A Dramatic Conversion

Westhill Community Church

Sunday 19^th February

A Dramatic Conversion

Reading: Acts 9: 1-19

This morning we are looking at the dramatic conversion of the apostle Paul, when he was still known as Saul of Tarsus. It is recorded in Acts chapter 9, which we read this morning. You will also find another description in the words of Paul himself in Acts chapter 22.

So what kind of person was Saul? What was it that made him change? What effect did it have on him? How did others react?

What kind of person was Saul?

Saul came from Tarsus, a town in south-east Asia Minor, the region we now know as Turkey. He came from a privileged class, possessing the full rights of a Roman citizen since birth. He was also a devout Jew, one of the Hellenistic or Greek-speaking Jews. But Saul was also fluent in Aramaic (Acts 22) and had a strong grasp of the Hebrew language.

Saul was a Pharisee, arguably the most significant and influential religious movement within the Judaism of his day. But more than that he was a student training to be a rabbi – a spiritual leader and teacher in Judaism. Saul studied at the feet of Gamaliel – Rabban Gamaliel I to give him his full title. Rabban means “our master,” which meant he was a leading authority amongst all the rabbis. In fact the Jewish Mishnah – the first major written collection of Jewish oral traditions – considers Gamaliel to be one of the greatest teachers in the history of Judaism. He played a leading role in the Great Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court in Jerusalem. So Saul studied at the feet of perhaps the greatest Jewish teacher of his day and arguably one of the greatest of all time. And when in later years Saul, as the Apostle Paul, said that he was “thoroughly trained in the law” and “as zealous for God” as any in Jerusalem, this was no exaggeration. In his letter to the Philippians Paul said that on the question of righteousness based on the law he was faultless (Phil 3: 6).

Saul despised and hated the Christian faith; he considered it to be a heresy, and those who propagated it to be guilty of blasphemy, deserving of the death penalty. He stood by approving of the stoning of Stephen, guarding the clothes of those who killed him. And in this he believed he and they were fully upholding the Law of Moses. According to all the values he held dear and had devoted his life to the Christian faith was false.

To suggest that Saul might himself become a Christian was laughable. There was just no way that anyone was going to convince him to change his mind. Nobody in Jerusalem was going to get the better of Saul in a debate based on Scripture. The testimonies and witness of Christians in Jerusalem seemed if anything to make Saul even more fanatical in his opposition.

Now let me ask you a simple question. Are there any people who you essentially believe could never become Christians? Leading academics who scoff at the idea of God’s existence, perhaps? Maybe militant islamists who seek to eradicate Christianity from their land? Or perhaps nearer to home those of your family or colleagues who have told you in no uncertain terms that they don’t want to hear about your Christian beliefs.

And what about our nation, as church attendance has been declining year on year for decades, as ungodly ideas and values predominate, as the Bible is marginalised and increasingly seen by many as a corrupting influence. If and when you pray for revival, at heart do you actually doubt it will ever happen?

We sing a song with the children: “Our God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing our God cannot do.” The Lord who stopped Saul in his tracks and stirred his heart to repentance and faith is the same Lord whom we follow, the same Lord who is with us today. Nobody is beyond his reach, unable to be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Oh, we shouldn’t underestimate the ferocity of the storm that buffets the Christian church in our land today, nor the many that have been swept along before that storm onto the rocks of unbelief. But in the face of that storm, increasing all the time in intensity, we have a simple choice. Do we pray, like the disciples of old in the storm on Galilee, “Lord, don’t you care we are perishing?” Or do we say, “Lord, you said you would build your church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. So Lord this storm will not prevail; grant us increased boldness to proclaim your word, and by the power of your Spirit bring many into your kingdom.”

What was it that made Saul change?

Of course Saul was changed by his dramatic encounter with Jesus. But that was not the only way that God was working in Saul’s life. Saul would have been well aware of the activities and teaching of the apostles since the crucifixion of Jesus. Much of this took place within the Temple precincts and was proving to be an increasing embarrassment to the religious elite in Jerusalem. As one being taught by a member of that elite Saul would inevitably have taken part in discussions about these matters, analysing what was being said. Saul could only have come to the conclusion that he did – that the Christian movement should be eradicated – after careful consideration of what was being taught.

So Saul would have been familiar with Peter’s powerful sermon after the healing of the lame man at the Temple gate, followed by his address to the Sanhedrin (Acts 3:1 – 4:22). He would have known about the significant healings in the Temple courts, the subsequent arrest and imprisonment of Peter and John, their inexplicable escape from prison, and then what they shared with the Sanhedrin a second time. And Saul would have been fully aware of Stephen’s powerful message to the Sanhedrin when he was put on trial on false charges. It is very likely that Saul was present as an observer, since when the company rushed out to stone Stephen Saul was with them, ready to help (Acts 7: 57-58).

All of this witness and testimony by the followers of Jesus would have been studied by Saul. We know, of course, that he chose to reject it; if anything it hardened his heart and made him even more fervent in opposition. But after his encounter with Jesus, during those three days when he could see nothing, and took in neither food nor drink, then without doubt his mind would have repeatedly gone over these events and what Peter and Stephen had said, and the light of God’s word would have shone in his heart, to soften it and change it.

And then finally the Lord sent Ananias to visit Saul and minister to him. Don’t you love this account? Ananias was clearly taken aback by what Jesus told him to do. To his credit he didn’t say “no,” nor did he even say “but,” but he came very close to one or the other. To all intents and purposes he asked the Lord to check that he hadn’t made a mistake! Look again at this account, and you will see that the Lord says “go” twice, the second time very emphatically. He didn’t need to say it a third time – Ananias went!

