And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
As he neared Damascus at midday on a determined mission with the high priest's commission to seize believers for imprisonment and death, Saul was suddenly surrounded by a light from heaven. The light was brighter than the midday sun, the glory of Jesus the crucified, risen and enthroned Messiah flashing around him and his companions and felling him to the earth. In that revelation he learned that in persecuting Christ's followers he was persecuting Christ Himself, doing Satan's work while thinking he served God. The glory convicted him of sin and guilt under the law, leaving him blind, helpless, humbled and abhorring himself until he cast himself on Jesus for pardon and spiritual sight. By overwhelming evidence he was turned from bitter persecutor to penitent believer and chief apostle to bear Christ's name to Jews and Gentiles, yet Christ sent him to Damascus to learn duty and receive sight and the Holy Ghost through Ananias and His organized church.
Journey Toward Damascus
As he journeyed he came near Damascus on a determined mission to find believers in Christ and seize them for trial and punishment in Jerusalem. He went to arrest any Christians he could find, to threaten and kill the Lord's disciples, to take men and women for imprisonment and death, exceedingly mad against them and breathing threatenings and slaughter. He acted with a commission from the high priest in full zeal and in the strength of manhood, expecting success, honor and applause in his career of persecution. His course was cut short when a sudden light from heaven shone round about him, drove away the evil angels accompanying him, felled him to the earth, left him physically blind, and opened his spiritual understanding to know God and Jesus Christ. By that revelation he saw that in persecuting Christ's followers he had persecuted Christ Himself.
He came near the city after a long journey, at midday looking over its fertile land, gardens, orchards and streams with his companions admiring the countryside. At the gate of Damascus the encounter reversed his course, for he who meant to arrive in power to seize believers saw the crucified and risen Christ who had died, risen and ascended to heaven. Instead of entering in power he entered blind, helpless and dependent on his companions, tortured by remorse and unsure what the Lord would do with him, under sentence of death.
He traveled with companions who were struck with terror by the light, which was brighter than the sun and overwhelmed them all. Its intensity nearly blinded them, and they heard a voice but saw no one and could not understand what was happening. Saul himself fell to the ground, saw Jesus the Son of God identifying Himself, and heard Him speak face to face. That sight remained imprinted on him, bringing a flood of light to his darkened mind to expose his ignorance and error that in opposing Christ's followers he was opposing Jesus and doing Satan's work while thinking he served God.
Light From Heaven
Suddenly, as he neared Damascus, a light from heaven flashed round about him and his companions, brighter than the sun and above the glory of the midday sun. That light was the glory of Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah, the Son of God revealing Himself to Saul. Saul saw Jesus in the light and heard Him speak and identify Himself, while his companions were struck with terror, heard a voice but saw no one, were nearly blinded, and could not understand what was happening. The shining came through close connection between heavenly agencies and men on earth.
The light felled him to the earth and drove away the evil angels surrounding and accompanying him. When the light was withdrawn he was left physically blind, so that instead of entering Damascus in power he entered blind, helpless, dependent on his companions, tortured by remorse. The blindness was given that he might receive spiritual sight, with days and nights for reflection in which the law condemned his thoughts, words, and actions until, no longer seeing himself righteous but sinful, he abhorred himself in bitter remorse and cast himself hopeless and helpless on Jesus to pardon him and clothe him with righteousness. Its intensity terrified his companions, and the sight of the Son of God remained imprinted on Saul, while a lasting effect remained in his eyes as a mark of Christ's glory and sustaining grace.
The shining was the Lord's own work, Christ as Commander of heaven intervening and bringing Saul directly into His presence. Beholding the suffering brought upon His church by one exceedingly mad against believers and determined to seize men and women for imprisonment and death, He caused the light to shine suddenly to arrest Saul, stop him in his course, and convict him of sin. All heaven is interested in the believing church of God, and in heaven there is an observer of all that is done who works to preserve His people and to open the way before His disciples who put their trust in Him. This was Christ's own work of revelation and conviction, begun in the light and leaving Saul blind to prepare him afterward to learn God's will and duty from the appointed disciples and church.
Saul The Persecutor
Saul was educated by the most learned teachers of the age, taught by Gamaliel, and stood as a rabbi, statesman and member of the Sanhedrin. His early education had blinded him to the light and led him to oppose God's work. Yet on the road where Jesus revealed Himself to him, that learned and zealous persecutor who had consented to Stephen's death was chosen to preach His name, strengthen the disciples and take up the work Stephen had done.
