Imagine a man walking down a dusty road on a hot day. He has sweat coming off his brow and beard. His clothes are dusty and could use a little bit of a cleaning due to the mixture of dirt and sweat. This man is Saul who is known for being a tremendous persecutor to the followers and disciples of Jesus. (Jesus was the one who lived on earth for 33 years, was persecuted, died, and defeated the grave by rising again. This Jesus is God, the son of God). Anyone who follows Jesus stays clear away from Saul but he doesn't care. He loves the mission he is on to find more prospects in Damascus. All of a sudden, a light shines down from heaven and a voice starts speaking. Saul was probably shaking in his bones with fear and maybe about to pee his pants (or tunic). Jesus tells him that He is Jesus and wants to know why he is persecuting him. Saul trembles but doesn't answer that question and wants to know what he is supposed to do next. Jesus tells him to go into the city and that he would be told what to do.
He was not alone; there were men with him who heard this voice of Jesus also, but didn't see anyone. They were totally speechless and didn't question that voice they heard. When Saul got up off that dusty road, he could no longer see. He could have been defiant and have the guys help him walk the other way, but he didn't. He chose to obey Jesus and had the men guide him into the city of Damascus.
The only thing Saul could see was darkness in his vision for three days. The reason he might not have eaten or drank was because he was probably freaked out. If he believed this was Jesus, then he knew that he was probably in some kind of trouble because he had been persecuting people who followed this Jesus. Jesus could have ended Saul's life right then and there or have other people persecute Saul, but he didn't do that. When Saul was alone in darkness, I wonder if he had guilt and felt remorse. Did he have reoccurring thoughts of all the people he had persecuted? Did he see each of their faces and names? Maybe he was having anxiety for he realized what he had done to all those innocent people.
Jesus speaks to Ananias through a vision to help Saul. When Jesus first told him that he was to help Saul, he was deeply afraid because this guy Saul hurts and murders "Jesus' followers." He was probably thinking, "Jesus, are you out of your mind. Saul kills people like me. He hates You and people who love you." He declined the offer yet Jesus persuaded him by telling him that this guy Saul is a person that he is choosing and he will show him the things he will suffer. I don't know if that helped Ananias listen to Jesus more knowing that Saul would suffer, yet Ananias decides to obey Jesus and visit Saul. As Ananias touches Saul, his vision restores and he receives an added bonus. He becomes filled with the Holy Spirit.
Saul spends times with the disciples, gets his nourishment and strength back, and starts preaching right away. Wow, talk about a miracle, a conversion, and an encounter with God all rolled into one.
Even though Saul started following Jesus, people wanted to kill him. They didn't trust him because of his past. Just a few days prior, Saul wanted to kill people, so how could they believe what he said now. Was he telling the truth?
Saul had to prove to others that he was now a Jesus' follower. Others were watching him to see how he acted and treated people...It did take time, but people started trusting him and forgave him. He had to show them that God really changed his life....
In Acts 9:1-20
Photo by Expressive Praise
