Acts 9:3-19 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:… Three distinct lines of thought appear in this lesson, each concentered in a person — Saul, Ananias, and Christ. I. Let us notice the STEPS IN SAUL'S CONVERSION, and find in them the story of every seeking soul. 1. Sin. We see in Saul an open, active, determined, and cruel enemy of Christ. We see a persistent enemy resisting the convictions of the Holy Spirit, kicking against the pricks of his own conscience, yet an honest, sincere enemy. "I did it ignorantly in unbelief" (1 Timothy 1:13). 2. Conviction, Saul's conviction was sudden, yet gradual. Gradual, for he had been striving against the influences of the Spirit (ver. 5) ever since he had seen the transfigured face of Stephen; sudden, when the culminating instant came. In a moment he awoke to the consciousness of his guilt. 3. Decision. "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" That sentence marked the crisis of a life, when Saul chose Jesus as his Master. What mighty results followed that instant's decision! 4. Seeking. For three days Saul was in an agony of prayer, seeking the Christ whom he had persecuted. The delay was not because God was unwilling, but because Saul was not yet in the right condition to receive the blessing. 5. Salvation. At last the scales fell from his eyes, and Saul saw Christ, not as his enemy, but as his forgiving Saviour. II. Another line of thought is suggested in ANANIAS, THE HELPER IN SAUL'S CONVERSION. 1. He was a man. God uses men, and not angels, to point souls to salvation. Even Saul of Tarsus, though called by Christ Himself, is taught the way of faith by a fellow man. 2. He was a believing man. Saved himself, he was able to show others the way of salvation. Only the man who has himself seen the Lord can show Him to others. 3. He was a man of character. Notice what is said of him in Acts 22:12. Those who win souls must be men of good report. 4. He was in close and complete communion with Christ, enjoying direct revelation and holding familiar converse with his Lord. "He who would have power with men must have power with God." 5. He was an obedient worker, fulfilling the Divine command, even when it sent him into danger; for it seemed perilous to visit a persecutor with the message of the gospel. III. There is also a suggestive subject in CHRIST AS REVEALED IN SAUL'S CONVERSION. 1. A living Christ. Only a little while ago Jesus died on the Cross, and was buried in the sepulchre. Yet now a living form stands forth, saying, "I am Jesus!" 2. A Christ with individual notice. He saw Saul's journey, knew his purpose, and recognised his character. He knew how Saul had striven against the Spirit. He called Saul by name, and called Ananias by name also. Christ in heaven has knowledge of men and events on the earth. 3. A Christ of infinite sympathy with His people. "Why persecutest thou Me?" He felt the blow at His Church more keenly than the spear thrust into His own body. In all our afflictions as Christians Christ is afflicted. 4. A Christ who sees the best in every man. Ananias saw in Saul only the enemy and the persecutor. Christ saw in him "a chosen vessel" and an apostle. He sees in every soul infinite possibilities. 5. A Christ with transforming power. He can transform Saul into Paul, Stephen's slayer into Stephen's successor, an enemy into a champion. What Christ could do with Saul He can do with any man. The conversion of Saul: — Let us regard this — I. AS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY. In the case of the apostle, nothing but evidence the most decisive could have effected such a change, in such a man, and at such a time. 1. He had the common prejudices of a Jew against Christianity and its Founder. 2. He was a Pharisee, and had the peculiarly inveterate prejudices of his sect. 3. He was a man of worldly ambition. 4. His very sincerity as a persecutor proves the power of that evidence which could convert such a man into a disciple. 5. The temper of his mind when the great event occurred which led to his immediate conversion, was only calculated to indispose him for conviction. On this we remark — (1) That he could not be deceived, either in the light or in the voice; or, supposing that to have been barely possible with him, yet, surely, not with those who accompanied him, at the same time. Nor could he be deceived in the fact of his blindness, and of his supernatural healing by Ananias, who gave him instruction. (2) Nor was he a deceiver. St. Paul was a good man; and that is our security that he would not deceive. If he were not a good man, where shall we look for one? But if he were a good man, then is the account true, for he could not have been deceived; and Jesus did meet him in the way, and the religion of Christ is from God. II. AS SHOWING THE POWER AND GRACE OF THE SAVIOUR. This was manifested — 1. As to the Church — (1) By the conversion of its destroyer. (2) By the revelation of its oneness with Christ, and His intense interest in it. "Why persecutest thou Me?" 2. As to Paul himself, we see it in the illumination of his mind, in the extinction of his worldly temper, the conquest of the love of applause, the moral strength that was communicated. III. AS FURNISHING IMPORTANT PRACTICAL LESSONS. We are reminded — 1. That love is the test of religion. 2. That our salvation is of God. 3. That true religion implies conversion — the change of the whole character. 4. That the end of a thing is better than the beginning of it. 5. Let us be thankful that God raised up this great light for His Church. Let us study his writings, and imbibe their spirit. Let us glorify God in him. (R. Watson.) Parallel Verses KJV: And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: |
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