He was exceedingly zealous for the suppression of Christianity, acting a part in the stoning of Stephen and making havoc of the church by entering houses and committing men and women to prison. He blasphemed Christ's name and used every means in his power to make others blaspheme it. He had joined those who rejected the gospel brought after the crucifixion in the power of the Holy Spirit, stoning Stephen, killing James, and imprisoning men and women.
He journeyed toward Damascus in mistaken zeal and in the strength of manhood, determined to find believers and seize them for trial and punishment. He acted conscientiously thinking he was doing God service, sending men and women to prison and to death while breathing threatenings and slaughter, doing it ignorantly in unbelief. Unconverted he was used by Satan to hunt up souls to persecute, and the same satanic agencies that worked to crucify the Son of God work in unconverted men who use all their power against God's work. He neared Damascus in proud satisfaction, expecting ostentation and applause for the honor given him by the high priest and for his zeal and penetration, determined his journey would end in success with a courageous and persevering spirit that quailed at no difficulty or danger. He questioned men, women and children about their own faith and that of their associates, entering houses with power to seize the inmates and send them as prisoners to Jerusalem to be condemned and punished without mercy. The light from heaven impressed upon him by the Spirit of God the knowledge of his cruel work in persecuting the saints, so that strict conscientiousness does not make him guiltless. Great education and experience avail nothing unless they perfect the knowledge of the glory of God to exalt the Lord Jehovah and His only begotten Son, for conscience follows faith and is unsafe until enlightened, and the more conscientious a man is in error behind strong walls of prejudice, snared in error, the more dangerous his opposition becomes.
Christ Revealed In Glory
On the road near Damascus after His ascension Jesus Himself met Saul face to face in the light and talked with him, giving him firsthand knowledge and a personal view of the Saviour. The One who appeared was the rejected, abused, condemned and crucified Saviour, risen from the dead, ascended to heaven and enthroned in divine glory. What Saul saw was the Son of God in the glory of the crucified and risen Messiah.
In that revelation Saul learned that in hunting Christ's followers he was persecuting Christ Himself in the person of His saints. He had been opposing Jesus, the Redeemer of the world, and doing Satan's work while thinking he was serving God.
The light entered his darkened mind so that he recognized Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ, the Redeemer, the Son of God and the Prince of Life. He saw Him as the vindicator of truth and of God's law, the originator of the Jewish sacrificial system, the fulfiller of all prophecies in whom type met antitype, and the foundation of true religion from Adam's day. He understood that the resurrection he had rejected was true, and his former ignorance and error stood exposed.
Conviction Of Sin
The sudden light stopped Saul on his road to threaten and kill the disciples, striking him physically blind while opening his spiritual understanding to know God and Jesus Christ. In that direct encounter Christ brought him into His own presence, halted his course, and by His own work convicted his mind and heart of sin and guilt. The law showed him he was a sinner and transgressor, his thoughts, words and actions condemned, and the vision first filled him with terror at divine glory before it became a source of great consolation. He was left astonished, subdued, helpless, blind and humbled, abhorring himself in bitter remorse, hopeless and helpless until he cast himself on Jesus for pardon, righteousness and full and free forgiveness, beholding the loveliness of the divine character. By persecuting the followers he had persecuted Christ Himself, and he recognized he had opposed Jesus the Redeemer of the world, the vindicator of God's law, the originator of the Jewish sacrificial system and the fulfiller of Israel's prophecies.
The light touched his spiritual vision to give spiritual sight through physical blindness, for his conscience had not condemned him until that light came. He had been conscientiously serving God while breathing threatenings and slaughter, sending men and women to prison and death, doing it ignorantly in unbelief behind the conviction that he was doing God's work. That strict conscientiousness did not make him guiltless, for conscience follows faith and it is not safe to always follow its dictates, and sincerity alone does not protect a man, since it makes a difference what he believes. The glory struck him blind in order to teach that conscience must be enlightened before a person can correctly discern spiritual things, and that Christ comes to lighten every man that comes into the world so men may have a correct faith. In that light he saw Jesus, whom in blindness he had counted an impostor, as the vindicator of truth, the fulfiller of all prophecies, the Author and Finisher of faith, and the foundation of all the religion of God's chosen people from Adam's day and of the entire system of sacrifices in whose death type met antitype, who came expressly to vindicate His Father's law and not to make it of none effect. Sincere people living in error as conscientiously as he was, even those worshipping an idol sabbath while living up to the best light they have, can likewise be enlightened and obtain mercy and salvation rather than condemnation. The more conscientious a man is in believing error the more dangerous he becomes in opposing truth, for belief in falsehood destroys interest in truth while men cling to false theories by pen and voice, yet when such a zealous opposer is converted he becomes as zealous and persevering in spreading truth as he was in opposing it, humbled, converted, guided by the Spirit of truth to the best and highest good.
