The Day Everything Changed
[ READ ] Acts 9:1-19
The Conversion of Saul
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
Saul must have seen himself as a guardian. He was a Pharisee and shaped by a people who had learned the hard way that compromise gets people in trouble. He knew what happened when Israel let the covenant slip. Babylon happened. Exile happened. And so, when this movement began to spread through Jerusalem, claiming that a crucified man was the Messiah, Saul saw the same old drift that had happened before. He did what men of deep conviction do when they believe the sacred is under threat. He moved to stop it.
That's what makes the Damascus road so disorienting. Jesus doesn't appear to a man who has abandoned his faith. He appears to a man who is on fire for it. And the question he asks is Why are you persecuting me? Saul's certainty, the very thing he thought was protecting God's people, had become the weapon aimed at God himself. Today ask: Where in my life is my certainty doing the most damage?
- David Bempong
That's what makes the Damascus road so disorienting. Jesus doesn't appear to a man who has abandoned his faith. He appears to a man who is on fire for it. And the question he asks is Why are you persecuting me? Saul's certainty, the very thing he thought was protecting God's people, had become the weapon aimed at God himself. Today ask: Where in my life is my certainty doing the most damage?
- David Bempong
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Jesus asks Saul "Why are you persecuting me?" not "why are you persecuting them?" What does that tell you about how Jesus sees his church?
+ What does it mean that Saul spends three days blind, fasting, and waiting? What might God be doing in that silence?
+ The text says Saul "immediately" began preaching after his sight returned. What has to be true about an encounter with Jesus for it to produce that kind of urgency?
+ Jesus asks Saul "Why are you persecuting me?" not "why are you persecuting them?" What does that tell you about how Jesus sees his church?
+ What does it mean that Saul spends three days blind, fasting, and waiting? What might God be doing in that silence?
+ The text says Saul "immediately" began preaching after his sight returned. What has to be true about an encounter with Jesus for it to produce that kind of urgency?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Is there an area of your life where you've been confident you're doing the right thing, but haven't actually stopped to ask if Jesus agrees?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Is there an area of your life where you've been confident you're doing the right thing, but haven't actually stopped to ask if Jesus agrees?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, you interrupted Saul in the middle of his worst moment and called it a beginning. Do the same in us. Show us where we're breathing the wrong air and mistaking our certainty for your will. Give us the humility to be led when we can't see, and the courage to go when you call us toward someone we'd rather avoid. Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, you interrupted Saul in the middle of his worst moment and called it a beginning. Do the same in us. Show us where we're breathing the wrong air and mistaking our certainty for your will. Give us the humility to be led when we can't see, and the courage to go when you call us toward someone we'd rather avoid. Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
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