So how often have you or I said “but” or even “no” when the Lord has called on us to serve him in one way or another? Who are we more like: Ananias who obeyed or Jonah who ran the other way? And what about your day-by-day actions, and conversations about Jesus? If God is using what people see in you and hear from you as He brings them to faith, what material does He have to work with? You may think people reject what you say; indeed initially their hearts may be hardened as you witness to them. But an encounter with Jesus can completely change that, just as it did with Saul.

Ultimately it wasn’t the words of Peter and John, or Stephen, that brought Saul to faith; nor was it the prayer ministry of Ananias. It was the encounter with Jesus and the transforming power of his Holy Spirit. But the wonderful thing is the Lord chooses to use us as partners with him. The Lord didn’t need to use Ananias to restore Saul’s sight and enable him to receive the Holy Spirit. But he chose to, just as he chooses us to be his hands, feet, voice and arms of love to others.

What effect did this change have on Saul?

How would you answer that question? There are some who would say he became the greatest teacher on earth since Jesus; that since the time of Christ none other has so influenced the lives of millions to transform them for good. And there is plenty of evidence to support that view. Others may answer in a very different way. But how did Jesus himself describe Saul’s future life and activity? He said,

“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.” (Acts 9: 15-16)

A chosen instrument; a suffering servant. Now I suspect we are somewhat surprised by what Jesus said. Not the instrument part, of course. We can appreciate the power of this simile. How wonderful to think that all who belong to Christ are instruments in his hand: a trowel in the hand of the gardener; a brush in the hand of the artist; a lamp in the hand of the guide; a trumpet in the hand of the musician. No, it’s the second part that surprises us. We expect Jesus to say, “I will show him how much he will play beautiful music for me,” or “I will show him how much he will shine brightly for me.” But no. He said, “I will show him how much he will suffer for my name.” Why did Jesus say this? Was he saying to Saul, “You opposed me, resisted me and encouraged the slaughter of my people: now I’m going to make you suffer for it!” No, not at all! For when Christ died for us he fully atoned for all our sin. His forgiveness is total forgiveness. In any case, no price we could pay could ever atone for our sin. Listen again to what Jesus said: “I will show him how much he will suffer for my name.” For my name. It is his suffering that we endure, for his sake not ours.

The Apostle Paul grew to understand this. He said to the Christians at Philippi, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Phil 3: 12). And what did he say that was? To know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, and to share his sufferings (Phil 3: 10).

We might be tempted to think that Christ’s sufferings finished when he rose victorious from the dead. And in one respect that is correct, for he paid the bitter price for sin once and for all. But the apostles were quite clear that Christ’s sufferings continue while his body, the church, remains in this world. Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, said Peter (1 Pet 4: 13). From the very start of his ministry Jesus shared with his disciples that in following him they would share his suffering. If you come after me you will have to carry the cross, he said. But he also said, “Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.” So from the very beginnings of the church the apostles viewed suffering for the name of Christ a privilege to rejoice about, not a tragedy to be avoided at all costs.

Whatever the Lord had in mind when he laid hold of me, said Paul, I’m going to press on until I see it completely fulfilled. How are you doing in the matter of “pressing on”? Has difficulty or trial made you think twice about your commitment to following Christ or serving him? Are there things you have stopped doing, not because God is leading you into new areas of service, but because you have lost motivation? The apostle Paul was quite clear. It was his relationship with Jesus that enabled him to keep pressing on. It was the power of Christ at work in him that gave him the strength to keep going when the going got tough. On his own, serving in his own strength and power Paul knew he would inevitably fail.

How did others react to the change in Saul?

The Jewish community in Damascus was initially baffled, and then were moved to anger and extreme violence. They were baffled because they had no answers to Saul’s arguments from scripture that Jesus must indeed be the promised Messiah. But instead of allowing his arguments to persuade them to become disciples they conspired to kill him. So Paul had to secretly escape from the city and return to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem much the same thing happened. The Hellenistic Jews, Saul’s former colleagues, debated hotly with him. But when they found themselves unable to counter his arguments they too planned to kill him. Once again he was forced to leave, and this time he returned back to his home city of Tarsus.

Very interesting was the attitude of the Christians in Jerusalem when Saul arrived there. There was just a small number at this time, since most had been scattered by the fierce persecution that broke out after Stephen’s martyrdom. But the apostles were all still there. All except one person were frightened of Saul and would have nothing to do with him, and that seems to have included all the apostles. They were convinced he was only pretending to be a disciple, perhaps in order to infiltrate their gatherings and then have them all arrested. Only Barnabas, that son of encouragement, was willing to meet him and share in fellowship as a brother in Christ, and it was Barnabas who then persuaded the apostles and the other believers to also accept Saul.

It seems that in this matter the apostles initially allowed fear and worry to influence their decision, rather than seeking guidance from God. And this tells us that even though a church may be seeking to follow the Lord and is experiencing the power of his Holy Spirit it’s possible for the leaders to get things wrong, indeed for the whole church to get things wrong. In such times we need encouragers like Barnabas who will set an example and gently show the right way, and leaders who are humble and willing to learn.

What attitude do we have to those we don’t feel comfortable with? If anyone has opposed us or hurt us are we willing to welcome them and encourage them? Are there any that we would reject and turn away from? Is fear something that influences our decisions and choices?

Sometimes we are presented with issues and decisions that we cannot resolve with our human wisdom, when we are unsure which choice to make. Paul gave some sound advice to the church at Philippi on how to proceed in these circumstances.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4: 6-7).

God does not intend for us to be controlled by anxiety, to make decisions motivated by our fears. He wants us to experience his peace. And this means we must bring every situation to him in prayer, trust him to lead us in the right way, and be open to whatever way He chooses to reveal this to us.