Convicted, he died to sin in the light of the law he thought he had kept zealously, repented, turned from sin, trusted Christ as Saviour, had faith in Jesus, forsook his former ways and professed faith in Him. He was baptized, confessed to those he had intended to destroy, joined the people he had persecuted, and became a learner of the disciples he had meant to seize, becoming obedient to the claims of God's law. His changed life led him to expect his former associates would also recognize their error, and he at once abandoned his former opposition to Christ. The voice that spoke to him at his conversion continued as his trust and hope amid later opposition, as he changed from a bitter persecutor into one feeling remorse for his former life and pity for those still opposing the gospel.
Stephen's faith, steadfastness, constancy, radiant and glorified appearance, and words had remained in Saul's memory and testified to the truth he had preached. That memory helped bring about his conversion after the martyrdom, contributing to the change wrought by the light. In this God turned the apparent triumph of wicked men into signal victory.
Conversion And Calling
The light near Damascus was a miraculous conversion by overwhelming evidence, not impulse or fanaticism, that stopped a determined enemy and bitter persecutor in his career of arresting Christians and turned him into a penitent believer, disciple, devoted minister and chief apostle. Educated by the most learned teachers of the age under Gamaliel as rabbi, statesman and member of the Sanhedrin, he had been exceedingly zealous for the suppression of Christianity, acting a part in the stoning of Stephen and making havoc of the church by entering houses and committing men and women to prison. The vision of the crucified Christ convicted his mind and heart of sin, broke through pride and prejudice, ended that course of persecution, and changed him from persecutor into disciple and from teacher into learner. Conquered in opposition and yielded to Christ, he forsook his former ways, professed faith in Jesus, united with the disciples he had hunted, and stood among the chief of the apostles as defender and herald of the gospel, so that his changed life proves God's transforming power and that grace can rescue even the hostile and contemptuous. His changed life and the circumstances of his conversion even led him at first to believe his former associates would also recognize their error and believe in Jesus.
The revelation made plain to his mind the Saviour's mission and his own work to turn Jews and Gentiles from darkness to light and from Satan's power to God, to bear Christ's name to Gentiles, kings and Israel, to proclaim the once-hidden mystery, to call to repentance, and to show the difference between living faith and dead formalism. The circumstances of his conversion prepared him to recognize and accept God's appointment to preach to the Gentiles, marking the spread of salvation beyond the Jews. His former confidence in hereditary piety, ceremonies and deeds of the law gave way to faith in Christ. After that light he still claimed to be one of the children of Abraham and kept the ten commandments in letter and in spirit as faithfully as before, but he knew the typical ceremonies must soon altogether cease because what they had shadowed forth had come to pass, with the light of the gospel shedding its glory upon the Jewish religion and giving a new significance to its ancient rites.
The impression and assurance conveyed in the first part of his ministry never left him but bore on all his after life, giving him experience and personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ so he could speak intelligently, a living abiding faith cultivating a sense of Christ's presence in all his works, strength received in prayer, and the character of a faithful soldier ever looking to his Captain for orders so that no piled-up obstacles made the work seem impossible. Jesus personally appeared to the once fierce persecutor, talked with him face to face on the way after the ascension, showed him the nature of His work in heaven, communed with him, established him in faith and bestowed wisdom and grace, and chose him as an apostle not by men but by God with a plain work among the Gentiles. He was sent into comparative solitude in Arabia for communion with God, searching of heart, deepened repentance, and preparation by prayer and study for a work too great to undertake lightly, and there he sought God earnestly without resting until he knew for certain his repentance was accepted, his great sin pardoned, and Jesus would be with him with sustaining grace in his coming ministry. The light that blinded his eyes left a lasting effect in his eyes as a mark of Christ's glory and a reminder of that sustaining grace, and he afterward testified of seeing and speaking with Christ before kings and governors. Because Jesus had personally appeared to him, Peter and James, then the only apostles in Jerusalem, could no longer hesitate or withstand God but gave him the right hand of fellowship, and he became as much beloved and respected as he had formerly been feared and avoided, though at first he retired so that disciples heard only rumor and refused him as a deceiver until convinced.
