“Now Saul, still breathing threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem…suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” he said, “WHO ARE YOU, LORD?” He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting…” (Acts 9:1-5) This incident occurred right after the death of Stephen “…Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8) Paul was there overseeing Stephen’s stoning: “…they began stoning Stephen; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of Saul.” (Acts 7:58) Paul, later told Timothy this: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief…” (1 Tim. 1:12-13) We are shown in the scripture that this “Saul” began to be called “Paul” that’s how we know him… “Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 13:9) The New Testament tells us, that Paul was dedicated to persecuting the disciples. Paul was traveling to Damascus to “arrest Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem,“ when Jesus appeared to him in a great light. He was struck blind, but then his sight was restored by Ananias of Damascus and Paul began to preach that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah the Son of God. Approximately half of the book of Acts deals with Paul’s life and works.
I think the way it applies to our lives today is this: Paul thought he was doing the right thing in persecuting the Christians but Jesus “opened his eyes” and he became a great preacher and worker for God. We need to pray to the Lord to OPEN OUR EYES to make sure we are doing His will.
-Bill Stockham