Anna Moore

I’ve been studying the book of Acts in my quiet times and today I arrived at Saul of Tarsus’ conversion to Christianity. In God’s perfect timing, my study of this book and the early church has been so refreshing and, well, amazing. I am amazed at Peter’s growth. I am amazed at Stephen’s boldness. I am amazed at Philip’s obedience. And I am amazed at Saul’s transformation and zeal. The Holy Spirit gets the glory here.

We can learn something from Saul of Tarsus’ conversion to Christianity. The apostle we know as Paul had a reputation of persecuting Christians before he became one. My bible literally says, “But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). Ravaging means “to destroy,” or “destruction by violence,” as in the ravage of a lion or a fire destroying whatever is in its path. This man hated followers of Jesus. 

As a likely member of the Sanhedrin, Saul probably witnessed some of Jesus of Nazareth’s teachings and probably sat in judgment of the trial for His crucifixion. Saul likely thought these followers of Jesus were spreading a false message and starting a movement that went against the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and against the Law of Moses that religious leaders seemed to idolize and distort. Saul was zealous to defeat this “wrongdoing” that he did not understand that He was working against the very God he claimed to believe, though I understand in God’s providence He had Saul persecuting Christians. 

Saul went to the high priest and requested to deliver messages in Damascus, “so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:2). This movement of Christianity was appropriately referred to as “the Way” since following Jesus is more than doctrine to proclaim, but it is a “way” of life, through the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It’s more than head-knowledge of God’s Word and the Law. It’s really knowing Jesus and following Him with all your being. This involves heart-knowledge and heart transformation. Saul of Tarsus was about to experience this as he was on his way to Damascus.  

Although Saul was not seeking Jesus for himself, Jesus sought him. (What mercy and love!) As he approached Damascus, maybe seeing the city just up ahead, he saw a light brighter than the sun and fell to the ground, terrified. The voice of Jesus then audibly said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul’s heart was already changing as he followed up by asking two questions I hope to apply to my own life.

1. Who are you, Lord? (Acts 9:5)
2. Lord, what do You want me to do? (Acts 9:6)*

By asking, “Who are you, Lord?” Saul is starting to seek Jesus Himself and be revealed who He is (Galatians 1:11-12). As Christians, we are encouraged to seek the Lord with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 7:7-8). By asking someone “who are you?” you are trying to get to know them. You want to find out what they are about, what they like or dislike, where they came from, what matters to them, what makes them them. We can ask Jesus who He is every day when we dig into His Word. “Who are you, Lord? Teach me who You are! I want to know you!” He reveals Himself to us through His Word and by the Holy Spirit. 

By asking, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Saul is asking for guidance. Don’t we ALL want Jesus to audibly give us directions? But, if He told us what to do and never let us discern things for ourselves, how would we grow? I believe Saul is developing a heart of obedience here as he asks Jesus this question. He wants to do what is right by the Lord. He is no longer concerned about his goal of persecuting as many Jesus followers as he can. His attention is now directed at doing the Lord’s will. He is beginning to die to self (Romans 6:4-8; Galatians 2:20 and 5:24; John 3:3-7) 

Jesus does tell Saul what He wants him to do next, but He doesn’t give Him a roadmap for his remaining time on earth. I think we can apply this second question as being willing to be obedient in the next thing God has for us, and trusting Him with everything else. By seeking obedience in the next thing only, we aren’t worried about what comes later. Our attention is on the immediate next thing. I am a planner who loves knowing what to expect and anticipate. I worry about what my life will look like in one, five, 10-plus years regularly. But this passage is convicting to me because I don’t need to worry about my future (Matthew 6:34; Jeremiah 29:11), I just need to obey what the Lord has before me today and trust Him with it. “Lord, what do You want me to do? What is Your will for me today? How can I be obedient to You right now?”

I can’t wait to dive more into Saul’s–OK, Paul’s–transformation in the coming days and weeks. I am so grateful we have these words we can learn from and be changed by. 

Just amazing! 

*This part of Acts 9:6 was not in Luke’s original text for Acts and is not in many modern Bible translations. It was added to the text by scribes.