Church As Appointed Channel
The light that stopped Saul near Damascus began his conversion by bringing him directly into Christ's presence, stopping his course and convicting him of sin, with the law showing him that he was a sinner and transgressor. Christ did the work of revelation and conviction Himself through heavenly glory, yet He deliberately stopped His direct work there and did not at once restore sight or teach the lessons of truth that must be learned. Instead He required Saul to ask what he must do and sent him on to Damascus to learn duty from the very disciples he had meant to destroy, becoming a learner of those he had persecuted. He was thus placed in communication with the organized and acknowledged church, which was appointed to teach the truth and instruct him in the Christian faith, showing that Christ works for salvation through the agents He has appointed and connects converts with the channel of His blessings. Ananias met him acting in Christ's name and authority, touching his eyes so he could see, laying hands on him, praying for him, and imparting the Holy Ghost. In this Christ is the fountain and the church is the channel through which He communicates, and He sanctions no religious light or experience independent of His church.
The encounter proves that strict religion, joining the church, and baptism do not make a person a Christian without the new birth. Before the light Saul was very strict in carrying out his religion, a religious man but not a true Christian, with a carnal mind warring against God's law in enmity that is not subject to that holy law and cannot be subject unless thoroughly converted. When Christ revealed Himself and talked with him near Damascus, showing him that in persecuting the saints he was persecuting his Master, that revelation converted him from a religious man into a true Christian. Ever after Christ was to him the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, supreme in love, and for that love he joined the sect he had despised and hated and received the same cruel treatment he had once helped inflict. His thorough conversion is therefore the pattern of the change ministers need before doing God's work, since even the most unpromising yet honest opposer must be made new.
Warning And Hope Today
The sudden shining around Saul near Damascus was light from heaven flashing into the soul of a man snared in error, showing him his true condition and life until humbled and converted he accepted the truth and was guided by the Spirit of truth to the best and highest good. That light was powerful evidence from God, brighter than argument, yet by itself it did not convert him and did not break the bewitching power of falsehood and the spell of the world's deception. Abundance of light and evidence piled upon evidence does not convert the soul when the sinner or backslider settles in disobedience and sin, so that the light shines in vain and even a thousandfold more light and conviction would accomplish nothing because sufficient evidence has already been given. Conversion comes only when the human agent inclines the heart to do God's will, accepts the light, arouses the energies of the will, acknowledges righteousness and truth, takes up God's service, and cooperates with the heavenly ministrations. God's purpose is to lighten every man and to lighten the world with the light of truth through human agents, human destiny in this life and the life to come depends on the character of faith, belief in falsehood destroys interest in truth while men cling to false theories and advocate them by pen and voice, and responsibility rests on those to whom God has revealed His plan of grace.
No persecutor or rejecter is beyond pardon upon repentance like Saul's, for even those who taunted Christ upon the cross and abused Him in the judgment hall would have been forgiven if they had repented as Saul did. Saul had joined a nation that rejected the gospel brought after the crucifixion in the power of the Holy Spirit, stoning Stephen, killing James, and imprisoning men and women, breathing threatenings and slaughter, yet Christ stopped him near Damascus with sudden light from heaven and forgave him upon repentance. He did it ignorantly in unbelief while conscientiously thinking he served the Lord, and his enlightenment means sincere people living in error, even those worshipping an idol sabbath while living up to the best light they have, can be enlightened and saved rather than piled with condemnation, and can obtain mercy. His change from a determined enemy of the gospel to Paul the devoted minister shows that the grace of Christ can rescue even someone who appears hostile and contemptuous, that divine impressions could reach his heart even while he was a persecutor on the journey toward Damascus, and that Christ's mercy that met Saul cleanses, saves the helpless and makes complete. Paul's conversion is the pattern for others, as for Farel turning from the religious tradition he had zealously defended and from fierce zeal and bondage to tradition to faith in Christ and the liberty of God's children.
Divine impressions can still reach persecutors in midnight darkness, and believers should do good to haters, pray for persecutors, treat every opposer as honest, labor with melting love and humility without discouragement, and hide in God to break down bitter prejudice. His conversion bore on all his after life and encouraged him as he worked on the side of Christ whom he once ridiculed and despised, and the assurance conveyed to him in the first part of his ministry he never forgot. That abiding impression never lost its force but stayed ever with him, shaping how he understood and represented Christian life, character, humanity's duty to God, and the obligation due from man to God, and exalting him above every other apostle among believers in giving a correct representation of Christian character. It gave him experience and personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ so he could speak intelligently, a living faith that cultivated a sense of Christ's presence in all his works, strength received in prayer, and the character of a faithful soldier ever looking to his Captain for orders, so no amount of piled-up obstacles made the work seem impossible because all things are possible to them that believe. His conversion is therefore held up as the thorough conversion ministers need before doing God's work, his life is to be traced out together with the study of the life of Jesus Christ and the shame of the cross, and despite that exaltation he labored with his hands as a tentmaker, proving that manual labor cannot be degrading and is not inconsistent with true greatness and elevation of human and Christian character.
