Saul’s Conversion
Pete just returned from an extended trip back to Alabama and Auburn where he attended a reunion of his old Auburn baseball team. At the reunion dinner, one of his old Fraternity brothers confined in Pete. He said, “I’ve spent my whole life trying to become a success in what the world defines as success. I’ve accumulated wealth and worked hard and accomplished everything that I thought would be the American Dream. However, I’ve lately been questioning, “Is it all worthwhile?” Pete is looking forward to meeting with this man to discuss what’s really important in life. Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men.
Nothing makes sense in life unless we meet our Lord at the foot of the cross. Life is so much more than checking off our “Christian checklist.” Christianity is not about what you’ve done, but rather whether you’ve born good fruit. Jesus said, “by their fruit you shall know them.”
The book of Acts is the record of the early church and how the Word of God moved. It didn’t take long before the devil began to disrupt the movement of the Word. The apostle Peter was arrested for preaching the gospel and for healing a lame man. Jealousy, power, insecurity and pride are the devil’s tools to pervert the hearts of men from the truth of the Word. If you’re not extremely intentional and careful when serving within the church, the devil will have his way with you.
In Acts 6, there was a complaint from the Hellenistic Jews who had left Jerusalem. They spoke Greek instead of Aramaic like the “pure” Jews whose ancestry remained in Jerusalem. Acts 6:2 is the first record of the calling of “deacons” to serve tables and to do the groundwork of the church. Stephen was the first devout believer who was chosen to serve as a deacon. Act 6:8-9 says, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.”
According to verse 3, Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. However, those who opposed Stephen were filled with jealousy and pride. Their charge against Stephen is in verses 10-14.
10, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake 11. Then they suborned (secretly instigated) men, which said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.”
12. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13. And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14. For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.”
“And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”
The charges that they brought against Steven are the same charges that the Devils’ minions charge men of God today. Darkness is not compatible with the light of the truth of the Word of God and men who represent truth.
Stephen answered their charge in Acts chapter 7. He concludes his answer with verse 51, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.
53. Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
Steven while he was being persecuted didn’t even see the people who were against him. He could only see the glory of God and Jesus standing on God’s right hand. This riled up the crowd because darkness cannot tolerate the light of the truth of the Word of God.
57. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58. And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
The word of God never returns void. The powerful witness of Stephen planted a seed of truth in the mind of Saul, the young man at whose feet the witnesses laid their clothes. Saul became a leader of the Christian persecutors. Acts chapter 8 is the record of the rise of Saul’s hate group against the followers of Jesus. “AND Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen’s) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”
According to Acts 9, “AND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the”“synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:”
4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
Saul had been a man who was in complete control. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews who had the right worldly credentials. He had a unique encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. From the moment of this dramatic conversion experience, Saul listened to the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Lord. The power of God changed the leader of the Devils’ minions and completely turned him around. Likewise our prayer should be that God would change the hearts of men who are power brokers. Men who self-righteously rage against the truth of the Word of God. God has a way of humbling a man whose heart is ready to turn from darkness unto light.
7. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9. And he was three days without sight, and nei”“neither did eat nor drink.”
10. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12. And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
God chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. He took the worst sinner the world could find to turn his life around. God chooses men who are ready for repentance…those ready to be broken. A changed life is a powerful witness for Christ. Jesus said, “I am come to open the eyes of those born blind.” God will bring along a “Barnabus” like Ananias to encourage and shepherd those whom God has called unto repentance.
Those we knew before we met Jesus on our “road to Damascus” will marvel how our lives have been changed. We who have been grabbed by his nail-pierced hands bear the testimony of him who has called us from darkness unto the glorious light of the gospel of truth.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael