This was a dramatic conversion! Saul (who became the apostle
Paul) was an ardent opponent of the “people of the Way”. So committed was he to
the ‘purity’ of the religion of his upbringing, that he sought to destroy any challenge
to it. This was no mere casual opposition on a whim, but a calculated and
planned effort to nip the Jesus movement in the bud. The unbelieving Jewish
leadership and the callous Romans thought they had achieved this destruction
through a cross at Golgotha; they had not planned on a resurrection, nor a
‘Pentecost’ experience, that would fuel 120 believers becoming thousands and
multiplying further at a great rate.
As Saul saw it, these “people of the Way of Jesus”, were
perverting the orthodox message of the religion of the Jews, claiming that
Jesus was on a par with God, and that he had been resurrected from the dead.
This could not be tolerated and Saul decided to strike out and strike out hard.
Saul was so committed to his plan of action that he gained official accreditation
to arrest any Jesus followers (“men or women”) that he found in places like
Damascus, and take them bound back to Jerusalem for trial. We read from Paul’s
own lips, later on in Acts 26 (verse 11), how he felt at this time: By punishing them often in all the
synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously
enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.
Now we might think that there would be little hope that
someone like this could be changed. Such a person would be too deeply immersed
in their hatred and far too rigidly close-minded to ever see things in a
different way. Just maybe, they could be convinced to ease up a bit, and gently
nurtured toward changing their ways. But a complete turnaround!!! And
quickly!!! And that God would actually choose such a person as this!!! Why
would God have chosen Saul??? Maybe because the abilities and commitment used
to oppose Jesus so effectively could also be used to promote Jesus just as
effectively!!
But there must have been something within Saul ready to
respond like he did ... an opening to the truth ... a readiness to see Jesus as
the One sent by God! Had Saul already sensed that perfect adherence to the
(religious) law was not only impossible but also never going to lead to any
sense of peace or freedom?? Maybe there was something to this ‘grace’ thing
after all! Perhaps Saul had already become dissatisfied with his life as it
was, but didn’t know what to do about it ... how to escape the destructiveness
of it!! Maybe this level of confusion is seen in his reactions of anger and
rage!
God of course knew, that when confronted as he was, Saul
would be ready to be the person God knew he could be!! God needed a person of
tremendous possibilities to lead the movement of the Gospel across the world.
So God had been preparing the way ... and was probably planting seeds of doubt
into Saul’s being. When Stephen had recently spoken so courageously about
Jesus, before he was stoned to death, Saul was there. In the face of a cruel
death, Saul heard Stephen express strong faith in saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (7:59). As against the violence Saul
had in his heart, he may have also recalled the dying words of Stephen ... Lord, do not hold this against them
(7:60).
So Saul had his drastic plans, but then he was confronted by
a great light on Damascus Road. Such was the strength and unusual nature of
this light, that Saul fell to the ground ... you would imagine in fear and
confusion. Then Saul heard a voice, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” I
could imagine Saul thinking very quickly ... ‘Well I am persecuting, but not
anyone important – just a ragtag band of misguided nuts’. So Saul asks,
wondering what heavenly identity he could be persecuting, “Who are you, Lord?”
Then comes the dramatic life-changing reply, “I am Jesus ... and yes, if you
are persecuting my followers, you are also personally persecuting me”!! Saul
would now come to know that Jesus was God incarnate, and this is the One who he
would need to promote ... and no longer the old religion of Israel. As we read
later (in verse 15), Saul was God’s chosen instrument to bring the name of
Jesus before all the Gentile peoples, all the human kings, and also before the
people of Israel.
Such was the impact of the light and its source, that Saul
was rendered temporarily blind ... perhaps plainly awestruck ... and indicative
of the guilt and shame he felt in the face of the presence of God. God had been
revealed to Saul, but Saul could not easily look back. What had happened ...
something tremendous ... almost unbelievable ... yet he must get to the city as
he was told. Saul had to be assisted into Damascus where he waited, probably in
some trepidation, without sight, and without any appetite to eat or drink, for
three whole days.
