously bigoted and blinded about Christ and His followers. He appealed not to the lower ignorant class but to the highest religionists in the world, the men who had a part in putting Christ to death and had the spirit of Caiaphas and his confederacy, thinking that with such great men as helpers he could destroy the little handful, and he went to the high priest to get that help.
He conscientiously served the Lord with the best light he had while working against Christians, breathing threatenings and slaughter and sending men and women to prison and to death, just as those in error worshipping an idol sabbath can be conscientiously serving the Lord with the best light they have. Yet in his unconverted state he used all his powers to war against God's law and break that holy law with a carnal mind at enmity with God and not subject to the law of God, a condition that cannot change unless he is thoroughly converted. Jesus afterward revealed Himself to Paul and changed his course, purifying his zeal and devoting it to Christ with a heart turned toward compassion even for former opponents.
Conversion and Transformation
On the road to Damascus Christ Himself stopped Saul, felled him with miraculous brightness above the midday sun, confronted him, and identified his persecution of the disciples as persecution of Himself. That arrest brought conviction of sin and fitted him as a chosen vessel to bear the gospel to the Gentiles, though Christ did not at once tell him what that work would be. Though Christ has all power in heaven and on earth and revealed Himself directly to fit Saul for a most important work, He did not teach him the lessons of truth directly and did not sanction experience independent of His organized church. When Saul asked what he should do, Christ connected him with the church so he could learn God's will from those appointed to teach the truth, showing blessings come through ordained agencies as the channel of light and communication. Ananias in touching his eyes that they might receive sight and in laying hands on him and praying in Christ's name so that Saul received the Holy Ghost acted wholly in Christ's name and authority, representing Christ and representing Christ's ministers appointed to act in Christ's stead, to whose ordinances respect is required, condemning the claim to be responsible to Christ alone apart from His body.
He was made physically blind by the glory of Christ so that he might gain spiritual sight. Instead of entering Damascus in proud satisfaction expecting honor, ostentation and applause, wielding power to let no Christian escape his vigilance, he entered helpless, blind, remorseful and dependent on the guidance of his companions, himself virtually a prisoner, feeling under sentence of death and not knowing what further disposition the Lord would make of him. During the days and nights of his blindness he had time for reflection and no longer saw himself righteous but sinful, with his thoughts, words and actions condemned by the law, which took hold of his life reaching to the thoughts and emotions of his sin-corrupted heart. The thought of his zeal in persecuting God's people filled him with bitter remorse, and hopeless and helpless, fearing judgment, he cast himself on Jesus as the only one who could pardon him and clothe him with righteousness. It was a hard struggle for one who could say touching the righteousness which is in the law he was blameless to see himself a transgressor with all his supposed goodness swept away, to give up his supposed righteousness and cast himself for salvation on the One he had despised, but he yielded to the convictions of the Spirit, humbled himself, confessed his unworthiness, and sought pardon and acceptance through the merits of the crucified and risen Christ, with eyes anointed by grace changed from a proud Pharisee who thought himself justified by good works to a humble suppliant for mercy.
Convicted, he abandoned his former ways, recognized Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer, repented, died to sin, obeyed God's law, trusted Christ as Saviour, was baptized, and became a zealous preacher of the One he had persecuted. His honest zeal had been blinded by prejudice into believing faith in Jesus undermined God's law, sacrifices and circumcision, but he came to recognize that Jesus had come to uphold the Father's law, had originated the Jewish sacrificial system, and fulfilled Old Testament prophecies of Israel's Redeemer, at whose crucifixion type met antitype. After grace transformed him his zeal remained but was purified and devoted to Christ, with compassion even for former opponents, and the tongue once ready to blaspheme Christ became eloquent in His praise. He strengthened the disciples and took up the work Stephen had left, though he had hunted disciples, seized them from their homes and synagogues, delivered them to be killed, and consented to Stephen's death without himself throwing the stones. His later preaching of the gospel and strengthening of disciples showed a complete change from the mission he had begun, proved by compelling evidence rather than impulse, and Christ and His righteousness became more valuable to him than the world.
Stephen's faith, steadfastness, heavenly glory, words and the sign of God on his face remained in Saul's memory, testified to the truth he had proclaimed, and helped bring about his conversion. The memory of Stephen's martyrdom and faithful death stayed with him and left a deep impression on him and on those who witnessed it. From that circumstance thousands were later brought to gospel light through Paul's word.
Afterward the disciples in Jerusalem remembered his threatenings and slaughter and at first refused to receive him. Because he had immediately retired into Arabia and they had heard no definite news of his change, they did not trust reports of his conversion and had not credited the rumor of it. They feared he might be pretending and acting a part in order to deceive and destroy them.
Doctrinal Teachings Affirmed
In persecuting the saints Saul was persecuting Christ himself in the person of his saints, striking at his Master while thinking he was doing God service. He had blasphemed, ridiculed and despised Christ, and it was deeply humiliating to learn this when the Saviour revealed himself and stopped him on his course. The revelation opened his eyes to his terrible mistake, he left his former course, joined the people he had persecuted and hated, and afterward suffered for Christ the same cruel treatment he had helped inflict, even unto martyrdom.
Conscience alone is not a safe guide, and conscientious motives did not make him guiltless once the Spirit impressed upon him the cruelty of his work. It is not safe to take the position that a man must always follow the dictates of his own conscience, for conscience follows faith and is after the order of a man's faith, and must be enlightened and well-instructed before spiritual things can be correctly discerned. Christ came to lighten every man that comes into the world so that men may have a correct faith, and Thus saith the Lord must not be replaced by conscience. His conscience did not condemn him until he saw what spirit was moving him, his zeal was not according to truth and holiness but gave him influence to lead many where he led, and the more conscientious a man is in error the more dangerous his opposition, though after conversion he will be as zealous for truth. He was in midnight darkness resisting in ignorance rather than having rejected light and passed the boundary of mercy, yet his soul was as precious as any soul in darkness now.
Through the law he saw himself a transgressor who had broken the very law he thought he had kept blamelessly, with his thoughts, words, actions and even the emotions of his sin-corrupted heart condemned by its far-reaching claims. It was a hard struggle for one who could say touching the righteousness which is in the law he was blameless to see his supposed goodness swept away, to humble himself, confess unworthiness, feel bitter remorse in hopeless helplessness, die to sin, and cast himself for pardon, acceptance and righteousness on the crucified and risen Christ alone. He learned that Jesus whom he had counted an impostor is the Author and foundation of all the religion of God's chosen people from Adam's day and the Finisher of the faith, the vindicator of the truth and fulfiller of all prophecies. He learned that Christ did not make of none effect the law of God but came for the express purpose of vindicating his Father's law, that he originated and is the foundation of the entire Jewish sacrificial system, and that at his death type met antitype when the sacrificial types met their fulfillment. He had believed Jesus rejected God's law and made void sacrifices and circumcision, but came to understand the Saviour's mission, remaining a child of Abraham keeping the Ten Commandments in letter and spirit while recognizing the sacrificial ceremonies were signs pointing to Christ's death that fulfilled their purpose when he came. With eyes anointed by grace he was changed from a proud Pharisee justified by works to a humble suppliant, the tongue once ready to blaspheme becoming eloquent in praise, and Christ and his righteousness becoming more valuable to him than the world.
