The Truth About Apostle Paul's Conversion That Every Believer Should Know

All conversions are works of God. However, there is something unique about Saul's conversion. If God can save him, he can certainly save anyone. This fide tells us how Jesus took hold of Saul, Paul, and tamed him, transforming him from a persecutor into a preacher. 1. The making of a Christian leader. Acts 9, 1-2, New King James Version Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. First, consider Saul's condition. He was born in Tarsus, a Greek city known for its prominent university. Because he was of royal Israelite heritage, he received the highest education available at the time. More importantly, Saul was a Pharisee, a member of the most orthodox branch of Jewish faith. They were held in great regard for their erudition and piety. As religious as he was, Saul was spiritually unhappy. On the outside, he was attempting to please God, but on the inside, he was ripped apart. Rather than confronting his emptiness, Saul resorted to vicious aggression. It is normal for folks who struggle with doubt to strike out at others in an attempt to mute their doubts. Acts 9, 3-9, New King James Version As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goats. So he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what do you want me to do? Then the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Second, consider Saul's conviction. Saul travelled to Damascus as soon as he had his paperwork from the relevant officials. Saul had a vision of the risen Lord Jesus at high noon. Acts 22, 3-16, New King James Version I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our father's law, and was zealous towards God, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? So I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting. And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of him who spoke to me. So I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do. And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me. And he stood and said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And at that same hour I looked up at him. Then he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know his will, and see the just one, and hear the voice of his mouth, for you will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. This was such a profound event for Paul that he could replay it in great detail years afterwards. Acts 9 10-20 NKJV Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. And to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here I am, Lord. So the Lord said to him, Arise, and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way and entered the house. And laying his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once. And he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached to the Christ in the synagogues that he is the Son of God. Finally, consider Saul's transformation. Saul's transition was both personal and conspicuously public. He went from being a pious man to a praying man in an instant. His life's purpose had been turned upside down. Previously, he attempted to combat Christians, but now he seeks to fellowship with Christians. Previously, his power was derived from human authorities, but after then it was derived from the filling of the Holy Spirit. 2. The Moulding of a Christian Leader Geographical settings play an important role in Saul's early Christian life. In Arabia, he would be shaped by loneliness. Galatians 1, 15-17, New King James Version But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus. We sometimes require solitude in order to mature spirituality. Consider the lives of Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, and even Jesus. Each of them was prepared for ministry by spending time in the wilderness. For us, solitude is a chance to spend time with Jesus and hear Him communicate via His word. In His alone, Paul learned to pray and to recognize Jesus as the anticipated Messiah. God then sent Saul back to Damascus to teach him about suffering. Saul's previous objective in traveling to Damascus had been to punish Christians. He then proceeded to Damascus to speak about Christ to the people. The person who had previously persecuted others became victimized himself. God never wastes our pain. He utilizes it to refine, teach, and shape us for His glory. Suffering, in the end, softens us. Saul learned about service in Jerusalem. Galatians 1, 18, New King James Version. Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. This was his main base while preaching the gospel to people. Acts 9, 21-31, New King James Version. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, Is this not He who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that He might bring them bound to the chief priests? But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul, and they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall in a large basket. And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he had spoken to Him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Hellenists. But they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him out to Tarsus. Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. Only secure leaders give power to others. Barnabas was unquestionably a people lifter. He appears to have squandered no chance to give value to the lives of others. And his meeting with Paul was his most significant single contribution to empowerment. He was the first to believe in Paul. It's easier to form an opinion about a contentious person or issue after other leaders have backed you up. It's another thing entirely to speak up before anyone else. That's exactly what Barnabas did. He didn't wait for the apostles to back Paul up before trusting in him. In reality, while Peter and the others dreaded Paul, he believed in him. He expressed his support for Paul's leadership to other leaders. According to the Bible, Barnabas taken Paul and brought him to the apostles. And he told them how he had seen the Lord on the journey, how he had spoken to him, and how he had boldly preached in the name of Jesus at Damascus. Can you picture how things may have been in Jerusalem back then? When Paul came into town, the apostles learned that he was claiming to be a follower of Christ. They have to have believed it was a joke. This was the same man who had approved of Stephen's stoning, the first Christian martyr. Barnabas had to have turned up with Paul to one of the apostles' gatherings. When everyone understood who Barnabas' companion was, there was bound to be an awkward silence. Then Barnabas related Paul's narrative. Paul didn't have to say anything. Barnabas was well known among the believers. They were aware of his reputation and integrity. That was all that was required. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out, the Bible says. Acts 9, 28. Paul had been accepted by the church. Singing your people's praises to others is one of the most effective things you can do as an empowering leader. Tell everyone when they're doing a terrific job. Make a point of appreciating them in front of their friends and family. However, they should also be brought before other leaders. Assist them in making a relationship based on the strength of your credibility. 3. He gave Paul the tools he needed to fulfill his full potential. Barnabas and Paul's friendship did not end in Jerusalem. It didn't take long after Barnabas' support for Paul to walk freely throughout Jerusalem, teaching the people and discussing the veracity of scripture for Paul to become an enemy of non-believers. For his own protection, the apostles prudently returned him to Tarsus. However, when Barnabas was appointed to assist the church in Antioch, he discovered Paul and made him his buddy. That action enabled Paul to accept his first assignment as a leader, which led to Paul's collaboration with Barnabas as a missionary, the role for which God had meant him. You must do more than believe in emerging leaders to be an empowering leader. You must take actions to assist them in becoming the leaders they have the potential to be. If you want to empower people to be their best, you must invest in them. Empowering others necessitates a personal investment. It takes effort and time, but it's well worth the money. If you do it well, you will have the opportunity to observe someone advance to a higher level. Furthermore, when you empower individuals, you generate authority in your organization. As Saul served, he met church skepticism about embracing him. They had vivid memories of Saul's intense hatred of Christians. The Jews were likewise hostile to Paul. He left Jerusalem supporting their cause, only to return arguing Christ's, resulting in significant disagreements with the Jewish leaders. In the regions of Syria and Cilicia, Saul learned silence. Galatians 1.21, New King James Version. Afterward, I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. We have no idea what transpired during those days, but we do know that he completed at least two tasks. First, he testified to his belief in Jesus Christ. People were saved and churches were planted as a result. Too frequently, we believe that other places are better places to minister than where God has placed us, but we must truly give our best wherever God has placed us. Saul waited in Tarsus as well. Waiting may be one of the most difficult disciplines that the believer faces. You may believe you are in the shadows, overlooked, or worse, ignored. Take comfort, the master potter is watching over the vessel, his hands shaping it to his wonderful design. 3. The Ministry of a Christian Leader. Now we depart briefly from the ministry of Saul, who would later be known as Paul, and return to the Apostle Peter. Here are four specific ministry angles to consider. Acts 9, 32-43. New King James Version. Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed. Then he rose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and turned to the Lord. At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him, weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes. And when she saw Peter, she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. The first perspective is on the human side of ministry. Though divine in origin, having been commissioned by the Lord Jesus himself, the Church's ministry is yet a human one. Ministry is not to a faceless crowd, but to individuals with names, personalities, and emotions. The healing ministry is the second angle. Even today, healing is an important aspect of Christian ministry. However, just as in the New Testament, we must employ biblical discernment to understand God's miracles. Even though it is administered by the Church of God, healing is achieved by the Son of God. Furthermore, healing must be done in accordance with God's Word. The Bible keeps us balanced in our knowledge of today's healing mission. The third point of view is the assisting ministry. Dorcas exemplified the social component of the Church's work. She was bestowed with a plethora of grace gifts, which she dutifully applied. Christian social ministry has directly resulted in our modern-day healthcare institutions. The heavenly ministry is the fourth angle. Each miracle or act of compassion resulted in the salvation of souls for the glory of God. Salvation of the soul is a more important task than treating the ill or reviving the dead. All other talents are, at best, transient. When we have heaven on our hearts, we know we have the heart of Jesus.