Acts 9:1-9 - Divine Encounter

While Philip was busy about the work of evangelism, Saul the persecutor continued on his trail to hunt down the followers of Christ. He was still threatening and ravaging the church.

He even had an authorisation letter from the high priest to go to the synagogue at Damascus to ferret out the followers of Christ, regardless of their gender, and have them brought to Jerusalem to be dealt with.

Notice that believers were referred to as "...belonging to the Way." What a befitting description! This description was again found in 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22. In Acts 16:17, the Gospel was called a way of salvation and in Acts 18:25, it was the Way of the Lord or the Way of God . This reminds us of what Jesus said in John 14:6. He is the way, the truth and the life.

In Acts 9:2, we see that Saul went about hunting believers and had them bound to Jerusalem. His was a legalized mission. He would make the arrest and then have them transferred to Jerusalem to be tried and dealt with.

While on the way to arrest and punish followers of Christ, he had a dramatic experience.  It's the conversion of Saul. This event caused him to make a great U-turn that would usher in a new dimension to the mission of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

So remarkable was Saul's conversion that Luke reported it two more times in Acts. In all three accounts Christ was the central figure, and Saul and Ananias were the two featured characters in God's plan.

The reason Saul chose Damacus could well be that many Hellenist had flocked there for refuge when the persecution of the church broke out in Jerusalem. While he was on his way to Damacus God intervened. Saul collasped.

Nearing Damacus, a bright light from heaven blazed on him. Blinded by the flash of dazzling light, he fell to the ground. While down on the floor, he heard a voice that said,“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Immediately, Saul reponded by asking, "Who are you Lord?" Saul seemed to know that what happened was an act of the Lord. So he had his answer, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

Verse 7 affirms that this was a remarkable happening. The band of people traveling with Saul stood speechless. For they heard the voice but they did not see anyone.
Paul felt the full effect only when he got up and tried to walk. He realized that he was blind. His eyes were opened but he couldn't see and must be led. This fierce and hostile man was rendered helpless.

Since Damacus was a short distance away, they brought him there. And for three days he could not see and he fasted. Saul neither ate nor drank.

God's Grace can reach us even in the most unlikely of time. For Paul he probably didn't know that Christ would confront him and make him His instrument although he was breathing threats against His church. Like what He did to Paul, God also wants to use the circumstances of our life to shape us and make us His intruments. Let's stay open to His moulding.