Saint Paul's Conversion - Caravaggio

Have YOU had a Damascus Road Experience? If we only realise it, God has a purpose for every one of us in this life, no less today than 20 centuries ago. Because His creation is based on the principle of free will, we have the option to choose to turn away from wrongdoing and embrace that purpose through Christ, or continue on the path of sin and death. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works."   Saint Paul, Ephesians 2:10 - it was the story of his life. With his cultured background and religious fervor, Saul was the ideal choice for the job Jesus set before him. He was fluent in three languages, accustomed to dealing with people in positions of power, and strong in his faith. But these qualities of tenacity and determination to see the job done properly made Saul a difficult prospect for conversion - a man who required a real mind-blowing experience to get his attention and make him rethink his priorities. His experience on the road to Damascus was certainly that. There WILL be a "Damascus Road" for you. Don't expect yours to be as dramatic as St Paul's, or yours and mine to be similar - God tailors each one to suit us. You will have to make a choice that will impact your life totally for good or for evil. Don't underestimate what hangs on your choice - make it wisely. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Saint Paul, Romans 6 : 23 See Patricia's story HERE.

Saint Paul Writing His Epistles 16th C

Ananias' House in Damascus

Saul was part of the official offensive to deal with this new Christian religion before it spread any further. He'd already proved his worth in Jerusalem. In his own words, he had "laid waste to the (Christian) church, arresting the followers of Jesus, having them thrown into prison, and trying to get them to blaspheme" (which carried the penalty of death by stoning in Jewish law). He had already officiated at the execution by stoning of one of Jesus' followers in Jerusalem, and now his commission was to destroy the growing Christian community in Damascus. No doubt as he rode along the highway he was thinking of the strategies he would use to get the followers of this Jesus arrested and brought back to Jerusalem for trial and execution.

The Leader's Moment of Truth

Suddenly, as they were getting close to Damascus, Saul was hit by a blinding bolt of light from the sky. Knocked from his horse and lying sightless on the road, Saul heard a voice: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Filled with awe, he asked, "Who are you, Lord?" "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting," the voice replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Stunned by the turn of events, Saul's men put him back on his horse, rode on with him to Damascus and placed him, still blind, in lodgings there. For three days Saul ate nothing, and his blindness continued.

There was in Damascus a Christian disciple of Jesus called Ananias. He had a vision in which the Lord told him: "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

But Ananias balked and began to argue. "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

The Lord replied, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." So Ananias did as he was bid, and restored Saul's sight. Then Saul was led by Ananias in the Sinner's Prayer and was baptized as a Christian with the name of Paul. He became a “servant of Christ Jesus” (Romans 1:1) and in that servanthood discovered “the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).

Saint Paul's Achievement

And so began over 30 years of service for Saint Paul, bringing Christianity to the Gentiles and Jews in cities around the Mediterranean, and subsequently, through the letters he wrote to the churches he founded there, to millions of people around the world.

It was not a comfortable life. Before long he bore the marks of Roman and Hebrew punishment on his body, he suffered character assassination from the "prophets" of rival religions trying to hijack his churches, he travelled gruelling distances, was nearly shipwrecked, and he was finally executed in Rome during Nero's reign, probably on the same day that Saint Peter was crucified there.

As a Roman citizen by birth, he met a Roman's death by beheading.   And shortly before his execution he was able to write, "I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy, 4 : 6-7).     Amen

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Resources

  Bible References:
Saul"s Background - Acts 22:1-5
Saul Persecutes Christians in Jerusalem - Acts 8:1-4
Acts 22:1-5
Saul on the Damascus Road - Acts 22:6-11
Acts 9:3-9
Ananias Told to Visit Saul - Acts 9:10-17
Ananias Heals and Converts Saul - Acts 22:12-16

  Saint Paul's Letters:
To the Church in Rome     To the Church at Corinth (2)
To the Churches in Galatia     To the Church at Ephesus
To the Church at Philippi     To the Church in Colossae
To the Church in Thessalonia (2)     To the Hebrews
To Timothy (2)     To Titus     To Philemon

Note:   Reading Paul's letters calls for a real understanding of his times. and events taking place in his churches. Many of his letters address specific issues. In some cases these are legal issues surrounding the bringing of Gentiles in to what was essentially a Jewish religion. In some cases, they relate to problems being experienced by the churches. In Corinth especially, there were problems associated with the wealth and cosmopolitan nature of the city, and it was here that Paul's character came under serious attack from the leaders of cults trying to take over his congregation.

  On This Site - The Cities and Districts of Paul's Churches:
Corinth     Colossae     Ephesus     Galatia     Philippi     Rome     Thessalonica

  Internet Resources:
St Paul the Apostle - Wikipedia
Conversion of Paul on Damascus Road - Wikipedia
Saint Paul - Conservapedia
Saint Paul Apostle to the Gentiles - Lives of Saints
Saint Paul Apostle to the Nations
The Apostle Paul - All About Turkey - great information,     including map of the Apostle's journeys
A Discussion of Saint Paul
The New Perspective on Paul
Saint Paul - Phantis
Saint Paul - New Advent
Saint Paul - Catholic Online

  Books:
Paul     Gunther Bornkamm
Saint Paul     Michael Grant
In Search of Paul     Crossan & Reed
The Search for the Twelve Apostles     W S McBirnie
Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible     Prof Carl Rasmussen