Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Acts 9 - Conversion of Saul

Saul was so zealous in his persecution of the Church, that he even headed to Damascus, 160 miles away armed with letters from the high priest authorizing him to take prisoners back to Jerusalem.  Yet, on the road to Damascus, Saul met Jesus and learned that persecuting the Church is really persecuting Jesus Christ the LORD.   After days of blindness, praying, and not eating or drinking, Saul received his sight back, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and was baptized when God sent Ananias to him.   After his conversion, Saul's life was completed turned around.   Instead of persecuting the Church with the authority of the Jewish leaders, the Jews now sought to kill him for preaching that Jesus is the Son of God; and it was the disciples of the Church who would help him escape, both in Damascus and Jerusalem.

We see that God uses people like Ananias, the disciples of the Church at Damascus, and Barnabas to help Paul during his conversion and in his initial walk with Christ.  By being obedient to God and being willing to help Saul, these people were able to enable Saul to fulfill God's calling for him as a "chosen instrument to proclaim [His] name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel." (Acts 9:15b)

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