Oh the ramifications of his violent opposition to Jesus must
have been going around and around in his head. And then this strange yet real
visitation (on Damascus Rd)! We read a few verses on that Paul would be found
praying. God would allow Saul to reflect and pray, while raising up the one who
would make explanations and connect up the dots for Saul – a Jesus follower
named Ananias.
In the midst of Saul’s praying, God would prepare Saul for
this impending visit. Yet Ananias himself would have to muster up some courage,
for he knew well what Saul had been up to ... the damage he had been doing. When
Ananias expressed his reservations to God, he was shown that we humans often
have only limited vision – we only see the obvious and don’t see what might lay
deeper. And besides, Jesus seeks the lost! Sometimes we have to get past our
own view of things and move over to God’s agenda. The Lord said to Ananias,
“Go, for [Saul] is an instrument whom I have chosen ...” (v.15a).
So when he had been reassured how important this task was,
Ananias headed off to the particular house on Straight Street. There is a
barbed comment (from the Lord to Ananias) in verse 16, that I have often
wondered about – “I myself [the Lord] will show [Saul] how much he must suffer
for the sake of my name”. This is almost as if to appease the (possibly
justifiable) feelings of Ananias about Saul’s previous activity ... don’t
worry, he’ll get his!! But really this must more refer to the real difficulty
and persecution that the former persecutor will come to endure.
Ananias visits Saul, lays his hands upon him, and confirms
that Saul has truly been encountered by Jesus. Through this Saul regains his
sight (he now sees better than he had seen before), and then receives the Holy
Spirit (as the other believers had done at Pentecost and subsequent to
Pentecost). You will notice that Ananias fully understood the depth of the
moment, as he called his former enemy, “Brother Saul”. This offer of relational
acceptance would have provided great encouragement to Saul at a very lonely
moment. Ah ha ... the name Ananias means, ‘the Lord is gracious’. Saul is baptised,
which was a visible and public demonstration to one and all that Saul was becoming
a functioning member of the early church community (the community that he was
previously oppressing); and then begins to eat again.
Dramatically, Saul now begins to proclaim the name of Jesus
(as Son of God) in synagogues, where just days before he planned to create
havoc amongst any Jesus followers. Saul would be allowed to speak in these
places due to his heritage and training, yet there would be great surprise when
the synagogue leaders heard what he now had to say! This was new truth to Saul,
but already it was just busting out of him! This was a total reversal in Saul’s
intentions!! Michael Hardin writes (p.211): [Saul’s]
entire way of thinking was shattered and rebuilt on a new foundation, Jesus
Christ. The way he had perceived and directed his life to this point was
entirely transformed.
So what do we learn from all this???
1.
This is a story about God – that God’s hand is
upon this mission ... the movement of the good news of Jesus around the world.
God will call people, even the most unexpected vessels, to be involved in
progressing this mission (in various places and at various times).
2.
This is a
story about God turning adversity around toward hope. Where the early Jesus
followers were being persecuted and killed for their new found faith, God
stepped in – and not only was the chief opponent stopped, but he became the
chief advocate.
3.
This is a story about Saul/Paul – that even the
most ardent and dangerous opponent can be turned around toward belief in Jesus
as Son of God, be filled with God’s Spirit and become an important part of
God’s mission. God through Jesus changes lives! God is working ahead of time in
people’s lives, sowing seeds of distrust in their own way of life – so that
when the opportunity arrives, they will say yes to Jesus.
4.
This is a story about Ananias – just like the
minor players in a film are important to develop the roles of the major
characters, there is often support roles required for God’s big picture to fall
into place. Ananias had to get over his fears and animosities, to be in the
right place at the right time to partner with God in releasing Saul into his
new vocation. Positive relational connections are what lead to new life
possibilities.
5.
This is a story about us – that we also can move
beyond the activities and guilt of the past, be totally forgiven and renewed,
and be reinvested into God’s future.
6.
This is a story about reflection – for when Saul
was faced with this great challenge to his way of life, his time of somewhat
enforced solitude was well invested in prayer; which brought forward the
answers that he needed and prepared him for the ministry that Ananias would
bring to him.
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