Apostle Paul's Conversion
A Life Transformed by Christ
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. - Acts 9:3-6 (KJV)
The story of Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, is one of the most profound transformations in the New Testament. Saul was a devout Pharisee, zealous in his mission to persecute Christians. He saw followers of Jesus as a threat to the Jewish faith and was actively involved in imprisoning and punishing those who proclaimed Christ as the Messiah.
Saul's zealousness for the Jewish law made him a feared figure among early Christians. He was present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and consented to his death (Acts 7:58). Armed with authority from Jewish leaders, Saul set out for Damascus to arrest more believers. However, it was on this journey that God would change Saul's heart and redirect his life’s mission.
As Saul neared Damascus, a bright light suddenly surrounded him, causing him to fall to the ground. In that moment, Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Saul, asking why Saul was persecuting Him. The blinding light and voice from heaven made it clear to Saul that he was not just opposing a religious movement but was persecuting the very Son of God.
Saul, trembling and astonished, realized that Jesus was truly the Messiah. His entire worldview was shattered in that moment. He had been so certain that persecuting Christians was the righteous thing to do, but now he understood that he had been opposing God Himself. Saul’s question, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" marked the beginning of his transformation. He immediately surrendered to Jesus, recognizing Him as Lord.
After the encounter, Saul was left blind and had to be led by the hand into Damascus. For three days, he fasted and prayed, waiting for further instruction. During this time, the Lord appeared in a vision to a disciple named Ananias, instructing him to go to Saul and restore his sight. Despite his initial fear—knowing Saul’s reputation—Ananias obeyed God. He laid hands on Saul, and something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, restoring his vision. Saul was then baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-18).
From that point forward, Saul became Paul, a new man with a new mission. Rather than persecuting Christians, Paul became one of the most influential apostles, spreading the message of Christ far and wide. He traveled extensively, preaching the gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike, and authored many of the letters found in the New Testament.
Paul’s conversion is a powerful testimony to the transformative power of God’s grace. No one is beyond the reach of Christ’s mercy, no matter how far they may seem. Saul’s heart was hardened against the Christian faith, but Jesus pursued him, revealing the truth in a way Saul could not deny. This moment of conversion set the course for Paul’s life as a tireless servant of the gospel, bringing the message of salvation to the world.
Paul's life reminds us that God’s plans for us are greater than anything we could imagine for ourselves. When we surrender to His will, as Paul did on the road to Damascus, we open the door for His transformative work in our lives.