Last updated on August 3, 2022
According to the church calendar, we remember today the conversion of Saul, who would become St. Paul, the Apostle.
It is difficult to overstate the consequences of this moment for the history of Christianity and for the world. Saul was a Pharisee and a remarkably enthusiastic persecutor of Jesus’ earliest followers. We know he was present at the stoning of St. Stephen and traveled around finding Christians and throwing them into prison. He was the absolute last person we would expect to be chosen by God.
Perhaps this is an overstatement; but imagine, if you will, God choosing the leader of ISIS to be a minister of the Christian Gospel. That’s how radical of a change this is. Paul’s conversion is captured in Acts 9:1-22
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he 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 rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, 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 evil he has done 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 carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
The love, grace, and mercy of God is astonishing; blinding in its glory. In time, it overcame Paul’s hate, bitterness, fear, and anger. It made him a completely new man, taking his zealous opposition to the Gospel and transforming it into a zealous, unwavering love of the Gospel.
If God can change the heart of a man like Saul and use him…what living soul could ever be out of God’s reach?
Finally, lets also take a moment to recognize Ananias. This man knows who Saul is and knows what Saul is coming to his town to do. Indeed, Ananias likely fears for his life! And yet God tells him to go pray with this persecutor of Jesus’ followers. And he goes! The faith and courage of this man is the kind of faith that moves mountains. It’s the kind of faith that gives sight to the blind. It’s the kind of faith that turns enemies into friends, and opponents into apostles. Praise be to God.
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