The Conversion of Saul
Text: Acts 9:1-19
Core Idea: We’ve been chased by God, chosen by His grace, and changed by our encounter with the risen Christ – this is the reality of all believers. So, let’s honor God by thanking Him, by living a life worthy of the gospel, loving each other, and pursuing after those who are lost so that they too will be welcomed into the family.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, Lighthouse. It is great to see you. I want to welcome all of you, but especially our Tugboat and Anchor friends, as they will be joining us for the whole service today. Now, to help our children engage a little more, we’ve been following the curriculum that the Tugboat ministry is currently going through in these joint services – so please open your Bibles to Acts 9:1-19. But before we read this, let me quickly give you the context so that you’ll better appreciate this story. You may not remember, but almost two months ago, we looked at the story of Stephen, who was stoned to death for preaching the gospel to the people in Jerusalem. And there’s an interesting detail we read at the end of that story. Acts 7:58-8:1, “Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul… And Saul approved of their killing him.” We don’t know much about Saul at this point since this is literally the first time he’s mentioned in the book – but this clearly tells us that he was opposed to Christ and His people. In fact, he wasn’t just opposed – he was an active persecutor of the church. Acts 8:3, “Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.” Saul’s deep hatred for Jesus and His people drove him to do whatever it took to destroy the church – even traveling to distant cities to hunt them down. Then, with that in mind, let me invite Nate up – and he will read the passage for us.
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to proclaim My name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Thank you, Nate, for reading the passage for us. And children, I hope you enjoyed the video. John Stott said, “Luke recounts the story of Saul’s conversion three times in the Book of Acts, underscoring its supreme importance in the advance of the gospel.” What he said is true because with Saul’s transformation, the gospel gained a powerful voice and began advancing across the Roman world like never before – churches were planted, people were saved, and the name of Christ was proclaimed by both Jews and Gentiles. Considering this, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we’re here today because God saved Saul and sent him to carry the gospel to the nations. But there’s another reason why Saul’s conversion is relevant to us – listen to how Paul describes his conversion in 1 Timothy 1:16, “I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.” It’s true that no two conversions look exactly the same in that each person’s story is unique. For some, the change is dramatic and immediate – but for others, it’s quiet and gradual. That’s why we can’t reduce conversion to a single formula or experience. And yet, if Jesus saved Saul to serve as an example for those who would believe in Him, then our passage can offer us some insights into what genuine conversion looks like. So, let me point out three things from our passage – in true conversion, we are:
· CHASED BY GOD
· CHANGED BY ENCOUNTER
· CHOSEN BY GRACE
1) CHASED BY GOD
Look at verse 1. Again, we can clearly see that Saul hated the followers of Jesus. He wasn’t just annoyed by them or irritated by their teaching. No, his heart was filled with this raging fury against them – so much so that when he heard the Christians, who scattered due to persecution, were preaching the gospel everywhere they went, instead of feeling relieved to have them as far away as possible from Jerusalem, he actually decided to hunt them down. In fact, he even went out of his way to get a warrant from the high priest. Now, we know Saul was absolutely committed to this task of eradicating Christians because of what we read in verse 2 – “[He asked for letters] so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.” In other words, he didn’t even know for sure if there were any Christians in Damascus – and yet, he was still willing to travel nearly 250 km (a journey that would’ve taken around 6-8 days on foot) just to find out. That’s how determined he was to put an end to Christianity. He was a man on a mission.
Verse 3, “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’” Here’s what we learn from this: Saul thought he was on his way to hunt down the disciples of Jesus – but in reality, he was actually the one being hunted by the Lord. Now, that might not be obvious at first glance in our passage, but we get more insight in Acts 26:13-14, where Paul retells the same story to King Agrippa – “About noon, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” A goad is a long stick with a pointed end used to gently encourage the animal to move in the desired direction – often by poking the animal’s shoulder. (I prepared a picture so you can visualize it.) Now, even though a goad was meant to guide the animal in line with where the farmer wanted to go, its sharpness often caused great pain – prompting the animal to kick back in resistance. But resisting was somewhat pointless because the farmer would’ve just poked again until the animal moved along the right path. Then, when Jesus uses this image to describe Saul, He was basically saying, “Saul, why are you persecuting Me? Why are you pushing against Me when My intentions toward you are rooted in love? Can’t you see that what I desire for you is good? The more you resist, the more you’ll be in pain. So, stop running. Stop pushing back. Follow My lead. Surrender your life to Me because I have a purpose for you – I’m going to prepare you to be used powerfully for My Kingdom.” When Jesus appeared to Saul, He didn’t come with anger or a desire for revenge. He didn’t say, “Let me show you what it means to oppose Me!” and unleashed His judgment. In fact, if He really wanted to punish Saul, He could’ve just struck him with lightning or something. But He didn’t – instead, He came to Saul in love, compassion, and mercy. Even when Saul wanted nothing to do with Jesus, Jesus wasn’t going to let go of him – He chased after Saul because of His love for him.