As he neared Damascus at midday on a determined mission with the high priest's commission to seize believers for imprisonment and death, Saul was suddenly surrounded by a light from heaven. The light was brighter than the midday sun, the glory of Jesus the crucified, risen and enthroned Messiah flashing around him and his companions and felling him to the earth. In that revelation he learned that in persecuting Christ's followers he was persecuting Christ Himself, doing Satan's work while thinking he served God. The glory convicted him of sin and guilt under the law, leaving him blind, helpless, humbled and abhorring himself until he cast himself on Jesus for pardon and spiritual sight. By overwhelming evidence he was turned from bitter persecutor to penitent believer and chief apostle to bear Christ's name to Jews and Gentiles, yet Christ sent him to Damascus to learn duty and receive sight and the Holy Ghost through Ananias and His organized church.
Journey Toward Damascus
As he journeyed he came near Damascus on a determined mission to find believers in Christ and seize them for trial and punishment in Jerusalem. He went to arrest any Christians he could find, to threaten and kill the Lord's disciples, to take men and women for imprisonment and death, exceedingly mad against them and breathing threatenings and slaughter. He acted with a commission from the high priest in full zeal and in the strength of manhood, expecting success, honor and applause in his career of persecution. His course was cut short when a sudden light from heaven shone round about him, drove away the evil angels accompanying him, felled him to the earth, left him physically blind, and opened his spiritual understanding to know God and Jesus Christ. By that revelation he saw that in persecuting Christ's followers he had persecuted Christ Himself.
He came near the city after a long journey, at midday looking over its fertile land, gardens, orchards and streams with his companions admiring the countryside. At the gate of Damascus the encounter reversed his course, for he who meant to arrive in power to seize believers saw the crucified and risen Christ who had died, risen and ascended to heaven. Instead of entering in power he entered blind, helpless and dependent on his companions, tortured by remorse and unsure what the Lord would do with him, under sentence of death.
He traveled with companions who were struck with terror by the light, which was brighter than the sun and overwhelmed them all. Its intensity nearly blinded them, and they heard a voice but saw no one and could not understand what was happening. Saul himself fell to the ground, saw Jesus the Son of God identifying Himself, and heard Him speak face to face. That sight remained imprinted on him, bringing a flood of light to his darkened mind to expose his ignorance and error that in opposing Christ's followers he was opposing Jesus and doing Satan's work while thinking he served God.
Light From Heaven
Suddenly, as he neared Damascus, a light from heaven flashed round about him and his companions, brighter than the sun and above the glory of the midday sun. That light was the glory of Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah, the Son of God revealing Himself to Saul. Saul saw Jesus in the light and heard Him speak and identify Himself, while his companions were struck with terror, heard a voice but saw no one, were nearly blinded, and could not understand what was happening. The shining came through close connection between heavenly agencies and men on earth.
The light felled him to the earth and drove away the evil angels surrounding and accompanying him. When the light was withdrawn he was left physically blind, so that instead of entering Damascus in power he entered blind, helpless, dependent on his companions, tortured by remorse. The blindness was given that he might receive spiritual sight, with days and nights for reflection in which the law condemned his thoughts, words, and actions until, no longer seeing himself righteous but sinful, he abhorred himself in bitter remorse and cast himself hopeless and helpless on Jesus to pardon him and clothe him with righteousness. Its intensity terrified his companions, and the sight of the Son of God remained imprinted on Saul, while a lasting effect remained in his eyes as a mark of Christ's glory and sustaining grace.
The shining was the Lord's own work, Christ as Commander of heaven intervening and bringing Saul directly into His presence. Beholding the suffering brought upon His church by one exceedingly mad against believers and determined to seize men and women for imprisonment and death, He caused the light to shine suddenly to arrest Saul, stop him in his course, and convict him of sin. All heaven is interested in the believing church of God, and in heaven there is an observer of all that is done who works to preserve His people and to open the way before His disciples who put their trust in Him. This was Christ's own work of revelation and conviction, begun in the light and leaving Saul blind to prepare him afterward to learn God's will and duty from the appointed disciples and church.
Saul The Persecutor
Saul was educated by the most learned teachers of the age, taught by Gamaliel, and stood as a rabbi, statesman and member of the Sanhedrin. His early education had blinded him to the light and led him to oppose God's work. Yet on the road where Jesus revealed Himself to him, that learned and zealous persecutor who had consented to Stephen's death was chosen to preach His name, strengthen the disciples and take up the work Stephen had done.
