Wednesday Acts 9:1-9

Saul encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus.

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We saw Saul earlier at the dead of Stephen. He was part of the persecution of the believers in Jerusalem that caused them to scatter to the surrounding areas. Saul was zealous in his persecution of the Christians. He even went to the High Priest to receive authorization to arrest Christians in Damascus.

The city of Damascus was not in Judea, however, the High Priest had been given authority over all Jews in the Roman Empire. So, Saul’s plan was to go to the synagogues in Damascus with the letter from the High Priest. There he could receive local help in apprehending the Jews who had become followers of Jesus.

The believers had fled from Jerusalem, but Saul considered them to be so dangerous that the new group had to be stopped before it could spread. He traveled the 150 miles to Damascus with a group of men. As they got close to Damascus, Saul had an encounter with Jesus.

You need to read Acts 22 and 26 to get Saul’s recollections of this event. He provides a few details later that Luke does not include here. A bright light occurred and they were all knocked down. They all heard noise, but only Saul understood the words. Saul actually saw Jesus (9:17, 27), but the others did not see anyone.

Saul understood that something of a divine nature was happening, but he didn’t seem to know who was speaking to him. He could have thought that it was an angel. Jesus identified Himself to Saul and asked why Saul was persecuting Him.

Saul was blinded by the occurrence and had to be led into the city by hand. For three days, God left in this condition.

God was preparing Saul for the message that a believer in Damascus was going to give him. God had been preparing people around us to hear the message from us.