In The Word
Read: Acts 9:1-19a
The Conversion of Saul
9 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened.
Saul Begins to Preach Christ
Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Saul was continuing his persecution against Christians, followers of the Way. Saul went before the Jewish high priest to get written permission to go to the synagogues of Damascus to arrest any followers of the Way and bring them to Jerusalem for trial. That was Saul’s plan, but God had a completely different one.
While traveling to Damascus, Saul encountered the Lord Jesus Christ with a flashing light from Heaven that knocked him to the ground. The Lord spoke to Saul, audibly confronting his actions of persecution. Paul was blinded by the Lord and was led by those around him to Damascus. God then used Ananias to go and minister to Saul. There Saul accepted Christ and was baptized.
Saul was a man that some people would look at and think, “There is no way this man can ever be saved.” You may know people in your life and have had that same thought about them. That thought isn’t of the Lord, for He desires all to come to the knowledge and saving grace of His Son Jesus Christ. Remember, where there is breath, there is life; and where there is life, there is hope. Ananias was used as a vessel of honor to go and minister to Saul and bring healing to him. God may very well be calling you to reach out to the lost that are around you in your everyday life to bring the gospel to and pray for them. I encourage you to begin to pray for those that are lost in your family, at your job, and in other areas of your life. God will use you to bring His good news to redeem this lost and dying generation.