He was exceedingly zealous for the suppression of Christianity, acting a part in the stoning of Stephen and making havoc of the church by entering houses and committing men and women to prison. He blasphemed Christ's name and used every means in his power to make others blaspheme it. He had joined those who rejected the gospel brought after the crucifixion in the power of the Holy Spirit, stoning Stephen, killing James, and imprisoning men and women.
He journeyed toward Damascus in mistaken zeal and in the strength of manhood, determined to find believers and seize them for trial and punishment. He acted conscientiously thinking he was doing God service, sending men and women to prison and to death while breathing threatenings and slaughter, doing it ignorantly in unbelief. Unconverted he was used by Satan to hunt up souls to persecute, and the same satanic agencies that worked to crucify the Son of God work in unconverted men who use all their power against God's work. He neared Damascus in proud satisfaction, expecting ostentation and applause for the honor given him by the high priest and for his zeal and penetration, determined his journey would end in success with a courageous and persevering spirit that quailed at no difficulty or danger. He questioned men, women and children about their own faith and that of their associates, entering houses with power to seize the inmates and send them as prisoners to Jerusalem to be condemned and punished without mercy. The light from heaven impressed upon him by the Spirit of God the knowledge of his cruel work in persecuting the saints, so that strict conscientiousness does not make him guiltless. Great education and experience avail nothing unless they perfect the knowledge of the glory of God to exalt the Lord Jehovah and His only begotten Son, for conscience follows faith and is unsafe until enlightened, and the more conscientious a man is in error behind strong walls of prejudice, snared in error, the more dangerous his opposition becomes.
Christ Revealed In Glory
On the road near Damascus after His ascension Jesus Himself met Saul face to face in the light and talked with him, giving him firsthand knowledge and a personal view of the Saviour. The One who appeared was the rejected, abused, condemned and crucified Saviour, risen from the dead, ascended to heaven and enthroned in divine glory. What Saul saw was the Son of God in the glory of the crucified and risen Messiah.
In that revelation Saul learned that in hunting Christ's followers he was persecuting Christ Himself in the person of His saints. He had been opposing Jesus, the Redeemer of the world, and doing Satan's work while thinking he was serving God.
The light entered his darkened mind so that he recognized Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ, the Redeemer, the Son of God and the Prince of Life. He saw Him as the vindicator of truth and of God's law, the originator of the Jewish sacrificial system, the fulfiller of all prophecies in whom type met antitype, and the foundation of true religion from Adam's day. He understood that the resurrection he had rejected was true, and his former ignorance and error stood exposed.
Conviction Of Sin
The sudden light stopped Saul on his road to threaten and kill the disciples, striking him physically blind while opening his spiritual understanding to know God and Jesus Christ. In that direct encounter Christ brought him into His own presence, halted his course, and by His own work convicted his mind and heart of sin and guilt. The law showed him he was a sinner and transgressor, his thoughts, words and actions condemned, and the vision first filled him with terror at divine glory before it became a source of great consolation. He was left astonished, subdued, helpless, blind and humbled, abhorring himself in bitter remorse, hopeless and helpless until he cast himself on Jesus for pardon, righteousness and full and free forgiveness, beholding the loveliness of the divine character. By persecuting the followers he had persecuted Christ Himself, and he recognized he had opposed Jesus the Redeemer of the world, the vindicator of God's law, the originator of the Jewish sacrificial system and the fulfiller of Israel's prophecies.
The light touched his spiritual vision to give spiritual sight through physical blindness, for his conscience had not condemned him until that light came. He had been conscientiously serving God while breathing threatenings and slaughter, sending men and women to prison and death, doing it ignorantly in unbelief behind the conviction that he was doing God's work. That strict conscientiousness did not make him guiltless, for conscience follows faith and it is not safe to always follow its dictates, and sincerity alone does not protect a man, since it makes a difference what he believes. The glory struck him blind in order to teach that conscience must be enlightened before a person can correctly discern spiritual things, and that Christ comes to lighten every man that comes into the world so men may have a correct faith. In that light he saw Jesus, whom in blindness he had counted an impostor, as the vindicator of truth, the fulfiller of all prophecies, the Author and Finisher of faith, and the foundation of all the religion of God's chosen people from Adam's day and of the entire system of sacrifices in whose death type met antitype, who came expressly to vindicate His Father's law and not to make it of none effect. Sincere people living in error as conscientiously as he was, even those worshipping an idol sabbath while living up to the best light they have, can likewise be enlightened and obtain mercy and salvation rather than condemnation. The more conscientious a man is in believing error the more dangerous he becomes in opposing truth, for belief in falsehood destroys interest in truth while men cling to false theories by pen and voice, yet when such a zealous opposer is converted he becomes as zealous and persevering in spreading truth as he was in opposing it, humbled, converted, guided by the Spirit of truth to the best and highest good.
