Acts 9:1-19
Saul's Meets Jesus and is Converted
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 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. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Acts 26:1-32
Paul Tells King Agrippa About His Damascus Story
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
People believe in, what they believe in...If you think why people might believe in something, some say that beliefs are often gained through experiences...Others believe and say that we believe in things that are the truth...Why believe in anything that is not the Truth...So we can believe in things through our past experiences and we can believe in things because they are true...Our senses can also help us know things and learn the truth to believe in different things...Our beliefs can change to believe in something or someone else...Sometimes this happens quickly and sometimes it takes time to change our belief system...
Saul, later to be known as Paul, did not believe in Jesus...He just could not bring himself to believe that Jesus was the Messiah...And Saul was an educated man...He was a very smart Pharisee, who was taught by Gamaliel...Saul was gifted...He very much knew the Old Testament Scripture and knew that a Messiah was to come...He just did not believe it was Jesus...Evidently Saul, before he traveled the road to Damascus, had not experienced Jesus or believed that He was Truth and the Truth...On the road to Damascus, Saul got to experience Jesus...As Saul neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him...He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”...“Who are You, LORD?” Saul asked...“I AM Jesus, whom You are persecuting,” He replied...“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”...The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone...Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing...So they led him by the hand into Damascus...For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything...Saul for three days would go over his thoughts about Jesus...He would finally realize what had happened...He would finally realize the Truth...A message, or an experience from Jesus got through to Saul, and Saul would become Paul to the Gentiles...Saul learned that Jesus was the Messiah from heaven on the road to Damascus...But for years, Saul did not believe in Jesus...I would guess now that Saul would always believe in Jesus, and believe that He is the Messiah...And He would believe in Him for the rest of his life...
Interesting enough, Saul heard a voice calling him on the road to Damascus...And Saul immediately called Him and voice LORD...Saul knew something special was happening, while those around him did not see what was happening, they could only hear some of the things around them...We are told the men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone....
Paul later would be on trial for his beliefs in Jesus...He defended himself with these comments, and told King Agrippa how he had changed his beliefs...After all, Paul had seen Jesus after His death...Paul told Agrippa, “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem...They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee...And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today...This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night...King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me...Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?...“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth...And that is just what I did in Jerusalem...On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them...Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme...I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities...“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests...About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions...We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’...“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, LORD?’...“ ‘I AM Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the LORD replied...‘Now get up and stand on your feet...I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of Me...I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles...I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’...“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven...First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds...That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me...But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike...I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”...
Sometimes our hearts are restless and feel and dream for a Spirit...Our minds and hearts feel a void, an omission and seek Something Higher...And by seeking this Something Higher Existence, we can often feel a satisfaction in this desire of the Spirit...Sometimes we only feel Jesus in small glimpses and slices...Sometimes we can be overwhelmed with His Presence, as Saul was...Finding Jesus fills this part that has been left out and excluded in our hearts...Paul would preach the gospel of Jesus Christ the rest of his life...Paul now believed...