SAUL MEETS CHRIST JESUS

Acts 9:3-6 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Having the Jewish name of Saul, and the Roman name of Paul, this is one of the most prominent biblical characters recorded in the New Testament. First mentioned in Acts 7:58 as participating in the stoning of Stephen, and in 8:1-3, he was a zealous Jew that, having the blessing and guidance of Jewish leaders, avidly persecuted first-century Christians and made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, (and) committed them to prison. Then, as chapter 9 begins, we find that he was yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Continuing his public criticism, denunciation, and persecution of Christians, Saul used threats, violence, and murder in order to silence all people that supported and proclaimed Jesus Christ as the Messiah and head of the Kingdom of God, His church, as well as His New Testament doctrine of eternal salvation.

Receiving authority from the chief priests of the Jewish leadership, Saul was now traveling on the road toward Damascus. As he neared the city, the lesson text says that suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. In his defense, Paul related this same incident before King Agrippa. There he said that it was midday when he saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them, which journeyed with me (Acts 26:13). Many bible scholars explain the light as a bolt of lightening brought about by the hand of God in order to get Paul's attention. However, the following verse assures us that the light was, indeed, the radiance of Jesus Christ as he came near with this question: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Saul immediately recognized Him as spiritual being, fell to the ground in humble submission, and asked, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

The persecution Saul meted out against members of the church of Christ was a personal persecution against Jesus, Himself. Indeed, Paul's vengeful actions were made against the very body of Christ, those that make up His church. The Lord told Paul that it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. It is harmful for a working animal to kick back against the goad used to prod him on. And like this example, Paul was only harming himself by rebelling against Jesus and refusing to accept Him as the Messiah, the Son of God.

Now, fully realizing that he was in the presence of the Lord, Jesus Christ, Paul, trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? The authority of the men that constitute the Sanhedrin, under whom Paul had previously submitted himself, he now renounced in the presence of the greater authority and power of the Son of God. The same is true for all that answer God's call to salvation. It is necessary to recognize the authority of God over one's life, reject the power of sin through wholehearted repentance, and completely submit to the will of God, in order to become His child as a follower of Jesus Christ, and obtain the hope of eternal salvation. Humbling himself before Jesus, the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Neither God, nor His Son, Jesus Christ, brings one into a saved covenant relationship with the Heavenly Father by voice command without other acts of obedience. By inference, Jesus told Saul that there was still something else that he must do to become His follower. Saul saw the Lord Jesus Christ, but those that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. Arising from his humbled prostrate position before the Lord, Saul opened his eyes but could not see, but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. Saul had intended to march into Damascus and wreck havoc against Christians residing there. Instead he was led meekly into this city without his sight, and in humble submission to the same Jesus, whom he intended to persecute. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink (See Vss. 7-9).