Convicted, he died to sin in the light of the law he thought he had kept zealously, repented, turned from sin, trusted Christ as Saviour, had faith in Jesus, forsook his former ways and professed faith in Him. He was baptized, confessed to those he had intended to destroy, joined the people he had persecuted, and became a learner of the disciples he had meant to seize, becoming obedient to the claims of God's law. His changed life led him to expect his former associates would also recognize their error, and he at once abandoned his former opposition to Christ. The voice that spoke to him at his conversion continued as his trust and hope amid later opposition, as he changed from a bitter persecutor into one feeling remorse for his former life and pity for those still opposing the gospel.
Stephen's faith, steadfastness, constancy, radiant and glorified appearance, and words had remained in Saul's memory and testified to the truth he had preached. That memory helped bring about his conversion after the martyrdom, contributing to the change wrought by the light. In this God turned the apparent triumph of wicked men into signal victory.
Conversion And Calling
The light near Damascus was a miraculous conversion by overwhelming evidence, not impulse or fanaticism, that stopped a determined enemy and bitter persecutor in his career of arresting Christians and turned him into a penitent believer, disciple, devoted minister and chief apostle. Educated by the most learned teachers of the age under Gamaliel as rabbi, statesman and member of the Sanhedrin, he had been exceedingly zealous for the suppression of Christianity, acting a part in the stoning of Stephen and making havoc of the church by entering houses and committing men and women to prison. The vision of the crucified Christ convicted his mind and heart of sin, broke through pride and prejudice, ended that course of persecution, and changed him from persecutor into disciple and from teacher into learner. Conquered in opposition and yielded to Christ, he forsook his former ways, professed faith in Jesus, united with the disciples he had hunted, and stood among the chief of the apostles as defender and herald of the gospel, so that his changed life proves God's transforming power and that grace can rescue even the hostile and contemptuous. His changed life and the circumstances of his conversion even led him at first to believe his former associates would also recognize their error and believe in Jesus.
The revelation made plain to his mind the Saviour's mission and his own work to turn Jews and Gentiles from darkness to light and from Satan's power to God, to bear Christ's name to Gentiles, kings and Israel, to proclaim the once-hidden mystery, to call to repentance, and to show the difference between living faith and dead formalism. The circumstances of his conversion prepared him to recognize and accept God's appointment to preach to the Gentiles, marking the spread of salvation beyond the Jews. His former confidence in hereditary piety, ceremonies and deeds of the law gave way to faith in Christ. After that light he still claimed to be one of the children of Abraham and kept the ten commandments in letter and in spirit as faithfully as before, but he knew the typical ceremonies must soon altogether cease because what they had shadowed forth had come to pass, with the light of the gospel shedding its glory upon the Jewish religion and giving a new significance to its ancient rites.
The impression and assurance conveyed in the first part of his ministry never left him but bore on all his after life, giving him experience and personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ so he could speak intelligently, a living abiding faith cultivating a sense of Christ's presence in all his works, strength received in prayer, and the character of a faithful soldier ever looking to his Captain for orders so that no piled-up obstacles made the work seem impossible. Jesus personally appeared to the once fierce persecutor, talked with him face to face on the way after the ascension, showed him the nature of His work in heaven, communed with him, established him in faith and bestowed wisdom and grace, and chose him as an apostle not by men but by God with a plain work among the Gentiles. He was sent into comparative solitude in Arabia for communion with God, searching of heart, deepened repentance, and preparation by prayer and study for a work too great to undertake lightly, and there he sought God earnestly without resting until he knew for certain his repentance was accepted, his great sin pardoned, and Jesus would be with him with sustaining grace in his coming ministry. The light that blinded his eyes left a lasting effect in his eyes as a mark of Christ's glory and a reminder of that sustaining grace, and he afterward testified of seeing and speaking with Christ before kings and governors. Because Jesus had personally appeared to him, Peter and James, then the only apostles in Jerusalem, could no longer hesitate or withstand God but gave him the right hand of fellowship, and he became as much beloved and respected as he had formerly been feared and avoided, though at first he retired so that disciples heard only rumor and refused him as a deceiver until convinced.