These days, the word “seeker” is commonly used to describe someone who is actively exploring the Christian faith – asking honest questions as they consider whether to follow Jesus. In fact, some of you here may consider yourself to be a seeker – and if that’s you, thank you for spending your time with us. I’ve been praying that your minds will be satisfied by the truth of God, that your hearts will be captivated by the beauty of Christ, and that your lives will be transformed by the power of the Spirit so that you’ll come to embrace this good news that we all love so much. Now, as much as you may have been deliberately seeking, what I want you to see from our passage is that Jesus has been seeking after you. In fact, I firmly believe that if He hasn’t, you wouldn’t even have the desire to seek Him – you are here because He first sought after you. Friends, He’s been pursuing your heart and orchestrating your life so that you would draw closer to Him. Then, let me ask you, “How will you respond? Will you keep running, or will you turn around and meet the One who’s been chasing after you with love all along?” This, in fact, is the heart of the gospel – that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He didn’t wait for us to come to Him – He came for us. If you’re a Christian, you know what I mean, for left to your own ways, you would never have chosen Him – you would never have surrendered your life on your own. But now, your life is in Christ because He has opened your eyes to see the truth. I don’t think any of you would say, “I chose Jesus because He seemed like the best option out there.” No, you’ll most likely say, “I’m not even sure how it happened. I can’t explain why I believe the gospel story, but I do – and it’s only by His grace. That’s why I owe everything to Him. He alone is worthy of my worship.” Conversion always begins with God. He’s the One who initiates. He’s the One who calls – and we simply respond. You didn’t become a Christian because you’re wiser, morally superior, stronger, more popular, more gifted, or more influential than others. No, you were saved because God stepped in and rescued you. Jesus is the true Seeker. Now, you can resist His call, just like Saul did – but the longer you resist, the more you’ll struggle and the more pain you’ll experience. Then, friends, stop running away. Respond to Him today. Let Him love you, lead you, and meet your deepest needs, for everything you’ve been searching for is ultimately found in Christ.
2) CHANGED BY ENCOUNTER
Look at verse 4 again, “He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.” These words must have shocked Saul because he had genuinely believed that Jesus was dead. He thought Jesus was a fraud – deceiving people and leading them astray by claiming to be the Messiah. In one sense, we can’t blame him because in the Book of Isaiah, the Messiah is described as the triumphant King, the blessed One – while the Book of Deuteronomy taught that anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. “Then, how can Jesus claim to be the Messiah when He was killed on a wooden cross? He’s a cursed man! How dare He blaspheme God like this?” So, when Saul was so passionately going after those who belonged to the Way, he really thought he was doing God a favor – he thought he was honoring the Lord. Interestingly, this is exactly what Jesus prophesied in John 16:2-3 – He said, “They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or Me.” This was Saul. He thought he was exposing the “lies” of Jesus – that He had been resurrected. But here was Jesus, alive and well, speaking to him – and in that moment, his entire world was turned upside down. It shook him to the core of his being because everything he believed and cherished in his whole life was being challenged.
Now, some people think that Saul’s conversion happened in an instant – but I don’t think that’s the case. It was most definitely dramatic – no doubt about that. But there’s no indication it was immediate. When Jesus confronted him with that blinding light, Saul didn’t respond by saying, “Now, I understand. I can finally see the truth.” No, he was physically blinded for three days – symbolizing the spiritual blindness he was still under. God actually plunged him into deeper darkness. Now, what did he do during those three days? He waited because all Jesus said was, “Get up and go into the city. When the right time comes, you’ll be told what you need to do.” Can you imagine how frustrated Saul must have been? “How long do I have to wait? How will I know? Who’s going to come?” But Jesus remained silent. Then, can you imagine what must have gone through Saul’s mind during those three days? He truly believed he was being faithful, but he was actually opposing the work of the Lord. He saw himself as righteous, but in the eyes of God, he was lost and broken. He thought he had mastered the law, but he had completely missed the point. He thought he was preparing the way of the Messiah, but in reality, he was persecuting the Messiah Himself. Everything he thought he knew was shattered – and the identity he had so carefully built collapsed in an instant. Simply put, Saul must have felt completely undone – ruined. But it was in that place of desperation and brokenness that he turned to the Lord in prayer. He humbled himself and sought after Jesus. Unfortunately, Luke doesn’t tell us the content of Saul’s prayers, but I wonder if he would’ve said something like this – “God, open my eyes. Show me Your ways. Teach me Your truth. Set me on the right path. My life now belongs to You. Whenever You’re ready, use me for Your glory.” I wonder if Paul thought about this moment when he wrote this in 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
It’s true that all conversions look different, but all conversions lead to transformation. We are a new creation in Christ – how can we remain the same? We now have a different ambition, a different appetite, a different attitude. The things we once loved, we now hate. The things we thought to be true, we now consider them lies. The things we thought to be lies, we now consider them true. Everything we used to chase after has no hold on us. Everything we thought was important has grown strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. In fact, this is why, before God saves, He often breaks. But this is not because He wants to destroy us – it’s because He wants to deliver us. Because He doesn’t want us to be bound by our sinful nature, He shatters the dreams we cling to, the pride that blinds us, and the self-reliance that keeps us from Him so that we would run after Him. He allows us to come to the end of ourselves so we can discover that He is enough – He breaks through our defenses so we can finally receive His grace. Then, friends, if you find yourself in a season of breaking, take heart. God may be inviting you to Himself. If you’re not yet a believer, He may be calling you to repent of your sins and place your faith in Christ – and if you’re a Christian, He may be calling you to trust Him in your suffering. Brokenness is painful – but in God’s hands, it can also be the beginning of healing, purpose, and true life.
