“SAUL’S DRAMATIC DAMASCUS ROAD EXPERIENCE”

Acts 9:1-9

The young man about whom Dr. Luke’s Acts presentation focuses in on is a young man by the name of Saul of Tarsus.  Tarsus is a Greco-Roman city in Asia Minor.  Saul whose name was changed to Paul (Acts 13:9) was a Roman citizen and grew up as a zealous Pharisee (Acts 23:6).  He was a strict follower of Judaism, dedicating himself to preserving the faith of his fathers.  Accordingly, Saul was first mentioned in Acts as a young man at whose feet Stephen’s executioners laid their outer garments (Acts 7:58).  Later, it was brought out that Paul approved of Stephen’s death (Acts 8:1).

At the point of our text in verses 1 and 2, Paul’s determined character was seen in his efforts in persecuting the followers of Christianity, for he had secured letters from the high priest authorizing himself to arrest the believers in the synagogues of Damascus Syria.  Saul intensely hated Christianity and those “of the way” (Christians).  Saul definitely had a hatred and fury for the disciples of Jesus Christ.  Saul’s intent was to stamp out the Christian movement by bringing the disciples of Jesus Christ bound to Jerusalem to stand trial and to be punished with whatever sentences the Sanhedrin imposed.

As Saul and his companions made their journey from Jerusalem to Damascus, a journey of about 150 miles, and before they reached their destination, Saul was arrested by a brilliant light from heaven.  As Saul descended to the earth, a voice spoke: “Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?”  This striking question stresses the fact that when he was also persecuting Christ!  Although Saul had not done any harm personally to Jesus of Nazareth, he was harming Christ as he persecuted His disciples (Matthew 25:41-45).

As believers, we must be awfully careful in how we treat one another.  Not really certain who was addressing him, Saul asked, “Who art thou, Lord?” (v. 5).  He went on to relate to Saul these words: “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”  In Christ’s use of this expression, what did He mean by pricks?  Pricks were referred to as sticks with sharp points designed to goad animals.  Thus, when an animal resisted such goading, it was bringing injury only to itself.  Saul was under heavy conviction and he attempted to suppress the goading of his conscience by engaging in acts of hatred to followers of Christ.  Having had this dramatic encounter with the Divine Sheriff of Heaven, Saul responded by saying, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (v. 6).  Paul certainly came to the realization that the Lord he had so greatly maligned was the exalted Lord!

The Lord had really humbled Saul in his encounter on the Damascus Road, for Saul came to the awareness that He is Sovereign.  From Acts chapter 9:6b-9, Paul was told to enter the city and await further instruction.  The companions who led Saul knew that something momentous had occurred on the Damascus Road, for Saul was now blind, going without food and water for three days (vv. 8-9).  What a dramatic change had been wrought in the life of a man who once hated the Christian movement.  He once hated others, now he had to be helped.

God changed Saul from being a fierce persecutor to a persistent proclaimer of the gospel.  Saul would later understand that promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ involves suffering.  God certainly transformed Saul from being a fierce persecutor to a firm proclaimer of the gospel.  God can truly transform you, can’t He?

May God Bless!