Church As Appointed Channel
The light that stopped Saul near Damascus began his conversion by bringing him directly into Christ's presence, stopping his course and convicting him of sin, with the law showing him that he was a sinner and transgressor. Christ did the work of revelation and conviction Himself through heavenly glory, yet He deliberately stopped His direct work there and did not at once restore sight or teach the lessons of truth that must be learned. Instead He required Saul to ask what he must do and sent him on to Damascus to learn duty from the very disciples he had meant to destroy, becoming a learner of those he had persecuted. He was thus placed in communication with the organized and acknowledged church, which was appointed to teach the truth and instruct him in the Christian faith, showing that Christ works for salvation through the agents He has appointed and connects converts with the channel of His blessings. Ananias met him acting in Christ's name and authority, touching his eyes so he could see, laying hands on him, praying for him, and imparting the Holy Ghost. In this Christ is the fountain and the church is the channel through which He communicates, and He sanctions no religious light or experience independent of His church.
The encounter proves that strict religion, joining the church, and baptism do not make a person a Christian without the new birth. Before the light Saul was very strict in carrying out his religion, a religious man but not a true Christian, with a carnal mind warring against God's law in enmity that is not subject to that holy law and cannot be subject unless thoroughly converted. When Christ revealed Himself and talked with him near Damascus, showing him that in persecuting the saints he was persecuting his Master, that revelation converted him from a religious man into a true Christian. Ever after Christ was to him the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, supreme in love, and for that love he joined the sect he had despised and hated and received the same cruel treatment he had once helped inflict. His thorough conversion is therefore the pattern of the change ministers need before doing God's work, since even the most unpromising yet honest opposer must be made new.
Warning And Hope Today
The sudden shining around Saul near Damascus was light from heaven flashing into the soul of a man snared in error, showing him his true condition and life until humbled and converted he accepted the truth and was guided by the Spirit of truth to the best and highest good. That light was powerful evidence from God, brighter than argument, yet by itself it did not convert him and did not break the bewitching power of falsehood and the spell of the world's deception. Abundance of light and evidence piled upon evidence does not convert the soul when the sinner or backslider settles in disobedience and sin, so that the light shines in vain and even a thousandfold more light and conviction would accomplish nothing because sufficient evidence has already been given. Conversion comes only when the human agent inclines the heart to do God's will, accepts the light, arouses the energies of the will, acknowledges righteousness and truth, takes up God's service, and cooperates with the heavenly ministrations. God's purpose is to lighten every man and to lighten the world with the light of truth through human agents, human destiny in this life and the life to come depends on the character of faith, belief in falsehood destroys interest in truth while men cling to false theories and advocate them by pen and voice, and responsibility rests on those to whom God has revealed His plan of grace.
No persecutor or rejecter is beyond pardon upon repentance like Saul's, for even those who taunted Christ upon the cross and abused Him in the judgment hall would have been forgiven if they had repented as Saul did. Saul had joined a nation that rejected the gospel brought after the crucifixion in the power of the Holy Spirit, stoning Stephen, killing James, and imprisoning men and women, breathing threatenings and slaughter, yet Christ stopped him near Damascus with sudden light from heaven and forgave him upon repentance. He did it ignorantly in unbelief while conscientiously thinking he served the Lord, and his enlightenment means sincere people living in error, even those worshipping an idol sabbath while living up to the best light they have, can be enlightened and saved rather than piled with condemnation, and can obtain mercy. His change from a determined enemy of the gospel to Paul the devoted minister shows that the grace of Christ can rescue even someone who appears hostile and contemptuous, that divine impressions could reach his heart even while he was a persecutor on the journey toward Damascus, and that Christ's mercy that met Saul cleanses, saves the helpless and makes complete. Paul's conversion is the pattern for others, as for Farel turning from the religious tradition he had zealously defended and from fierce zeal and bondage to tradition to faith in Christ and the liberty of God's children.
Divine impressions can still reach persecutors in midnight darkness, and believers should do good to haters, pray for persecutors, treat every opposer as honest, labor with melting love and humility without discouragement, and hide in God to break down bitter prejudice. His conversion bore on all his after life and encouraged him as he worked on the side of Christ whom he once ridiculed and despised, and the assurance conveyed to him in the first part of his ministry he never forgot. That abiding impression never lost its force but stayed ever with him, shaping how he understood and represented Christian life, character, humanity's duty to God, and the obligation due from man to God, and exalting him above every other apostle among believers in giving a correct representation of Christian character. It gave him experience and personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ so he could speak intelligently, a living faith that cultivated a sense of Christ's presence in all his works, strength received in prayer, and the character of a faithful soldier ever looking to his Captain for orders, so no amount of piled-up obstacles made the work seem impossible because all things are possible to them that believe. His conversion is therefore held up as the thorough conversion ministers need before doing God's work, his life is to be traced out together with the study of the life of Jesus Christ and the shame of the cross, and despite that exaltation he labored with his hands as a tentmaker, proving that manual labor cannot be degrading and is not inconsistent with true greatness and elevation of human and Christian character.