Now, this doesn’t mean that the change will be immediate – and it certainly doesn’t mean that you won’t make mistakes ever again. No, the change can be gradual – and you will at times fall into temptation because we’re still battling sin. But there’s a clear shift in your allegiance in that you no longer live for yourself, but Christ lives in you. Then, let me ask especially Christians, “Have you seen that shift in your own life? Is your allegiance to Christ changing you? It’s not about being perfect – but is there a growing desire to follow Christ, to turn from sin, and to live for something greater than yourself?” If Christ lives in you, there will be evidence of that over time. Not overnight perfection, but ongoing transformation. So, take a moment to look within – are you seeing the marks of a life surrendered to Jesus? This is what true conversion entails.
3) CHOSEN BY GRACE
While all that was going on with Saul, Luke now turns our attention to Ananias, who was a disciple of Jesus living in Damascus. Verse 11, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” Now, everyone, including Ananias, knew that Saul was an enemy of Christ. His reputation was clear – he was traveling from city to city, hunting down Christians and throwing them into prison. Then, why would God command him to go help the very man who was set on destroying the gospel? Why extend grace to someone who had shown nothing but hostility toward believers? It didn’t make sense. So, Ananias said in verse 13, “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” Translation: “Are You sure You got the right man, God? There’s no way You’re telling me to go to Saul – he’s going to arrest not just me but all Your servants, which means that Your work in Damascus will come to an end. The gospel will stop advancing. God, is that what You really want?”
Sometimes, we’re no different from Ananias in that we’re slow to obey when the command doesn’t make sense in our head. Isn’t that true? Jesus says, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” And we say, “Not now, Lord. Maybe later. After I finish school, after I get this job, after I get married, after my children are grown up.” Jesus says, “Give cheerfully and generously.” And we say, “No way, Lord. Don’t You know that I’m struggling financially?” Jesus says, “Rejoice in your suffering.” And we say, “Why are You being so cruel? Don’t You care about me? Can’t You see that I’m in pain?” Jesus says, “Go to the person who delights in mocking Christians, who openly curses God, or who strongly denies the existence of God – and share the gospel with him. Invite her to church.” And we say, “I don’t know if that’s wise. Let me think about it.” Don’t we all do this? Because we’re scared, because we’re lazy, because it doesn’t make sense to us, we hesitate, we procrastinate, we delay our response, we make excuses, or we just flat out say no. But God wasn’t going to receive “no” for an answer from Ananias.