Though Christ has all power in heaven and earth and directly arrested Saul, convicted him of sin and revealed himself to fit him as a chosen vessel for most important work, he did not teach him the lessons of truth directly and did not sanction religious experience independent of his organized and acknowledged church. He respects the means he ordained for enlightenment and salvation and acknowledges the power placed upon the church as his organized body on earth, the channel of light and communication, by directing Saul to it to be instructed in the Christian religion. When Saul asked what he should do, Christ connected him with the church so he could learn God's will from those appointed to teach the truth, requiring him to confess to and become a learner of the disciples he had planned to destroy and join the people he had persecuted. Ananias in touching his eyes that they might receive sight and in laying hands on him and praying in Christ's name so he received the Holy Ghost acted wholly in Christ's name and authority, representing Christ and representing Christ's ministers appointed to act in Christ's stead, to whose ordinances respect is required. Blessings come through the agencies he ordained and through people appointed to act in Christ's stead, condemning the boast of personal independence and the claim to be responsible to Christ alone apart from his body, which must be brought into closer relation to Christ by closer communion with his church on earth.
The verse marks the difference between being intensely religious, strict and zealous yet not a Christian, and being truly converted. Saul was very strict in carrying out his religion while yet breathing threatenings and slaughter, but he was not a Christian until Christ revealed himself and talked with him. After conversion Christ became supremely precious to him, the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, and more valuable than the world.
Practical Warning and Hope
Saul the determined enemy breathing threats and death became Paul the devoted minister, proving that converting power can rescue a life even beneath hatred and contempt. His heart before conversion could still receive divine impressions, though he acted as an agent of opposition seeking out disciples to destroy them. Forgiveness remained open even to the worst opposers, to one who shared in the exasperated rejection that stoned Stephen, killed James by the sword, and haled men and women to prison to take them bound to Jerusalem. He stood in midnight darkness resisting in ignorance rather than having rejected light and passed the boundary of love and mercy, and his soul was as precious as any soul in darkness now. He is therefore the pattern for those now in opposition who will yet be won, for the very last work in the controversy may be the enlightening of such minds.
Because even active persecutors remain susceptible, every person is to be treated as honest and every soul in darkness aided, with no word spoken and no deed done that will confirm opposers in unbelief. Doing good to haters and praying for persecutors can avert much evil and should always be practiced in full obedience, leaving results with God. Those who labor for the hard, bitterly prejudiced class, whose iron walls of opposition are as great as Saul's, must be humble and teachable and molded by the Spirit. They must be hidden in God with softened spirit and melting love and pity and tenderness, clinging to Christ, going forth not in their own name but in the might of Israel's God. They must not get in the way and hedge up their own way, but be ready to be counseled by more experienced brethren, not too easily discouraged by difficulties or the fiercest opposition, enduring hardness as good soldiers of the cross.
His example warns that unconverted persons may use their efforts and power against God's people and against the truth while thinking they do God service. Those who despise the messages sent for salvation and use their capabilities to make the work of none effect are doing as Saul did, and need the same humiliating repentance and forgiveness or they cannot be saved. Ministers themselves must undergo a conversion as thorough and complete as his before they are fit for God's work.
After conversion he joined the side of the One he once opposed and ridiculed and despised, taking his place with the despised sect whose cruel treatment he had helped inflict and then suffering it himself. He remembered his former fierce hostility and prejudice with remorse and pity for others consumed by the same opposition, and later suffering in prison brought to mind the persecution he had inflicted. With opened eyes and heart he was grateful to preach the truth he had once despised, encouraged through his whole afterlife by the assurance given at the start of his ministry. Because he had personal experience and knowledge of the Lord he could speak with understanding, living by abiding faith cultivated by sensing Christ's presence in all his work. He received strength in prayer as a faithful soldier always looking to his Captain for orders, never counting piled-up obstacles as making the work impossible, knowing all things are possible to those who believe. He related his conversion experience before kings and governors to bring his hearers to conviction. His conversion and following life are to be traced out as a study alongside the life of Jesus and beholding the shame of Christ crucified as a criminal.
His turn from a murderous, persecuting spirit to meekness and devotion parallels Farel's conversion in the French Reformation, from fierce opposition to devoted service. Later opposition to Paul by men chosen by the Sanhedrin continued the same persecution directed against the followers of Christ. The verse marks the beginning of Paul's dealings with the church he persecuted before he became devoted to the cause he later loved more than his own life.