Theology for Everybody: RomansSample

Saul was on a mission: he was going to bring all the followers of Jesus from Damascus back to Jerusalem so they could be tortured into denying their Lord.

Now, as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:3–5).

Jerusalem’s top religious terrorist was knocked to the ground and blinded by the Light of the world. Jesus had come to deal with Saul personally. In a way, this was an answer to the martyr Stephen’s final prayer, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:6). When we forgive someone and pray for them, we have no way of knowing what Jesus might do next in that person’s life.

Jesus told Saul to go into Damascus and wait for further instructions. The traveling companions of the now blind man had to lead him by his hand into the city. They had heard a voice but did not see Jesus, so they must have been terribly confused.

In Damascus, Saul waited and fasted for three days. Then the Lord spoke to a disciple named Ananias and told him to go and pray for Saul. Ananias knew of Saul’s horrifying reputation, so he was very reluctant to obey. After all, couldn’t the “blindness” just be an evil trick to capture believers? Still, the Lord insisted: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Ananias obeyed. Not only did he pray for Saul to regain his sight, but he also prayed for Saul to be filled with the Holy Spirit. “Immediately something like scales fell from [Saul’s] eyes, and he regained his sight” (v. 18). Saul was then baptized in response to his conversion.

From this point forward, I will refer to Saul as Paul. His conversion is one of the greatest evidences in the history of the world that it doesn’t matter how mighty a man is—when he comes face-to-face with the Almighty, he loses. Stronger than any man is the God-Man, Jesus Christ. When He shows up, everything changes in an instant. This brilliant young Pharisee had to recognize how wrong he was. Then Paul bowed his knee and surrendered his will to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today’s Reflection

Has Jesus ever knocked you to the ground (metaphorically speaking)? Explain what happened.