So, He said to him in verse 15, “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to proclaim My name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” God gave Ananias a clear reason as to why he didn’t have to be afraid – “I’ve chosen him to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles.” In other words, He was reassuring Ananias that Saul’s transformation was part of His sovereign plan of salvation. Now, Saul hated the Gentiles – he viewed them as unworthy of God’s grace. Yet God was about to use Saul as the very instrument to advance the gospel to them – in fact, he would even suffer for the sake of the Lord. How ironic is that? Then, I wonder if Ananias said to himself, “A Pharisee taking the gospel to the Gentiles? If this happens, then it must be from God because there’s no way Saul would decide this on his own.” So, Ananias went – trusting God. He made his way down to Straight Street, inquired as to where the house of Judas was, and found Saul sitting in a room. I can only imagine how weak and fragile Saul must have looked after three days without food or water – and yet, I wonder if there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes after hearing that someone had come to see him. No one had come for him until now. Maybe this was what Jesus was talking about. Maybe this person was the one who was going to finally show him the next step. But Saul could never have imagined what happened next. Verse 17 – Instead of anger or fear, Ananias reached out, touched him, and said, “Brother Saul.” Can you imagine the courage that it took for Ananias to say these words? And can you imagine the kind of impact these words must have had on Saul? It must have stopped him in his tracks. “Wait, am I really being welcomed in – after all that I’ve done? I never thought other believers would accept me – and honestly, I don’t blame them. I had made peace with being an outsider. I had persecuted them for so long – why would they call me one of their own now? I expected rejection. I deserved it. But this man is calling me his brother. Is this real? Could it actually be that I belong now? Oh, how I hope it’s true. I want it to be true. I want to belong.” John Stott writes, “I never fail to be moved by these words. They may well have been the first words which Saul heard from Christian lips after his conversion. And they were words of eternal welcome. They must have been music to his ears. What? Was the archenemy of the church to be welcomed as a brother? Was the dreaded fanatic to be received as a member of the family? Yes, it was so.” We often underestimate the power of a kind, warm, and encouraging greeting, but when we welcome each other in the name of the Lord, when we call each other brother or sister, we’re not just being polite – we’re actually declaring the truth of the gospel, for we would never have been part of the same family if it weren’t for Christ and what He had done for us on the cross. In fact, that’s exactly what we’re doing when I ask you to greet each other on Sundays. It’s not just a routine or a way to fill time. No, it’s an invitation to truly recognize and affirm what Jesus has done for us – which is why our greetings should be full of warmth, joy, and grace. Then, brothers and sisters, may we be intentional in loving each other, even those who we think are undeserving. That’s what this passage is about. Saul didn’t have to prove himself worthy for Ananias to call him his brother. Before Saul said or did anything, Ananias forgave him and embraced him as his own because he trusted God. Ananias didn’t know if Saul was going to persevere and remain faithful or fall away later when things got hard. But that didn’t matter to him. God didn’t send Ananias to discern if Saul had been truly converted or not – no, God sent him to love him, encourage him, and walk with him. And friends, that’s what we should do as well. Don’t wait until people here prove themselves worthy. No, let’s be kind. Let’s be gentle toward one another. Let’s build one another up, for this is the Jesus way.
Verse 18, “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.” We’re not sure what this means, but the point is that Saul was able to see again – both physically and spiritually. Now, I thought it was interesting that Saul got baptized right away – there was a real sense of urgency. Think about it. He hasn’t eaten for three days – and yet he didn’t first eat. Instead, he got baptized. This means that for Saul, being made right with God and publicly identifying with Jesus was more important than satisfying his physical hunger. And I love how this passage ends – he spent time with other disciples in Damascus as well. He was truly part of the family.
What can we learn from this passage? That the saving grace of God can save anyone. Now, most of us would have no problem agreeing with this. But if we’re honest, many of us also have a list of individuals we don’t think God can or will save – people we’ve written off in our hearts. For the early Christians, Saul would have been at the very top of that list. So, let me ask you, “Who might be on your list this morning?” Is it your child who’s wandered far from the faith? A parent who seems closed off to the gospel? A spouse, a relative, a co-worker, a classmate – someone you’ve prayed for, hoped for, but now struggle to believe will ever come to Christ? The story of Saul’s conversion is meant to remind us that no one is beyond the reach of the Lord Jesus Christ. No heart is too hard, no past too broken, no sin too great. If Jesus can reach Saul, He can reach anyone – even the person you're thinking of right now. Now, will they always respond with open hearts? Of course not. You may be rejected and ridiculed – but what I want to remind you is that your labor won’t be wasted. It’s true that we may not see the fruit of our work, but those who are truly His will one day respond. So, don’t stop praying for them. Don’t stop loving them. Don’t stop sharing the gospel with them.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, we’ve been chased by God, chosen by His grace, and changed by our encounter with the risen Christ – this is the reality we all share together. So, let’s honor God by thanking Him, by living a life worthy of the gospel, loving each other, and pursuing after those who are lost so that they, too, will be welcomed into the family.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Have you ever looked back and seen how God was pursuing you even when you were resisting Him, just as He did for Saul? What signs of His “goads” were there in your life?
2) Has there been a moment in your life when everything you thought you knew about God or yourself was challenged or undone? Think about the ways your values, desires, and priorities have shifted since coming to faith. In what ways are you still being changed?
3) How does brokenness play a role in your spiritual growth? Has a painful season ever drawn you closer to Jesus?
4) Have you ever hesitated to obey God because something didn’t make sense or felt risky? How can Ananias’ example encourage you? Are you willing to embrace and encourage new believers, even when their pasts seem messy or threatening? What barriers do you need to let go of to love like Ananias?
5) Are there people in your life you’ve written off as “too far gone” for God? How does Saul’s story challenge that view? Spend time praying for them.