From Saul to Paul: Persecutor to Disciple

This chapter is based on Acts 9:1-18.

Saul of Tarsus, a Roman citizen by birth, was a Jew by heritage and had been educated by the finest rabbis. He was “a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:5, 6). He inspired high hopes that he would be an able and zealous defender of the ancient faith. His elevation to the Sanhedrin council placed him in a position of power.ULe 43.1

Saul had taken part in condemning Stephen, and the striking evidence of God’s presence with the martyr had led him to doubt the cause he had taken up against the followers of Jesus. But the arguments of the priests finally convinced him that Stephen was a blasphemer, that Christ was a fraud, and that the religious leaders must be right.ULe 43.2

Saul’s education and prejudice, his respect for his teachers, and his pride braced him to rebel against the voice of conscience. And having decided that the priests and scribes were right, he became a bitter opponent of the disciples of Jesus. His activity in causing holy men and women to be condemned to imprisonment and even to death brought gloom to the newly organized church and caused many to seek safety by fleeing.ULe 43.3

Those who were driven from Jerusalem “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). In Damascus the new faith gained many converts.ULe 43.4

The priests and rulers had hoped that by stern persecution they could suppress the heresy. Now they must carry forward in other places the firm measures they had taken in Jerusalem against the new teaching. Saul offered his services for the special work at Damascus. “Breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,” he “went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” So “with authority and commission from the chief priests” (Acts 26:12), Saul of Tarsus, in the vigor of manhood and burning with mistaken zeal, set out on that memorable journey.ULe 43.5